Need advice re: additional SGB
 

Hi All,
I don't post often due to many other health issues besides RSD. I had RSD in all extremities from IV injury in 6/2007. Symptoms were managed and controlled. I had an acute flare in 2011 from sudden hit in my back. Symptoms were again well controlled and managed with a few nerve blocks and followed by hyperbaric therapy. On 10/1/13, I had a gradual RSD flares after a hysteroscopy ( removing a cyst and lining in my uterous). Symptoms were not bad, but I wanted to bring them back to baseline. My pain was 1 to 2 on the left hand and 2 to 3 on my right hand on the scale of 10. But now, 2-3 on the left and 3-4 on the right with two/three bilateral nerve blocks. I also had 10 sessions of hyperbaric therapy. I feel the blocks are not as effective as in the past because there was a one month gap in between the blocks and I did not get the first block until 2 months after the incident. Last blocks were done a month ago and I feel the pain has slowly returned and I am afraid it will escalated more If I do nothing.
I saw my pain doc yesterday. He is willing to offer more blocks but it is up to me to decide. My questions are should I go for more blocks, taking the risk trying to see whether the pain can return to my baseline or just leave it alone-wait and see. However, time may elapse even further from the incident date and I am afraid it may even less effective if I wait longer. My other question is did the nerve block causes make you worse.
I need to decide very soon. any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Good Evening I am still new to RSD ( broken arm 12/9/13) but I have had three ganglion blocks with good results. I went by what my doctor had told me to do, "he told me if I had no improvement within three days go back and get another ganglion block". I have to say I have been nervous about the shot but for me so far it has helped. I still have stiffness in my right hand and some discomfort but definitely not as bad as it was. I just pray that the shots work each time for me. Good luck

We're all different and my situation is very different from yours...BUT...if it were me in YOUR situation...I would go ahead with the blocks. It sounds as though you are still getting relief from them...it's just the length of time that's not as long as in the past. I would talk to the doctor about doing a series of blocks with less time in between and see if that's an option...giving the meds a chance to build up in your system for a more lasting effect.

I can't do the blocks...experienced spread after one...but that is incredibly rare. You are very lucky to have a treatment that is working for you and if I were you...I would keep at it. What are the other treatment options that you're considering if you stop the blocks?

I agree with catra and if I were getting at least a little relief from blocks, I would schedule some more and schedule them closer together (like once a week) to get the full benefit of them. I received great benefit from them 23 years ago. Now I cannot get them because of adverse reactions to the meds used. I never experienced spread from them.

Good luck!
Nanc
:hug:

Hi all,
I was so stupid. I wrote a long note but did not login. My response was lost. Anyway, thanks so much for your responses. I will probably go for more blocks ans hoping for the best.
Tallis,
You are still early and you may get full remission with additional blocks.
Nanc, wharf kind og adverse reaction did u get from the block?
Catra, how did you get the spread? Was it from the block or something went wrong?
I need to stop because my pelvic pain really bother me now.
Thanks so much.

Yeah...it was the block. My RSD at the time was in my left ankle only and after the last block I started to get AWFUL pain at the injection site and kept getting worse and worse. It spread from my back to my neck, and torso, to my shoulders, down both arms, and into both hands before we got things under control again. No one wanted to admit it was spread at first (including myself)...but that was ridiculous...went through every test under the sun and the only thing left standing on the table was RSD...again.

On the scale of invasive treatments for RSD...blocks are very low on the list...but it still involves needles and an injection. Unfortunately for me...that was enough to start the monster in my upper body. But I don't blame anyone...just unlucky I guess. I also had a MRSA infection at the time of the block (which I told the nurse and the doctor but they didn't believe me because my primary care doctor didn't put me on antibiotics right away). No one knows if the infection had any part in the rapid spread or not...but it was a potential factor.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! In other words if it is working for you why not keep it going? That is only my "thoughts" I have not turned down anything since I first got RSD that has been offered me by my many doctors. Mine doctors just came up with a dry well, we're still trying.

Best of luck with the blocks and the pain. I hope the blocks continue to be effective for you. Keep us informed if possible. Thanks

PS; The next time you do a post and it tells you have to refresh page and log in, "before" you do that "copy" your post and after you log in you can paste it in your new post.

Hey! The problem I had wasn't from the block itself, it was from the steroids used. I am allergic to everything under the sun, including the sun :( The steroids started giving me problems like chest tightness, really blurred vision, bad headaches...oral steroids do the same thing to me too. They did some diagnostic blocks with lidocaine and I had no issues with that, the only problem is that they didn't last more than a couple of hours.

I did go into remission for many years when I first had the SGB's back in 1991.