I'm having my first one done Wednesday. I have had all sorts of injections , blocks and a rhizotomy when I broke my back. But I don't think I've had one of these done...

So my question, when I have had injections with steroid in my shoulder and the recent 3 in the joints on my affected thumb and wrist, I had terrible flare. I was told that was normal for steroids. My hand got worse after the second and third, is it possible the first one started the crps? I've had no injury for years and was told likely repetitive movement (cutting hair) could have.
Am I at risk with this of getting it in my neck?
Also are flares "normal" with the sympathetic nerve blocks?

I'm just not sure what to expect and when I don't know what to expect I get really nervous. Guess I like to know it all lol

Hi Jennijojo,

I am excited for you and will send thoughts of healing and comfort. Since the block is stellate you could get the Horner syndrome that another recent poster had. It affects the eye and causes some facial droop. This is transient and doesn't happen to everyone. It means they hit the right spot though so don't panic if it happens.

Can injections to the hand have caused CRPS? Impossible to say, Anything can happen and injections can cause damage even when ultrasound guided. The steroid flare that you got may have been related to what steroid they used. Kenalog is notorious for crystallizing and causing pain. Others do it to a lesser degree but can still cause an issue. Did you let your doctor know about this? It may affect what they decide to use.

I hope this brings you some relief! Wouldn't that be wonderful news!
Sending hugs, Littlepaw

I'm seeing a pattern here how I don't ask or tell my drs enough. Lol. I didn't tell her. Partly because I was excited about her plan and the other reason was because I wasn't thinking about what was in the shot then I came home and read the paper they sent. I was just so excited and hopefully I sat there and smiled and nodded

I'm good with droop I just don't want extra pain in a new place! The injections in my hand were also inside small joints that had little cartilage in so he kinda had to pry them open to get the needle in. Then they crystalized in there and oh wow.
I'm going to also go to pt that day. I'm just so excited....I did the same thing when I was going in to get my back fixed, didn't even ask about after............yeah I wanted to die and there was an extended hospital stay. I was just so excited to have it fixed and thought oh it will feel better yeah no not right away lol
My point in my squirrel story there was that I am notorious to not ask my dr when excited so, because I promised myself after the back surgery i woulnt go in uninformed on anything else, I am here getting some personl experiences

So hard to keep up with the details in appointments isn't it. Do they know you are going to PT same day? Sometimes that is the plan. Ouch on the joint injections, no wonder that hurt!

Hey don't forget to check into the ACE inhibitor when it is an appropriate time. Take the article in case she hasn't heard of this. It is a little obscure.

Increased levels of bradykinin may not be your friend. There are also some bP meds, alpha blockers, etc that can be HELPFUL for CRPS and block extra adrenoreceptors that injured nerves sometimes create. Your PM might have a suggestion for something that could potentially help the overall picture.

I must confess, I haven't taken the ace inhibitor in a few days. I ran out and left camping forgetting to pick it up. I was going to go get it today when we get home. I haven't noticed too much of a difference but it's only been a couple days. I saw a fill in dr who Increased my ace and lowered my beta (I had normal Bp amazingly!) he wrote a note to my gp about a different med to consider that he said would help with rynauds...I was wondering if he confused crps with that or if he's talking about my blood flow issues..but I'm going to absolutely not be shy about talking vs only listening with the pm dr and will def ask about the ace. She did tell me in my visit to be sure to take my Bp meds regularly. But I don't know if she was just saying it cause they can't do the block if my Bp is too high...
(Jeez I'm gabby today lol) I dont know if it's weight loss and major diet change that lowered my Bp or the increased meds.

Jenni,
I had a block done a couple weeks ago and I finally got to sleep!!! My pain level dropped so much I think I slept 2 days straight!!! Then felt really pretty decent for a couple more days...
I did get the droopy red eye but that only lasted a couple hours so no worries!! I can't wait till next injection, hoping it will last longer, and I dispose shots!!!

So there is no increase in pain like with joint injections after?! Nice! I'm excited!!

No, it was nothing like steroid injections, and yes those tended to do more damage than good!! Can't wait to hear how it went for you!

I will update you when I get home Wednesday
When you had yours did you have pt the same day? That's what the doc wants me to do. I don't really understand why though.

Our son had a block done several months ago, by the initial pain dr. who diagnosed him (not the one seeing him now.) They said to let him rest for the day afterwards. However, his current pain dr. at Children's Hospital, when we gave him that history, said he would have had him weight bearing right away after the block. It stays kinda numb for about four hours or so, and I think the idea is to take advantage of that window for pt. After the initial numbness wears off, people have varying degrees of relief from the block. For him, it wasn't enough to make it worth repeating, but everybody's different.