2nd sympathetic block success!
 

I actually wrote this in the middle of the night but it was buried in an old thread. I wanted to update everyone on how my 2nd injection went. I am still allodynia improved.....was able to rub lotion on my foot this morning!!! I've been up and around with little repercussions. I have almost as much flexibility in my left foot as I do my right one!!! I feel very encouraged!! I'm having TERRIBLE headaches that I think may be from the Lyrica/Skelaxin they started me on yesterday. I hope I adjust soon. I see my new neurologist today so I'm slowly building my "team" of doctors. I hope everyone is doing well. Sorry for all who end up reading this twice. There are some questions in here that I was hoping you all could answer for me. Again, I wrote this in the middle of the night on a LOT of meds, so forgive my rambling........Take care!!!!

I DO think this injection has helped! I just PULLED my sock on my foot without thinking about it! The ants have quit biting my toes and my foot doesn't "feel" cold to me!! I am actually lying in bed with the covers on it moving my toes around!!! My ankle is still stiff and swollen but I will work with it tomorrow with PT and epsom salts.

I was SO sick yesterday, however. I feel almost like I'm going through chemo (PLEASE forgive me to anyone out there that HAS gone through chemo......I'm sure I cannot even imagine how that feels). I get so sick from these injections and have an allergic reaction to something they give me. I break out in this horrible red, itchy rash every time, despite them having given me a "buttload" (as the nurse said) of Benadryl in my IV. The doc is not concerned about it since I'm not having trouble breathing as well. It's still a pain and miserable. I wasn't able to eat anything yesterday but some dry Cheerios because of the nausea...so I feel weak and dizzy now. PLUS, he started me on Lyrica last night. I am very, very sensitive to meds and have a really hard time adjusting to changes with them.

I've also been put on Skelaxin during the day to help with the tremors and twitching (which drive me nuts). I've only taken one dose so far so I don't know yet how it will help. They told me it wouldn't make me sleepy like the Flexeril does (which I take at night). I HATE that "drugged" feeling. That is primarily why I deal with the pain as much as I can during the day with Advil. They offered me Percocet and I declined.

That all being said, I have a question to all on Lyrica. The med info says that I cannot drink any alcohol on that med. I enjoy a nice glass of Cabernet or Merlot in the evening sometimes.....especially if it's been a particularly stressful or painful day. Do I have to completely stop that???

I cannot remember whether I posted anything about my injection yesterday or not. They had me on SO much stuff......I remember little and was SO sick all day. Get this......the hospital I went to (a different one from the last time) had NO numbing meds for the IV. No topical, no injection. They poked me THREE times with the IV needle before they could get one in. I was livid. I told the doc point blank that he needed to make sure that numbing meds were available to me before my next injection at that hospital (next Wednesday). I was still tense and upset (and about to pass out) about the IV when 2 minutes later they walked me into the room for my injection. I was wide awake for the whole thing this time.....remember and felt the whole darn procedure. Holy cow they go in deep!! I told him I want more meds the next time.

My foot turned blue and purple afterwards but the temperature went up in that foot and he saw it and said that was a good sign of increased blood flow!!! I really think these are working for me!!!! I'm wiggling my foot around and have very little pain (of course, I did just take a Vicodin a while ago.....they said no Advil for 24 hours after).

Take care everyone!! I hope everyone has a pain-managed day!!!!

Great news and I hope that the improvement continues for you.

I am so Happy
 

I am so pleased to hear this news!!!! Except for the IV and being awake during the procedure???, I'd say you have had two days now that have absolute positive results!!! This should give you some healing time. Don't over due, now. Be careful that you don't let the excitement cause you to do more than you should. Girlfriend, this is really cool:cool:! Love Di

Perhaps a bit premature. I am worried now because my RIGHT big toe is hurting and my RIGHT toes are turning blue when I stand up.....no other symptoms other than that, but my left big toe hurt just like this 2-3 weeks ago too (the one with RSD). I'm hoping it's just a side effect from the injection, or something. I am at least happy that my left foot is feeling better! I just went to the neuro and my left leg is not sensing cold. He said that was not abnormal after a block. Oh......when does it end???

Hi MominPainRSD, YEAH!!!!!

I'm so happy for you! Progress is progress. Ants even left. That's such great news. On the Lyrica, I've been on it over a year now and slowly going off. Remember, was on Neurotin 3200mg. because of dailey electric shocks, jolts, spasms. Then changed to Lyrica. I remember liking Lyrica, felt it help me with nerve pain more. The weight gain was with both drugs. If I remember right Lyrica can cause headaches in some people-I was one of them. My Dr. said I could occassionally have a glass of wine in the evening. Because I take other meds before bed, I always make sure there is at least 3 -4 hours between the meds and the wine.Same as waiting 3-4 hours before driving after taking pain meds. Because I don't have spasms, jerks, jolts, I've slowly been going down on Lyrica from 400mg. to 50 mg. and next call my Dr. and hopefully go off. And hopefully not get any symptoms back.

