For me Lyrica and Neurontin made my edema a zillion times worse. Now I am on Lamictol and Nortriptalene (sp??) Anyway, I sure do hope you get some relief soon. RSD is enough to make you tear your hair out!!

It's not bad at all, you'll be in and out before you know it! They'll sedate you and you'll lay on the operating table on your stomach. They should have a local anesthetic in so that you really can't feel much and will likely guide it in with a fluoroscopy, which is an x-ray. The rest of that day and the next day your back might be a little sore, but you shouldn't have to follow any restrictions starting the following day. Good luck!!

Hi Karen,

It depends how much sedation is used. I am such weenie, I had the full ride...Diprivan and all. I lost count how many I have had, maybe 13 or 14 now over years, but I am lucky in that they knock out a lot of symptoms for 3 or 4 months. Guess my pain is to an extent sympathetic mediated pain.

The transient unilateral vocal cord paralysis for a day is a pain in the ****, choking on my saliva and all but I'll take for the everal months of feeling better.

I am a weenie too!!! But from what I have heard so far, I will be in the ozone layer when it is done. I hope so anyway. I just hope I am one of the few that gets some relief from it. Thanks to everyone who has helped me out with this on here!!! Karen

I'm such a weenie that I refused the stent my neurologist suggested. So you're not alone...

I have been having the nerve blocks for a year now. My RSD started with a soft tissue injury in my left calf but I wasn't sent to pain mgt for 7 months, then finally had my first block which is usually a diagnostic tool and it only lasted a few days. Since then i've had them every 8 wks except when the doc thought WC was going to order an IME so he didn't want me to be pain free for the examination which never happened.

So far these work well for me and keep my pain levels down as long as I behave. Which means limited walking. Mine has gone to my right leg an it actually behaves worse than my injured leg/foot. I am able to get out, just not wear shoes and socks. I wear over-sized silky lined or imitation lamb's wool lined slippers. I do have a pair of shoes, 2 sizes bigger than before the accident, that I wear when I care about being put together bit more but don't plant walk much.. I use a wheelchair in stores or the mall, and I recently found a mobility scooter at a fantastic price so I can go on "walks" again with my hubbie.

I feel safest inside my home, but the injections, some of which I get anaesthesia with, so he can go deeper, I have lower pain and more courage to go out. After 20 some months I am learning to think about something other than my feet. That in itself is a relief. Learning the balance between what I want to do and what it will cost me in painful consequences has been a hard one for me but I'm getting there. Winter is far more restrictive for me because when I put socks sand boots on the pain causes panic attacks which my hubbie doesn't care for.

The injections work better when you are relaxed and have uncluttered your mind and follow Drs afterwards orders.

God bless you and this time of treatment.

OH! Thank you so much for the helpful info!! I have had RSD for about 7-8 months.(approx.) I was not diagnosed until last month.(i think, i am a little fuzzy). My nerve block is today and I am a little worried about the ride home. My pain doctor is in Nashville and I live 2 hours from there. Will it be a rough ride home?? I can not wear socks or shoes either. And now the symptoms of RSD are starting in my hands. Mainly the right hand but some in the left too. My pain meds are not working and I had a bad reaction to neurontin and lamictol. Not sure what to tell my doctor today about my hands acting up and my meds not working. But, I am and will have a positive attitude...fingers crossed. Karen