Thanks Lottie!

Nanc, Thank you for all of the support Nanc! I do feel good about my doc and Lord knows that is SO important. So is the support of all of you. Equally so. You all have been through some of this and I have not. I never thought I would let anyone EVER touch that area of my body again. That speaks volumes of where I am at with all of this. I really do get it when you say you’re so sick of it all. <sigh> I’m so sorry hon.

Hey Renee, Yeah, I wish they could put me under. I am being forced to learn how to get my mind in a different space and hold it there. That’s the trick.. holding it there.. UGH!

Again, Nanc... I have no idea how in the world you or anyone else ever did this without some kind of sedation.. omg! BUT I agree that it would be nice to not have to get over the sedation part later that day. BUT BUT lol omg... i dunno...lol. i yi yi.

PamelaJune, I know.. right?! Thank God for all of these incredibly fabulous creatures. They are truly inspiring!

Hey Tessa... what a lifeline you have been for me!!

You have so held my hand through this!! thank you, thank you so much! Like you have nothing else going on in your world but me. And on occasion that has meant what had to seem like a drunk email from me .. “ys, I’v made it thrug today” lol (misspellings intentional) or something like that. Thank you for all the encouragement and helping me think!

I agree that I’m not sure that the procedure(s) had anything to do with the flare(s).

I look forward to your thoughts on RF. FI @ L2 L3 L4 & L5. Original surgery L5/S1. I did ask him about MRN and I asked more of a leading question and wish I had not framed it this way. I ask “what are your thoughts about MRN do you think it is necessary or overkill?” and he said, “yeah it’s kind of overkill.” Now this was a very quick convo and I want more dialog about it. He said more but we had this convo just before this last procedure and it’s not good to talk to me then because I can’t remember a thing.

Group, please remember that my CRPS leg has had issues for 10 years and mirrored to the left. That your calf is actually in two pieces. The right half of mine is completely numb and has been since surgery back in 2004. It gets confused all the time and I have crazy sensations and spasms in it. Along with my right half of ankle and foot and toes. I have a numb streak that runs down my sciatica in my thigh. I have numbness in my back and spine. The worst of my CRPS when I woke from back surgery was my right leg ankle, toes. I was paralyzed from the waist down for a week.

I talked with the PM doc about how my legs were spasming like crazy and how my legs and hips hurt for a few days (all of which id better now) and he said that we turned some nerves off (pain signals) and turned some back on. He gave me a new muscle relaxer to add to the list of meds. But I needed it and I think it’s helping.

Knowing that I responded positive to both the Facet Injection / Medial Branch Block and the Lumbar Plexus Block I’m not sure what to do next. All this messing with my nerves makes me nervous but the alternative is to have this disease consume me. I’m not sure about RF, but I have had 3 neurologist tell me that they’l be no more back surgeries for me, which is understandable .. right? CRPS would flip out for sure and with only ONE back surgery so far and look where that has landed me.

I have an appt coming up Apr 2nd w/ the neuro doc. I think it’s time we chat about the new PM doc (I like him a lot) and how I’ve done some testing, what we’ve found, and what does he think about RF and any other options before proceeding w/ sympathetic blocks.

So I’ve got to fax in my pain log for the Bilateral MBB and I guess they’ll call me to meet w/ him again, then go meet w/ the neuro doc, make a decision and execute!

Meanwhile... edit!!! it’s tough to sit in a chair.. ugh! ...ouch! My upper back is still sore. This is CRPS and just the way it is and why I have to do something. Lower back a tad sore too.

I know that you all are also fighting.. every single day we fight. We are tougher than others will ever know and sometimes tougher than even we ourselves know. It is daily, and it is in so many different ways. It’s like some other aspects of life; unless you have experienced it, you just can’t fully comprehend it.

Thank you so much for being there for me!

Vrae, you're there for the rest of us too lol, you deserve the support

My back feels pretty screwed these days, and once I've had my results confirmed I'd like your opinion on my situation! A gal with your experience is so valuable....like a little pot of gold

You're doing so well, Vrae. Keep at it and never let the beast grind you down too far.

And everyone else here, you too guys. You too.

Bram xx

Hey Bram, I'm so sorry about your back hon. Back pain is terrible. I have to give credit where credit is due though. I don't know if I would have done the second test had I not had the encouragement I had from Tessa (via email). She also help me to think about how my back was playing into a larger CRPS picture. How to try and get my mind in a good place before these procedures and a few other things that have been very beneficial.

That, and the doc office was moving pretty quick, so before I had a ton of time to think about it, i just did it. lol

Regardless, I definitely would like to hear about what's going on with your back when you're ready to share, and hopefully offer up something useful. I'm gonna try not to let it grind me down Bram As always, thank you for being here for me! I know that you too have really had a rough few months. Okay.. I know it's longer than that... BUT it's been extra special these last few months. <sigh> Hang in there!!

I hope you feel better too Bram. I'm sorry you're in so much pain. I have bulging discs in my lower back. Happened when I was little while sledding backwards into a wooded plank. I also have scoliosis which doesn't help. I recently had an MRI on hips and back and was diagnosed with osteoarhtritis. There is not much they can do about it. I hope that your dr can help you out. Mine suggested PT. Maybe that might help you. I hope that something helps you so you feel better soon.
And Vrae, I just wanted to tell you that maybe be put under for nerveblocks isn't so great to do. I forgot how lousy I felt afterwards. I coughed and sounded like a duck when I did and couldn't swallow for about an hour after being put under. It's a reaction to the anestesia. It is normal they say, but very uncomfortable. I hope that whatever you do you feel better soon too.
Soft Hugs to Everyone Here on This Forum. With Love, Renee.

Vrae,

Sorry I'm so late posting here. I've not been keeping up very well lately.

I am so sorry you are having such a hard time with the blocks. They are not particularly fun. I had one SGB (neck) without sedation. I didn't have more because I didn't get any relief from it. It was definitely unpleasant. I just told myself that it was only temporary, it wouldn't go on forever.

You said you were going to do a series of blocks. Do you know how many that will be? I really hope that they work for you. I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Kim