Hi Karen,
No you are not looney tunes for wanting to be proactive with your body! Some docs just get nervous when their patients question things (which everyone should)esp people with rsd as we have to go through the pain...not them. My dear friend my rsd started in my right foot too (see we can have sympathy for each other now). Unfortunately, my rsd spread from there, mirrored to left foot/leg within a month and I had full body and bedridden all within four months!! My entire body and internal organs began shutting down. It was quite a mess...all when I was learning about rsd. I read postings here where people say they have rsd in only one part of their body for several years and I just shake my head because mine spread like you said wildfire. It only goes full-body in about 7% of all cases...and for me to be diagnosed within 10 days of it happening was a miracle too. As some people go years without a diagnosis.

I had sets of three nerve blocks (for a total of 8 of them) and had worsening after each one. The first one was the best (not) the pm doc never gave me any novacaine or meds to block the pain BEFORE he inserted each of the three injections. With each one I felt the pain shoot down my back into my leg and foot. It felt like I was on fire from the inside. Horrible experience and I about cried from the pain. I never had anything to compare it with and had I known he would do that I would not have let him do so. The next set...I made sure I had valium. Live and learn.

Tell your doc you belong to an rsd chat board and feel concerned about whatever it is that is bothering you and you want to speak to him about it. He should be able to put your mind at ease...if not then go get another doctor. Talk to family and friends and get a referral to a good doctor. Some docs have real bad bedside manners. Relax and be positive going through the process. If it doesn't work then you will find something else. Hang in there and let us know how you make out.
kathy d

Thanks for the awesome pep talk Kathy. Its almost 8pm and I just now got home from the PM doc. His office is hours from the town I live in. I am feeling pretty rough so I will post tomorrow morning about what we talked about and what not. Thanks for being there. Karen (iam going to bed).

Karen,
I am so sorry for the fact that your going through this. I just got on. How did your shot/shots go?

Pretty good I think. He only did one block, the second time for my right foot. They could not get my back numb enough to go really deep?? At least I think that's what happened I was crying from the pain from the block (I did not cry or have pain like this last time). So, he only did the one. Now my back hurts so badly that I went to bed at 8:30pm?? Or so. And now I am wide awake at 11:45pm from pain in back. Is this normal? It sure was sore last time but not screaming to wake the neighbors like this is. I hope I am just being a baby. (Would not be the first time). My BIGGIST fear is that the RSD is in my back. But I am well aware that I am an alarmist and this is just the kind of thing I could flip out over for no reason. I think I need to just make some tea, take a deep breath, and stop being such a freakjob about my back pain. Thanks for Anita, sorry 'bout the long winded answer. Karen ps. How are you doing sweetie?

Karen,
Sorry you had such an issue. I had that and during the procedure I asked for more versed, sorry but I am all about the meds when something hurts. There is no need to make a person suffer when there is all these meds to help.
Back pain is normal. Mine still hurts from time to time, but I think it is because of my bad limp, cause every step I take hurts, I sleep most of the time now in the recliner, and the shots. When they did the trial stimulation my back hurt so bad I didn't sleep and had to take prn pain meds. It took me 2 days before I could even start playing with the stimulator to see if it would help. It didn't. Hopefully tommorrow, which is now today will be better. lol
you get my drift.
If I go to sleep, I'll say a prayer for you.

Karen,
I just got on too and I am so sorry to read about your doc visit. I'm having a bit of trouble this morning too. I don't do well in chilly weather.
Is it cool where you're at? The cooler air can't be good. Did the block do anything lasting for your foot?
I was hoping for you that the doc would be able to succeed in doing both blocks for you and you have relief...

Hi Anita and Jimbo, I am feeling pretty down right now. The symp. nerve block did not work for as long as the one I had two weeks ago. Thlast time I was pain free in my right foot for about 24 hours. This block (also for my right foot) only gave me pain relief for about 8-10 hours. Isn't it suppost to work the other way around? I am also on new ER type pain meds that make my heart race and give me a mild headache. Sheesh...I am in full whiner mode this mornin' folks. Sorry 'bout that... any advice on what body part to have my next block on?? It is in another 2 weeks and I think my PM doc wants to do my right foot again. I'm not sure i want that. I want to start doing them for my hands. What has been your response from your PM docs when YOU suggest the course of treament? Any and all advice is sure welcome. Thanks you guys. BIG *hugs* Karen

Karen,
I'm so sorry it didn't work for you. I think it's suppose to get longer releif each time although my neurologist stopped after the first series in my neck didn't last.
If you have a request for a certain treatment I believe the doc has to at least talk about it. The only thing I have to go by is when I speak to my neurologist about certain areas or symptoms she listens and examines that area but so far I've followed all of her advice. Being that it's our bodies, I would imagine that we should have the last say in what goes on.
Maybe after you tell your doc the block didn't work he/she will be willing to try the other area.
Remember the headaches I was getting in the middle of my brain? The Nortriptyline seems to be helping...

Were these just diagnostic blocks? They usually don't last long.

Sometimes, depending on what was in the injection, it can take 3-5 days for you to feel the full effect. Some have lidocaine which you would notice right away, and depo-medrol which would take longer for you to notice the results. I am always told to go home and put the heating pad on my injection site, and not do any thing strenuous for 36 hrs or so.

Hope you are feeling better.