i went in to get my 3rd block today. i hadn't been in (i think) 10 days because of my lovely thrush outbreak and burning mouth syndrome (which is taking its time to leave). by the way, none of the docs or nurses or PT's or OT's that i work with have ever heard of BMS. isn't that weird?

anyway, the blocks so far have been painless except for the little tiny prick from the lidocaine shot. today was terrible. it HURT! my heart started racing and the doc asked why i was so nervous because he saw that my heart rate jumped and i was wincing and actually asked if he was almost done. i SWEAR the other two didn't hurt. now i have a droopy red eye, the right side of my face is numb and my fingertips are numb. this hasn't happened before, although he told me before the first one that the shots could have that effect.

so i am supposed to schedule for either friday or monday for another one and i am scared.

it's funny, though. before the shot 3 people asked me if i took my xanax today... first of all, i don't have any xanax because they didn't prescribe it for me. second of all, CAN'T I JUST BE HAPPY WITHOUT DRUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<sigh>

i just needed to vent. thanks for being my sounding board.

shalom,

angie

all you need to, noone should have to deal with PAIN and side effects from blocks. I have never had any side effects from mine, but I do know you can. Hopefully, the side effects will soon be gone and you'll feel better.
I am concerned about your mouth, if your Dr. did not know about BMS did he say he would research it? Hope it clears up soon!! But if it doesn't and your side effects linger talk to your Dr. about your feelings about having another block. Carose

Hi Angie, Sorry about your experience with the block. I, too, had a bad experience with my second block. Not only was the pain of having the block unusually painful but immediately following the block I had terrible pain in my groin for an hour afterwards. Since the 2 blocks I had were not effective in controlloing my rsd I decided against having any more. When I told the docs they wanted to do a sympathectomy but I said a BIG NO to that. You have to weigh the pros and cons for yourself and decide what is best for you. But, please don't allow them to pressure you into anything that you are not comfortable with. My best to you...Jeannie

Hi ang! My first and third(last ganglion nerve block hurt too) my send block.. I had the droopy eye(horners eye), I believe that is what it is called. This last block hurt me too! I had a blood shot red droopy eye, numb on the far right side of my face, upper shoulder area, by the collar bone.. and the injection site was hurting me terriable!! My shoulder, neck was all red too!! I have an out patient app. in Aug.!! this is for Cleveland clinic!!!! I'm like what?? I also see my P.D. June 6th. he did up my dossage to 300 mg. of the neurotin twice a day. man, this makes me tired! does anyone know how long it takes to get used to this medication without becoming so tired and falling asleep?? thanks all! And Ang, I hope you feel better!! Love, Desi

Hi. I'm sorry your block hurt so much. I have lower RSD and have had a series of 9 lumbar blocks done on 2 week intervals. The blocks were very painful for me (but did in the long run help). I was so apprehensive before each block and just dreaded going through it. My doctor prescribed Ativan for me. You don't have to take this all the time, but only when you really need to. I started to take one before each block and it helped calm me down. If you continue to find your blocks painful you might want to ask your doctor about Ativan as an option.

Good luck to you.

when you get a block for your legs/feet, does it always have to be in the spine. I know it's a strange question, but I had a ESI several years ago (Epiderial steriod injuection). I would rather have a couple more 10lb babies then go thru that again. It hurt soo bad. My blood pressure went well over 200 and the nurse kept saying,,,doc her blood pressure is off the wall,,,but he wouldn't stop. I could hear the needle going rubbing again the bones in the spine. I really don't every want to have it done again. Is there another way?
Mary

Hey angie

Blocks are horrible - I am so glad I only had 2 or 3 (2 with one dr and then a sympathectomy - another reasons drs are stupid - nothing like not telling you what a sympathectomy is - I though it was a dfferent type of block and agreed to it and it was horrible. Shows how stupid I was to not research my options enough. I just figured, "I'm in agony. He says it will help. I want it done now". I also had horrendous side effects from them, far worse than any med I have ever taken.

But hey, blocks do help lots of people so it is definetly worth TRYING!

Love and gentle hugs

Frogga xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

La

Angie, the only other way I know to get blocks done is the Guanethidine type, and you surely don't want those! They involve removing all the blood from the affected limb, applying a tourniquet, injecting the meds, then slowly, in stages, releasing it into your blood stream. You get sweaty and nauseous from it, and occasionally hives as well. I had those types done for the gov't trial of guanethidine, twice a week at first, then once, then once every two weeks, for almost 8 months. They're awful!

I had lumbar blocks done for my legs last year , 14 of them.. 10 on one side and 4 on the other, the right leg was the origional injury but they ended up doing bilateral blocks till the right (compensable leg) stopped getting benifit... ever though the blocks were on the left were working WCB stopped the treatment cause the compensable leg wasnt improving any more! (my vent).

I was three months in the clinic getting the blocks done along with a multidiciplanary aproach to my treatment (PT, OT, Psyc, pain education, body dynamics, councelling etc..) I had a few blocks that left me feeling like I'd beed kicked in the kidneys by a horse, some that numbed me more than expected and one came with a pain in my groin and a numb thigh for a few days.

The one I liked most was one that inadvertantly got a BILATERAL block from the right side into the left.. the mirror spread that had gone unacknowlaged and ignored (by them) was gone and they saw the warming and improved movement ect then they started doing both sides till the right side stopped getting any sustained benifit.

My lumbar sympathetic blocks were done under light anesthesia but I found even the prick of a needle more painfull than normal.. like tooth clenching Dull needle pain.

I feel that the benifit was worth the risks and if I thought they would help I would do them again.

Hugs,
sandra

Hi I had 2 mg. of xanax before each procedure. It did help calm me.. but the pain I still felt. Love, Desi