Hello all...so I'm home today from work with of all things the stomache bug! The best news is that God is cutting me some slack, and I'm not vomitting...I'll save you on the rest of the graphics...but I cannot imagine how badly that would hurt my neck/shoulder!
I'm on a high dose steroid script....60mg...with a decreasing dose, last time they put me on 40 to start, I ended up with horrible headaches by day 7... wondering if anyone else has ideas on that?
Also has anyone out there had a positive experience with blocks? They called today to schedule mine, but I'm concerned by the few responses that I got on them last week.

Thanks much!
today I'm counting the blessings of others! [just kidding, I can always find one of my own!]

I had very good luck with my blocks. I had 3 Stellete Gangleon blocks and they helped put my RSD into remission. Now I have a block before any surgery I have if it is possible and the blocks have helped the RSD to come back out or spread in those areas.

As far as steroids, are you on them for good or is it just a temporary thing. My husband was on them for just awhile. I was told you are not suppose to be left on them for a long length of time. He couldn't handle them either.

Do try the blocks. I think it's important to see if they will work for you and it takes a series not just one or two.

Good luck,
Ada

I agree with dreambeliever, you need to try a series. The first two I had did nothing for me. But after several I started to notice less pain, but especially noticed less sweating, muscle spasms, emotional "minutes"LOL was able to get a little more rest. Just seemed to calm everything down, it did not go away, but made it so people could be around me without worrying if I was going through the roof when the AC came on or the neighbors dog barking etc. I thought, sometimes a bad thing to do lol, I did not need any more so I told my good Dr. one day I think I"ll skip the shot this month I"m doing so much better. He just looked at me and said OK. About three weeks later I was in his office as sick as a dog--I really do need nerve blocks. I just want to believe that I had gone into remission and wouldn't have problems. I am one of the lucky ones as some people get no relief from nerve blocks. for those people I say an extra prayer, because for a year no one knew what was wrong with me and the PAIN and everything else that goes with RSD was more then I could handle alone. I'll be praying it works for you!!! Good Luck Carose

Hello there, and welcome!!

My PM Dr. had me try steroids (she thought it would help with the swelling... I am not sure if it did), and I did that for 1 1/2 weeks. It was a one-time thing though (she does not want to do them again, she just wanted to try them and see if they helped with RSD symptoms).

Around the same time I started the steroids I started having migraine headaches. My Dr. thought that the steroids could be adding to them, so she had me wean off of them.

My migraines continued after the steroids stopped, so I don't think they caused the headaches. What has caused the headaches in my case is RSD in my jaw/ face. With the jaw pain the migraines started hmm... 3 days later.

My Dr. did mention that the steroids can cause headaches in some cases.

see: http://www.teenbodybuilding.com/mclane20.htm

Is your Dr. using steroids a lot with you? You might want to look into long term use of them. I am listing some sites I have found (note that two are teen sites, btw!):
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/drug_.../steroids.html
http://www.coolnurse.com/steroids.htm
http://arthritis.about.com/cs/steroi...steroids_2.htm
http://arthritis.about.com/od/steroi...s_Warnings.htm


I hope your day is going well! Keep counting those blessings!