Hi. I had my second Lumbar sympathetic block today. It worked 8 hrs. Pain went from a 7-8 to 0-3. Of course now it is bad now that it has worn off. After the first block (worked 5 hrs), I had a numb area in my leg. It went from that to shocky on the edges of the numbness. Then it has been a tearing pain when I moved wrong (enough to take my breath away when I am not paying enough attention to be ready for it). It has been sensitive to clothing and sheets. It has also started burning and aching. The area of the ache has gone from the outer left thigh, just above the knee (about halfway to the hip) to about the hip. I wasn't sure what to think! Sometimes it was bad and others not too bad and if I sit still long enough, it will eventually calm down after the tearing pain (though not always). So...after the 2nd block today, the pain in my thigh is gone. I am not sure if it will come back. But the numbness is still there. Doesn't this mean that that pain is coming from the sympathetic nerves? Does this mean this is spread? I know I need to ask my doc..but I don't have a follow up until a week after my 3rd block. I still have not "technically" been diagnosed with CRPS...though I tend to believe that the official diagnosis is coming.

I am also looking for a new PCP since i am irritated with my current one. For months he treated me like I was whiner from the pain....take tylenol and aleve because anything else really doesn't work type. I kept telling him it didn't TOUCH the pain....still nothing. Then I finally found a podiatrist who would listen and now all this! My PCP did some bloodwork after the podiatrist talked to him. I forgot to ask what I could take to get some sleep...I caught it when I was checking out. Since he was in with another patient I didn't want to bother him and told the nurse to just let me know what he says...(we had discussed the fact that I wasn't sleeping...I forgot to ask my final question). Anyway, the next day the nurse tells me "dr. wants you to make an appointment to discuss what you can do for that."
I was SO MAD. Are you freaking kidding me?! I was in his office the DAY BEFORE...I asked while I was STILL THERE...and I was trying to be courteous by not interrupting him! Make ANOTHER appt? Pay ANOTHER 20%?! I refused....This is the kicker...plus he knows NOTHING about CRPS...not what I need right now. I am trying one a friend recommends. I told the front office to ask if he knows anything about CRPS for me.

Ok..sorry for the book. LOL. I am good at writing these lately.

Thanks for the ideas about what is going on after the block with my leg. =)

Hi kiddos,

A response to a block can certainly indicate that you've got RSD going on. Try to keep moving as much as you can. Is it possible for you to get to a warm water therapy pool? They can be goodsends....and if it's already warm in Arizona right now, try ANY pool that is over 95 degrees. You won't believe how good it feels!! At our last support group meeting here in RI another member told us about a warm salt water pool, which helps even more than a chlorinated pool with the feeling of weightlessness when trying to relax and move your extremities.

I understand about the drafts hurting a lot - I have trouble with a strong breeze on the back of my head where I have occipital neuralgia, and on my neck because of RSD in the cervical spine area. Can you cover your feet with some light socks so the air doesn't hurt them as much? I always have to cover my feet because the wood floors in my house are too cold for me to walk on....

Take care and keep attempting to solve your problems one at a time...Benadryl has dextromethorophan. I would try it if I were you - especially at bedtime. It's works on the NMDA receptors in it which is exactly what the ketamine infusions do that I get. Go for it.

xoxo Sandy

Some days this place is the best pain med I have. It relieves my stress level. I've had 3 blocks, and my issues are in my feet and ankles, so hard to compare. But after the first short lasting one, I did feel like it was spreading but I haven't really felt like that since. The third one seems to have given me more relieve in my brain. Not as much serious headaches, but I also could be doing something different i am taking much more night meds and more BP meds. The second block for me was the great one, and only now 5 months later do I feel the things it took care of coming back. It took away the 'air pump' swelling of both of my feet. Can you spell relief? Because of not knowing what WorkComp was going we had delayed my next block, if I was still working I would be insane, but since I'm home and don't have to put shoes or socks on ever, I'm trying to make a go of it as long as I can.

Honey, everybody on here writes a book at some time or the other. Or if you are like me everytime. The adjustment from working to being home alone has been hard.

I just remembered too that usually I don't recognize the full effect of a block for 10-14 days. But even before my accident I was getting shots for a bad shoulder and it would take time before I felt the full effect. Have they given you any lidoderm patches to slap on there? If not ask for some.

Have a sunny, low pain day
pat e

As I was told by my PM Dr. each block can cause different feelings of relief and sensations. I have nerve blocks for my right hand/forearm so a bit different. The nurse always calls me the following day to check on me and see where my pain is at and if I have experienced anything different. I am by no means a pro at any of this because it is new to me as well but what I have learned with doctors is, you need to advocate for you. Trying to be courteous does not always work and having to wait for a follow up for a few weeks doesn't make a lot of sense if you are experiencing different "abnormal" feelings. I learned with this particular Dr. that I had to speak up (not rudely) ask questions right then and there and not feel bad if she had another patient to go see because I am her patient to. Being in pain, stressing over weird and new experiences only makes life more unbearable for us, the ones suffering to begin with. SO please take a stand for yourself, speak up and be heard with these doctors otherwise you will just be another piece of their assembly line. and by all means continue to ask questions and discuss with us here as it does help, I know it helps me tremendously!!

good luck!!