Will stellate blocks help with spread?
 

I am sitting in my primary doc's waiting room...

I wrote while ago that I might have carpel tunnel problem in my hand and doc wanted me to try a brace for a month. Well, the month is up and I am very afraid the crps has spread to my hand (up to now, only in my left foot and ankle). I don't have swelling or coldness, but the pain has become more diffuse and deeper down, like my foot. I am also getting some mild sensitivity to touch like my foot.

If it has spread, would stellite ganglion blocks help my hand even if the lumbar blocks became less effective for my foot after the first one or two?

I have accepted that the pain in my foot is permanent, but it this also now true for my hand? Does the theory that you can you get remission if found early also apply to a new site or does it only apply to the first site?

Thanks as always for everyone's support and great information.

Hi and welcome.
sorry you are sick with rsd.
i don't know about if remission for a new site is possible if found early, but i had 8 nerveblocks and the they helped a little with appearance but not so much with pain or movement.
I hope your dr can help you and good luck. Take care.

Stellate ganglion blocks could very well help you even though lumbar blocks didn't. A result in one area does not dictate the result in other areas. I was put in remission by SGB's back in 1991, but they didn't help when I developed RSD in my hands and arm. I think that was because it was too late for them. I had such a good result from them in the beginning that I had to try them again. Everyone is different.

So sorry you are dealing with this. I hope you find some relief soon!
Nanc
:hug:

It depends on the area you live in, who it is that is doing them. If you have 2 or 3 and they aren't helpful, yep, stopping is wise :)

Mine didn't worsen the spread. It made it worse, but having 10 minutes to come out of the midazolam after them shoving a needle in my neck, for me, I think the biggest thing is to remember that my previous rotten experience, doesn't have to be yours.

Combined therapies, though most agree things like opoids need to be avoided if possible, but also there are quite obviously other therapies and treatments should this prove to be unhelpful.

Taking care of yourself, as well as the overall physical health is every bit as important than ever. The diet and exercise, etc, is right on. Whatever dramatically increases stress will increase pain.

I keep as non-interventional for my own reasons. But I hope you have a better experience.

Spread
 

I really hope this isn't spread for you!

Honestly I can't comment on SGB specifically because I have not had them myself since my CRPS is in my legs and SGB blocks only work for upper body.

However, I thought this was worth mentioning. From what I have read and from what my PM doctors have all said is that with any NEW spread it is best to treat it just like it was a new diagnosis. Meaning with every new area of pain treat it aggressively like it was the first area. A new area of pain/spread has a better chance of itself going into remission even if the original area doesn't. The new area responds to treatment by itself rather than being combined with the length of time or symptoms of the original area.. if that makes sense. So in your shoes.. I would try everything possible to treat it, even if those same things did nothing or little to the previous area.

Most importantly keep your hands moving.

Have you had TOS ruled out or issues with your cervical spine? If you have any questions about TOS I am happy to help as I have gone through and recovered 100% from bilateral TOS after bilateral first rib resection and nuerolysis done by Dr. Ombrellaro. I've also had surgery on C3/4 and 5/6 which made an amazing difference! (all of those surgeries were done prior to CRPS).

Hang in there,
Tessa

Thanks everyone. This is really helpful. My X-ray showed osteoarthritis, which I already knew I had but it was never this painful of persistent. It may have been caused by having my hand in the brace for a month. It is still possible that I was having a carpel tunnel problem, which the brace took care of, in exchange for getting an aggravation of my arthritis because of the immobilization. I don't have any swelling in my hand, which is the biggest difference from my foot.

So my primary is sending me back to the orthopedist to rule in or out crps spread and possibly have a cortisone shot for the arthritis. And then if the orthopedist thinks it is crps, I'll go back to the pain interventionalist for the stellate block. I am happy that there is a plan. I hope that it will be much easier and faster than with my foot, which took months to diagnosis and going from one type of specialist to another.

I really trust the pain doc who would be doing the blocks. He did a great job with the lumbar blocks, and I got a lot of long term benefit from them, just not complete remission.

In terms of TOS, I think I will bring that up with the orthopedist. I haven't had any other symptoms, however, so hopefully that will not also be an issue. But thanks for mentioning so I know to ask.

Keep in mind that after any immobilization any bone/muscle pain from disuse is going to be noticeable for a little while. I would highly recommend doing daily massage from the base of your scull down throughout your arms and hands. The relaxation and blood circulation throughout your arms will be important factors in helping your soft tissue and bones heal. In case also you weren't aware but arthritis is made worse by disuse that is why even in elderly people they recommend daily walking, you need the impact on the joints to keep the bones healthy. Even after arthritis is set in.. even more important to slow down the progression or stop it. Bounce a tennis ball against a wall - catch it and do it again (or better yet play ball/Frisbee with a dog, play Yahtzee, shuffle cards, peel potatoes, put a puzzle together, lift a soup can for several repetitions etc., buy some silly putty and squeeze it so many different things you can do to help heal your hands and keep arthritic pain at bay. Celebrex is also a great medication for arthritic pain :)

Stellate blocks
 

I certainly think so. I've had RSD for 13yrs. & it has spread to my whole Rt side & my Lt hand. My pain Dr. Still gives me blocks & they help! Best of luck Honey, also ask about Lidocaine patches. I also use electric pads under me in bed & electric blankets under my bedspreads. Fingerless felt winter gloves with flap that goes over the fingers - I use them even in summer sometimes. Best Wishes, Glassbee