[IamJenn]

Hi all,

I've been a little MIA lately. Been going thru A LOT pain wise and with other things. I have a question......Yesterday I went in to get my 1st Lumbar Injection. I've had MANY Stellate ganglion blocks, but never the Lumbar one. Anyways....what was told to me was that the actual injection would not hurt. YEAH RIGHT!!!! I felt every thing even with the numbing meds. Right after the 5 minute procedure, the site of the injection as well as my entire left leg hurt like nothing I ever felt before. It became warm to the touch and red. My knee cap felt like someone was stabbing it will knives and my upper thigh and lower calf to my foot began to swell like I was Popeyes twin sister. The swelling was intense and so was the pain. The top and bottom of My left foot felt as though it was on literal fire and when I took my sock off it was soooooo red it was scary! The top of my foot looked as though it wasn't going to fit into my slip on shoe thing. I left and it was still bad all day and nite and don't get me started on being able to sleep...because that was non existent! I guess I did fall asleep but I wake up this morning and my leg is STILL swollen still painful, I can't walk on it which I couldn't before but putting any type of pressure on it is unbearable. It is still swollen red and warm. HAS ANYONE GONE THRU THIS AND IS THIS THING NORMAL????? They said I should feel relief within 24 hours......ummmm yeah NO! No relief in site and it's just worse than what it was before. Someone please respond. I need to know if this is normal or if I need to back and get seen again.

Thanks in advance,
Jenn ��

[BioBased]

Jenn,

Hopefully someone with experience will soon respond. The outcome you describe sounds really horrible and I am sorry you have to experience this.

I recall the fear and anxiety I experienced when I had an unusual, but bad reaction to a drug that was supposed to help me. It seemed like CRPS had spread to both my arms, hands, mouth and face, it took weeks for the reaction to fade. I know that yours is not the same situation, but I hope it turns out that you have a similar end result: it leaves you.

[Hopeless]

Hi Jenn,

I do not have RSD/CRPS, but I DO have several spinal problems. I have had spinal injections and blocks.

It does NOT sound OK nor normal to me, but, I don't know. I would not personally be satisfied to just "wait it out". I would definitely call them. Just MY take on it.

[Becca71]

That doesn't sound ok at all. I had a lumbar sympathetic nerve block and had no physical symptoms on my legs at all post procedure. My back hurt like HELL but not my leg. I would contact them right away.

[NurseKris]

Immediately following the block there should be an increase in temperature to the affected limb(s). This increase is indicates a "successful" block. By successful I mean the proper nerves were targeted. Often times a thermometer strip is placed on the feet to show the increase in temperature.

However you should not be experiences a great amount of discomfort. Personally I would call you PM and describe what you are feeling. I would expect an increase in warmth and some redness but it would be hard to say how much without knowing your baseline. My first block I had an increase in temperature but it was hard to tell if there was a color change because my baseline is red/purple with extreme swelling (I posted some pics in the picture sticky). My second block was ruled unsuccessful because there was no change in pain or any other symptoms.

My overall personal advice is to contact your doctor and see what they suggest. Most PM offices will call a day or two after the procedure as a follow up and this is the perfect time to tell them what is going on. They usually will talk to the doctor and then call you back with recommendations. With my PM the nurse called and I found this to be best because this eliminates having to leave a message for the nurse to have her/him call you then explain your problem , have them talk to the doc and then call you back again. However if your office does not do this or you feel you need to talk to them ASAP then by all means please call them.

You know your body better than anyone else. You know what is normal for you and remember what may be normal for me (or anyone else) may not be normal for you. Don't ever be afraid to trust your gut. Good luck and keep us posted!

[Hopeless]

Hi Nurse Kris,

I know if I were Jenn, I sure would be feeling better after reading YOUR post. Thanks.

My reactions after the procedure and the 24 hours that followed, would have been like Jenn's, .....concerned and wondering if this were normal.

You made ME feel better. I hope your post did the same for Jenn.

Your last paragraph was so perfect, as was the entire post. Everyone is different and normal may differ from person to person.

[IamJenn]

So......I called my pain management doc, the one who performed the procedure at 9am this morning. It's now 3:30pm Hawaii time and he calls me about 45 minutes ago and here's his response:

Dr: Hey Jenn, it's Dr._____. So what's going on?