After I got those lesions a few weeks ago, I broke out in rash that itched and became tiny blisters from the bandaid. So skin rashes are not surprising for RSD. My Dr. has cautioned me to always wear block in the sun. I've broke out several times by being in
the sun. Please, please take it easy. I'm so happy for you getting good results from the blocks. Take care, Loretta

Yes, I suppose I should take what I can get. I figured out my right big toe pain. It's when I squeeze gently from the side.....it hurts to walk, too. Do you guys think the RSD is spreading??? Is it possible for him to give me two blocks next time?? One for each leg??? I'll call him tomorrow and let him know what is going on.

The true test will be over the next few days. I can take Advil again so I won't be taking any more Vicodin. How can I keep from gaining weight on the Lyrica??? Does it just make you hungry all the time?? Or does it change your metabolism??? I think he's got me on a very low dose.....slowly working up. I plan to stop increasing at whatever point I see some benefits. I can deal with some of the jolts/jerks. The twitching is maddening. I'm hoping the Skelaxin will help that.

Anyway, thanks for the well wishes!! I'll do what I have to do. I would love to have a day off from doctors appointments to just rest. I am so exhausted. Hope everyone else is coping well today!!!

Glad the blocks seem to be working for you! :hug: Awesome!!! I am concerned about the allergic reaction you're having to something in the blocks. Sounds like it was worse than last time and that concerns me because the next block your reaction might be even worse. IMO, they should be figuring out what you're allergic to. I don't want anything to happen to you.

Don't know about it spreading but anything is possible. Best bet is to do what you're going to do and tell the doc about it.

As for the weight gain from meds, there's nothing you can do to prevent or stop it. I was taking it but just got off it a couple of weeks ago. I started taking it to get rid of the numbness in my legs and arms and it made it like 20 x's worse!! Geez....figures. I, the weird one, didn't gain an ounce....as a matter of fact I dropped another 3 pounds. I'm already severely underweight as it is. No one would have to worry if their metabolism was like mine. I sit around and keep losing weight and gain only when I'm very active. Even then it takes a long time for me to even start gaining!! *rolls eyes* Yeah....I'm definitely backward. LOLOL As far as I know it doesn't make you hungrier to where you're eating more, it's just one of the many meds out there that cause weight gain.

The skelaxin is the muscle relaxer right? Cause that's what helps with the jerking seeing as it's due to muscle spasms. Lyrica, neurontin,etc are nerve drugs.

Hugs,

Karen

Well, they did NOT put any steroid in there this time.....so they determined the rash was not caused from that.....they've decided it must be the "whatever it is that makes you sleepy" stuff (which I actually want MORE of the next time, please).......they stood around discussing it while I was turning red and spotty from my neck to my pelvis. He saw it, he doesn't seem concerned about it, they kept me there an extra 30 minutes to make sure my BP and oxygen were ok (which they were), so.....they're not worried. I agree, though......this time I itched longer into the evening......but the rash went away after a few hours.

Yes.....Skelaxin is a muscle relaxant.....Lyrica is for nerve pain......I don't think I'll need much Lyrica.......I am naturally small, too, but do NOT want to gain weight. I can't afford any new clothes!!!

I really am worried about my big toe (I'm sure you are all sitting there rolling your eyes saying "What I would GIVE to just worry about my freaking big toe" but it really hurts and it started suddenly and my right foot is now splotchy and blue and red like the other one (mostly around the edges and toes). It doesn't seem like a good combination. A little of the tingling is coming back in the left foot........just reminding me it's there. So......I guess I got good pain relief for......36 hours or so.......better than the last one. I go to wound care tomorrow about my incision. I am not looking forward to that. That whole premise on an RSD foot doesn't seem pleasant. I'm not sure what that will entail???? :confused:

Oh......so sleepy......I wish everyone a good night and peaceful sleep!!

Great news.

I hope it gets even better.

When I have headaches and little pain it's often from high blood pressure and a little exercise does wonders to help.

Hi MominPainRSD,

I'm worried too about your right big toe. Too many RSD symptoms, blotchy, blue, and red, pain- Ask your Dr. about chances of getting RSD in opposite side from the block?
That is the way mine spread left frozen shoulder to right frozen shoulder, left hand swelling and stiffening fingers to right hand. left foot discolored and burning pain to right foot, red,purple blotchy burning pain. etc.You know I would never just say this to scare you more, but there are too many experiences of others of spread after blocks. It just seems you are having reactions that aren't normal. I've never had a block, so I don't really know very much about them.