Hello again, and thank you for those that responded to me yesterday under "time to accept the dx." I saw my Physiatrist yesterday, turns out that the radiologist neglected to note the "lateral protrusion of the disc at C4-C5" on the report that I had faxed to me. It is protruding to the right, so the doc thinks that could be causing some of the symptoms. At first I thought I could breath a sigh of relief...No RSD then eh? Not so lucky. He thinks that I have both the RSD with the protrusion--which I now know is a herniation. The good news is that, now I may have some answers for a few of my symptoms.

The current plan of attack is for a Sympathetic Ganglion Block, for hopefully some relief with the burning, and the sensitivity to touch, pain etc. And then to do an injection at the disc site to hopefully get that "under control".
The doc said that he didn't feel that either procedure was merited to try before the other--I went for the less invasive--the feeling is that I will most likely need both.
He also put me on 15 days of steroids to hopefully help with the current flare-up I am having.
Can anyone give me some personal insight on the Block? I've had facets injections and trigger points, but this one is new for me. Should I plan on time off for work? I get different answers from medicals who have never had them.
Thank you!!

Count your blessings! Find one every day that can make you smile!

I have had the Stellete Gangleon Blocks and they helped me a lot.

All Drs. do it different. I was hooked up to an IV and lightly sedated. I did ok until the 3rd one and I had a bad reaction and we stopped them. The Anesteologist had wanted to do a series of about 18 in all.

The side effects I had the most was talking like Donald Duck and a little bit of swallowing problems for the first 2. The 3rd one I believe I had a panic attack with it and that just made the side effects worse. The breathing and swallowing was so bad that the Dr. decided not to do anymore. As I said though, I was having panic attacks at the time and I believe it made the block side effects worse. The blocks did help all of my burning and pain though. It actually put my RSD into remission in most areas.

I also get the triggerpoint injections. I don't see many people on here that get them. I think they are a great help too.

I am glad they are finding out the problems you are having. I have the TOS, RSD, neck and back problems, hand and arm problems from the falls I have had so I know you can have more then one thing going on.

Good luck with the blocks.

Ada

I felt completely normal after my first block. The pain was gone and all my energy returned. Unfortunately the effects were quite brief.

The third one was a problem for me as well since they missed the ganglion a little and I was temporarily paralyzed. They hadn't warned me that this was possible so I was a pretty frightened about it. I was pretty sure it would wear off as the anesthetic did but they had some trouble with the injection so I feared the worst.

Don't sweat it though. They say the biggest danger is infection.

I suppose I really should point out that there's a little RSD at the injection site.

I have now had 2 nerve blocks. The first one was in my back and it sent me to the er after it. The second one was in my leg. I woke up to my leg beong cold and it started hurting after about 30 minutes.

Hi CB,

Just wanted to say that I'm glad they're looking properly. I have spinal neck problems too, C4-C6, and while the diagnoses weren't welcome, in some measure it explained a lot of things to me and I felt that at least I had a few answers.

I know exactly how you felt, with so much going wrong and nothing to start working on. Good luck with the blocks, I really hope they help, many people swear by them. Although apparently they stop helping eventually, I know people who have had relief for years, so I hope you're one of them.

All the best

Hi

I just wanted to give you my experience.

First of all, I would ask beforehand if they sedate you. Because for my stellate ganglion block in my neck, I was given NO medication - no sedation, no pain medication. It hurt like I can't even tell you. Not only that, I received no relief. I know this is just my experience, but I would hate to have you get there and go through what I went through.