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Junior Member
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 97
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 97
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joselita
Hey Everyone....
Sorry...but I just felt like I *had* to jump in here. I hope that no one minds.
First...EMG's - They suck. No 2 ways about it. They are done as a diagnostic tool to help rule out OTHER things, and therefore help in the dx'ing of RSD (because if they can't find another reason for the pain...such as nerve impingement or entrapment, then it helps to point to RSD as the problem). I have had ONE and ONLY ONE of these horrid tests done, and don't plan on having any others done in the future. I have had the Nerve Conduction Test done at least a couple of times, though. It is different, as it doesn't involve having to have needles stuck into you. They use sticky electrode pads to try to accomplish the same type of thing. It is just that an EMG is supposed to be more sensitive or whatever. Never Conductions aren't that fun either, but not nearly as bad as the EMG's. At least in my opinion.
Now...about the SGB's and what should and shouldn't happen when there is a GOOD block. You SHOULD get a droopy and bloodshot eye. That is called "Horner's Syndrome" by the way. You SHOULD get a kinda stuffy head cold type feeling (the stuffy nose thing you all are talking about). You SHOULD have a hoarse voice, as they are working super close to the vocal cords, and those things don't like to be messed with (or around) at all. Hopefully you should also have a nice warm (meaning, a more normal temp. My parts are always cold, so I look for a nice warm thing going on after any blocks), more normally pink colored limb (not so much of the weird colors or the mottling going on), and some type or reduction in pain....and possibly even swelling (if you are having any problems with that). The Horner's and what not shouldn't last too long (I think that the longest I had them last was about a day?), although it is a possible rare side effect to have happen permanently. This is all stuff that your docs should have told you. The more normal coloring and temp in the limb should last a bit, as should any reduction in pain (notice that I said "reduction" and not "relief" there....because even some reduction in pain levels is a GOOD thing....even for a short period of time), although they might only last a few hours. The fact that you had them happen at all is a GOOD thing (if you did. If not...try again! Especially if you are in the very early stages here with RSD)!
Personally, there is NO WAY that I would have ANY kind of block done without my doctor using Fluroscopy. No way. I am just not comfortable with anyone "feeling their way around" to try to "find the right spot". Nope. Not having anything to do with that monkey business. The fluroscope allows the doc to better SEE where he is going with the needle that he has so very close to your spine and spinal column. I don't care HOW great a doctor is....I think that EVERYONE can use all the help that they can get, and that they should use the tools available to them, and not just show off big egos by saying "Oh. No. I don't need to use that, I can FEEL my way around." Yeah..right. Whatever. It isn't HIS Neck or Back that is having stuff stuck into it now, is it?
But, that is just my opinion on all of that. 
There ARE different kinds of Sympathetic blocks. I have had SGB's done, but my doc found that doing Thoracic Sympathetic Blocks worked better to help my upper body RSD problems. I still do have the Lumbar Sympathetic Blocks. I don't know about Cervical Sympathetic Blocks.....as I thought that was basically what an SGB was/is? Maybe he is talking about doing something from the back of the neck, instead of the front? I would definitely ask LOTS and LOTS of questions about this procedure he is talking about doing. Things like EXACTLY how it is done, and exactly what the name of it is...and EXACTLY what levels of the Cervical Spine he is talking about doing the block at...those kinds of things, Before I let him do anything. I would also start looking up BUNCHES of stuff about it. That is what I did when my doc wanted to change from the SGB to the TSB. But, he was right; it has been best for me (and yes...as you could probably already figure out, he does this all under the fluroscope.  He does ALL of his procedures using the fluroscope).
I hope that maybe this has helped to answer some of the questions that were going on in this thread? It looked to me like there was a fair amount of confusion going on here. I just thought that I might be able to help shed a little bit of light?
I hope that everyone is feeling a bit better today...and that you all are having a good weekend!
Take Care 
Jose
PS...Closed MRI's are done in the "tube" thing that is so very loud, and that some folks have problems with because of it being such a tight and confining space. Open MRI's are just that; Open. There is no "Tube" thing, and this is what they send folks to that would otherwise have problems with the tighter CLosed MRI machine. I hope that I helped to make that make some more sense too? I have only ever used the closed mri, myself, so I don't know anything about either one giving better pictures than the other. Maybe someone with experience in that matter will post to help with that part? I hope....
again,
Jose
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Hey Jose,
Thanks for the reply and all the great info! I feel like I can use all the advice and information I can get! You're right about the fluoroscopy. I'm sure it would have made all the difference in the world. I live in a small town and they probably felt like they couldn't "afford" it! I went to the University of Chicago first and they basically accused me of self-mutilating myself with a heating pad and of being hysterical. I am definitely going to call around today though and see what my options are. One of the problems also is that I'm self pay right now and it was definitely cheaper to be treated here than up north. I have an emergency hearing on June 6 to hopefully get work comp reinstated and i go to social security tomorrow. I know he pm didn't get it in right place so i wasted $312.00 but more importantly, I lost time. Where do you have rsd? You sound very knowledgable so I'm going to assume you've had it a while? I was diagnosed a little over a month ago, but had some symptoms for at least a year. Well, Jose thanks again, I truly appreciate it!jen
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05-27-2007, 06:36 PM
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