Me: (irritated and in hella pain) Well....I already told your front desk girls TWICE already but okay here goes it....Is it normal for me to be in this much pain AFTER that injection? To the point where the injection site hurts like hell, my left hip and left butt cheek is painful that I can't sit or lie down well AND my entire left leg from thigh to bottom of foot is at a pain level I never experienced before even with CRPS? Also the entire leg is red, swollen and no longer warm but hot to the touch? Oh and it feels like someone is stabbing me with ginzu knives all around my knee cap as well as the top and bottom of my foot? And btw....I'm having low grade fever all day of 99.7? Is that fricken NORMAL???????

Dr: Well the question is....did the injection help you at all afterward?

Me: Help?!Really? No it did not, in fact it made it worse!!! The drive home was excruciating! I went in prior to the procedure with a pain level of a 9 and as of this moment my pain level is now at an 85....So no it definitely did not help.

Dr: Well since it didn't help, have you done an MRI of your back?

Me: I've done so many MRI's I don't know if one of them was specifically for my back why are you asking?

Dr: Because if it didn't work and now you're in more pain, you "probably" don't have CRPS and now we have to treat you for something different. I will need you to come back in this week so I can examine your back, take an MRI and do another injection for that.

Me: Wait what? You wanna do another injection after I just finished telling you how bad this first one was?

Dr: Yes, but a different type of injection.

Me: Uh yeah hold up homie.....why don't you examine my back first before YOU make any hasty decisions on any more injections. And I find it quite weird that after 10 years of YOU saying I have this disease that now you're going to tell me I don't have it anymore! So what the hell were you treating me for something you think I've never had yet I have every criteria known to man?

Dr:

Me: Hello? Are you still there? So in the meantime before I can get an appointment set up....what do I do about this pain? Do I double up on my meds? Do I go to the ER? WHAT DO I DO??!!!?!!!???!!!

Dr: Like I said, make an appointment and we'll talk more about it.

Me: OMG how do I know they'll fit me in tomorrow? I'm suffering NOW....what do I do NOW??!!

Dr:

Me: Yeah okay you're really not helping me right now. Just FYI....if indeed this crap gets any worse....I'm having my husband take me to the hospital!!!!!

Dr: Uh okay I need to get back to my other patients. So just make an appointment and I'll see you then.

Me: yeah okay whatever's (and then I hung up on him)

I'm sooooooooooooooo frustrated!!!!! I have no answers and I'm in pain and ****** off!

[Hopeless]

Hi Jenn,

Do you have anything for pain to help you get through the night?

I would be upset, too. I think I would go park myself on his doorstep (office) first thing in the morning and request to be seen. (Appt. or NO appt.) If told, I could NOT be squeezed in, I would make a big scene in front of all the other patients in the waiting room.

OK, maybe I am just reacting and would not do that, but maybe I would. I don't know.

I just know I would be very confused, frustrated, ticked off, etc., just as you are right now.

Please keep us posted as to what happens and how you are doing?

The next I say is NOT advice in any way as I am NOT familiar with RSD/CRPS. But just based upon the "heat", "swelling", will applying ice packs be of any help? Or is that contradictory in your condition?

Are you able to take anything to prevent or reduce a fever if one develops a higher temp during the night?

Getting through tonight is the main concern and then getting proper medical care from someone during regular hours tomorrow is the next step.

I sure hope you can find some relief tonight.

[Becca71]

Yeah I might consider the ER at that point. And maybe a new doctor, considering his attitude. Wow.

[Hopeless]

If you feel you can not make it through the night, then a trip to the ER may be necessary but I am not sure how much help that may be since the pain has escalated by the injection. I am just guessing here, but under your specific circumstances, I think an ER would only be able to prescribe or give you some pain relieving medications to get you through the night and then have you follow-up with your doctor.

The only other alternative for the ER personnel may be to admit you to the hospital for further care.

I am just "guessing" here so please take what I have to say with a grain of salt as they say. I am NOT speaking as someone with any knowledge, just opinions.

Wishing you speedy relief. PLEASE let us know how your night was when you are up to writing us.