Nerve Block?
 

My doctor suggested a nerve block at L5-S1 to help rule in or out my lumbar spine as a cause of my neuropathy symptoms. I have never been a fan of steroids but I am considering it for 2 reasons:

1) It would be really great to know if this is the cause so I could make lifetime adjustments accordingly.
2) To give me some relief even though temporary

I would love to hear experiences from anyone who has had a nerve block or knows anything about them.

I do not plan to do this more than once. I'm sure if it takes away the symptoms and makes me feel normal again it will be hard to resist. Opinions on how slippery a slope this is would be great too.

Pinky, do you mean epidural injection(s). I've had scripts but never did them. My lower back is my achilles tendon for most of my life and worse with aging and hip job.

Some do these with no trepidations about doing them and others like myself think long and hard about these steroids in lower back.

Our PRP MD here would want to tighten up the ligaments around the joints. Insurance does not pay for these. And he does not guarantee but says lots get help from PRP injections. Some ortho docs in our area even do PRP now. Good wishes...

Pinky, I wish I could help but don't know anything about this. So the block the nerve using steroids? Interesting. Anyway, what I can say is that depending on the procedure, precise amount of steroids, etc., I would think (1) is immensely valuable for many reasons. I would just beware not to be seduced by (2). ;)

Epidural Steriod injection
 

My PN symptoms developed 2 nights after a lumbar epidural injection. I woke up in the middle of the night and thought someone came in and chopped off my big toe...symptoms quickly progressed up my feet and legs during the following days and weeks.( I think I gave my details in an earlier post.) This occurred October of 2013, unfortunately I am still struggling with PN. I would definitely find out what type of steroid they would be using. I received Kenolog which is not labeled for epidural use. It contains benzyl alcohol which is a neurotoxin. Many doctors still use it routinely. I have idiopathic SFN and large fibers also involved. Not sure if it was the trauma of the injection or an autoimmune response. No one on this forum at the time had any ideas or similar situation. I have been to many doctors since this began and only one neurologist would say that it was a direct result of the injection. She has since moved on as this was at the medical teaching hospital in my state.

That is awful results
 

from something that is designed to take pain away! Thank you for the information. I will definitely discuss this with my Dr. I do know there are differences between an epidural injection and a nerve block but there are also similarities.

I'm late to this conversation but info is info so here goes:
The nerve block is very different from a steroid shot. In general, the former is diagnostic and the latter is for treatment. I could rabbit trail and say that nerve blocks are treatment for several conditions such as migraines and complex regional pain syndrome, but I'll stay on course :)

The general course of action is to see if the nerve block (which is largely a numbing agent like Marcaine or Lidocaine) takes away the pain. The info then helps decide the next steps. If the onset of pain is recent, the doc could prescribe nerve-modulating drugs. The other extreme is nerve ablation, which injures the nerve in such a way that it temporarily stops firing. I've never had the ablation done because it wasn't indicated for my problem. I've heard some bad stories, but I also have a friend who goes every 6 months like clockwork. That's the thing about the ablation - it's temporary, and can cause its own side effects. So buyer beware, so to speak.

Nerve blocks can be done frequently and are often given in a series of 3. They're expensive (I live in the Midwest and the full-on cost including hospital time, surgeon, radiologist, etc. is ~$1,800.) but usually covered by insurance. I have one of those conditions for which nerve blocks (used to be) for treatment and I've lost count of how many I've had over the past 15 years. 30? 40?

As for risk, I won't say there's none. The risks are related to surgical error, so it pays to go to a place where they are rote. My issues are upper extremity, which is much less common than lower, so I had to do a pretty intensive search to find someone who had done a lot of stellate ganglion blocks. The injectable itself does have a small amount of steroid, but apparently not enough for anyone to get excited about.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Funny story but not informational:
The only side effect I've experienced is a tattooing effect. I had so many done in one spot, right in the middle of my throat - and they always mark the location with a marker - that the ink has penetrated my skin. It's not noticeable when looking at me, as it looks like a freckle, but the moment I lie down on the table, the anesthesiologist breaks out into a big :D. X marks the spot, so to speak.

You're not late at all!
 

Thank you so much for this information. I've just begun reseaching this subject and it is most helpful especially with you having had so many rounds of treatment. Your tattoo story was quite amusing. :)

I've been lucky, I've had numerous epidurals, the injections in my hips and tried nerve blocks to see if a radiofrequency neurotomy was an option.

The nerve blocks did not work so I never had the radiofrequency neurotomy.

The epidurals and other injections bought me some relief for my back pain sometimes over six months. In my case it seemed when the back was screaming in pain it just added to the pain in my feet.

I was finally diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease and had a spinal fusion in L3-4-5. This is when I tried the nerve blocks to buy me some time before surgery.

I still have nueropathy in my feet but my back pain is gone.

Good Luck - in my opinion you need try to reduce the pain

Which type of doctor do you think
 

would be better for a nerve block? A Neurosurgeon or a Sports Medicine, Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation doctor? Both are good doctors.

Nerve block scheduled for 4/27/16
 

After having chronic burning for over a year (it is never gone except when I sleep and who knows since I'm asleep? :confused:) and having all types of tests to see if the cause is structural or other I have decided to go forward with this. My MRi's and flexion extension xray show that the area of L-4 L-5 S1 has issues that could be causing my symptoms. I am hoping that this may give me more data (and some relief) so that I will have a better idea how to proceed.

Thank you for your responses and concern. I will let you know how it goes and post the effects of this procedure. I am a little nervous, but the doctor who is doing the procedure is one of the few I trust. :)