cervical ESI
 

My doc is doing a series of cervical ESIs on me and I haven't seen anyone mention this treatment on this site. The nerve blocks didn't do much for me so my second opinion doc suggested these and they seem to take away bout 20% of the pain the 1st time i did it bout a month ago. I have one scheduled for this thursday w my 1st doc and he acted kinda surprised when i mentioned what the other PM doc was doing (he is very partial to the blocks tho as treatment).
Does anyone have any experience w this?

Steroid injections in my upper back, cervical spine, SCM muscles and the back of my head caused my RSD to spread from my right shoulder into those areas. Since the injections I have unable to lay down on the back of my head and my neck is a mess. I suffer from constant headaches, and they intensify for a few days after I do anything strenuos with my arms. I used to vomit from the head pain, but Topamax has helped with that. Still, my head hurts just about ALL the time, especially when I am laying down.

I wish I had been more informed about the possible risks before I had been injected.

Sandy

Sandy,
Do you take anything to prevent migraine? I see, the topomax.
I know the evil that lurks there. (In migraines).

You seem to be describing TOS!

I wake with them, what a way to start the day!

I take zonegran for prevention, and I know that topomax is used as are some other anti-seizure meds.
Maybe you need to try another one?
Works pretty well for me.

Do you use Imetrex, or maltrex? Lots of migraine meds now since Imetrex came out... Some, better than others, for different strokes/folks.

Hope you find relief!

Pete
asb

Hey Pete,

I start with a new PM doc later this week - I will ask him about TOS and see if there is a better med (much thanks for the recommendations). I've had 2 rotator cuff repairs, but have never been diagnosed with TOS. I don't even know much about it - will do some research!!

The weather in the northeast hasn't helped, why do we live here? We've had maybe 3 days of spring this year. The grass is happy, though, very green and needs to be mowed...

Sandy

shogan
i will have my first lumbar ESI on the 26th of this month. they are gonna see if it will work or not.. with having my pump and the stage that my RSD is at its a 50/50 thing.. let me know how this goes for you. i havent had this kind done before

carrie

The weather is NASTY, I don't know what's up with me this week, I was first blaming the weather, but, now I feel like a have cold or something. This rsd, is just terrible at playing tricks on us. I've been feeling unusually terrible for the last four days.

Sandy, when you mentioned that your headaches are triggered or worsened when you use your arms, that's one of TOS's primary effects.
A good hand surgeon can be helpful with the diagnoses, if nobody else makes it.
A tens unit used to give me some relief with the tos.
Now, after having it for so long, just as Dr Schwartzman and his team told me, so many muscles would atrophy, and they have.
I've never had any surgery for it, I know someone who has, I think they take a rib out, but it's mainly a soft tissue injury, and ties right in with rsd..
unfortunately.

I hope you find some relief for those headaches!
Have you tried a chiropractor?

Pete
asb

Hey carrie,
This is my second one. I got relief for bout 2 weeks last time. One PM doc told that it could help for both RSD and a possibly pinched nerve in my neck, but the other doc told me there is a problem in my neck if this worked.
They don't know what to diagnose me w and it is frustrating. I believe that i hav RSD, but they don't want to tell me i do/don't. I know that every1 is different and i hav to hav certain # of symptoms to b diagnosed, but just as i accept this disease they tell me it might b somethin else! I hav had an MRI on my neck and they didn't see anything.
I know this disease is horrible, but i would rather hav it then ot know.
I hope u r doing very well...
God Bless
Sarah

sara

i know how ya feel i was 16 when i got RSd and noone wanted to be responible for telling me that i do /dont mine spread in 5 mnths to everywhere basiclly. and went a year with yes/no DX its nuts

well i hope that it helps my legs seem to be the worst right now and it might not work becuase of my pump we will have to see fingers crossed

carrie

carrie,
I don't think that the ESI helped. Yesterday morning i was at a 4 and today I'm at a 5-6. I hope u get better results.
Sarah

yea me too but i doubt .. lumbar anything hasnt ever been really good for me. would actually make me worse.
but my legs have gotten horrible having atrophy and the pain has just gotten out of hand
sorry you pain is coming back and that the ESI didnt help

carrie