I have had two lumbar sympathetic nerve blocks I am supposed to have another in 2 weeks.
The first one was bad. I kept asking is it going to get worse and hurry. The second one was unbearable. I yelled cryed and was breathing so hard the dr. made me feel bad and said It sounds like you are having a baby. Are they supposed to be so bad? I'm not a big baby, I have had shots in my heels, shoulders, wrists, spinal things for my lower back and have never felt anything so horrible. I cried all the way home and slept for 2 days, I think from shock. Anyone else have this?

Hello, stllaborette.

When I had them I was offerred and accepted sedation the first time, but it made me too groggy to work the rest of the day, even from home. Thereafter, I had no sedation and, except for a twinge or two, which the anesthesiologist would announce in advance, I had no issues at all, and could then drive myself to the office. The procedure was however guided by flouroscopy (in effect, real-time x-ray) to insure that the needle hit its mark, and nothing else.

Do you recall whether your doctor used flouroscopy? (S/He would have been wearing a lead apron during the procedure.) For your protection you wouldn't want it any other way.

That said, others may have had the same experience you did, with all the safeguards in the world. I don't know.

Mike

You should try asking for sedation. Or if you are in a lot of pain in the recovery room then ask for it there.

When I was getting nerve blocks they really hurt. I got them with sedation then when I was in the recovery room they gave me some medication so I would sleep for the rest of the day.

Sounds like a pretty bad experience to me. I believe you when you say you're not cry baby. If you're not having any problems at that site or a referred painful effect from it, it should be ok I would think.

So sorry you had to endure that. I hope it at least you got relief from the procedure.

You've earned the "Tough Man" award in my book.

I've had 3, the most recent was today at 4pm, and, with the exception of relatively minor discomfort at the injection site, I've had really no pain at all. I would NEVER do it without sedation, ever! The sedation that I have is really easy. I go in, lay down on the table, they put a syringe into my IV, and off I go to sleep. Procedure takes about 30-40 minutes and I usually wake up withing 15 minutes of the end of the procedure. Today, I woke up, ate some crackers and had some ginger ale and was immediately ready to leave. I was groggy for an hour or so, but other than that, I'm feeling pretty good. Legs are still warm, a good sign, and no pain in the RSD leg at all at the moment.

I can't imagine why you've had such horrible experiences with them, but maybe you want to talk to a different doc or something? I do highly recommend the sedation, though, just in case it has something to do with the way your brain is responding to experience as a whole.