Hi Everyone...
I usually frequent the Thoracic Outlet Forum, and I normally read thru the threads on the RSD site. But today, I thought it would be the right time for me to start posting here.
My name is Dawn and I have had bilateral TOS for almost 4 years now and surgery twice on my right brachial plexus. I just had a re do almost 2 months ago on Jan 06. Three days following my second surgery I started to have hypersensitivity, a pink hue, and extreme tenderness on the inside of my right arm between my elbow and my arm pit. My Dr initially thought it was the ulnar nerve waking up as it had been heavily encased in scar tissue. So we gave it time to resolve itself. One month passed with no change and my neuro surgeon told me that there was a concern that RSD could be in the works and we should think about a Stellate Ganglion Block at my next follow up. But prior to the block he wanted to get me started on a medrol dose pack. The medrol dose pack only gave me minimal relief and that was a decrease in the sensitivity. Two weeks later the nurse practitioner told me that I could do the block or wait 2 more weeks and see if the problem further resolved itself. At the time I had a pretty bad head cold so I had to put it off as I didn’t want to proceed with the block while I was sick.
Well, today I have made the appt for my block on the 26th. It will be 2 month from that day that my symptoms began. I spoke with the nurse practitioner and she agreed that we should proceed with the block. I have noticed some mild swelling in my forearm and occasional burning in my right hand recently. The extreme tenderness remains as well as the sensitivity.
I had hoped this would have resolved on it’s own but it looks like I might be in it for the long haul. If this block ends up showing RSD in one way or another than I am sure I will be asking for a lot of advice...
I have had great advice from Hopelivehear and Buckwheat throughout all of this.
If anyone could offer there advise to me on what I can expect with this block. I have read many threads and researched the web but it would help to get some personal experience from anyone who may have developed RSD from a surgery and how they responded to there blocks.
I guess I am just getting a case of the jitters and could use some words of wisdom .
Thanks so much
Many Hugs
Dawn