Good morning. Does anyone have personal experience with a stellate ganglion nerve block? Good results? Bad results?

I'm scheduled to have one tomorrow for the RSD in my right arm. I am at my wits end and need pain relief, but I'm afraid this is just going to be one more things that does not work. My pain management doc metioned in passing the minor side effects, without any great detail. When I started reading, I thought well, holy crap, perhaps he could have given me just a tad bit more info that I left with.

Hope you all have a wonderful day. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Maggie

I had 3 of the SGB"S. Some say they were awake when they had them. I was put under for them. When I woke up, I had the droopy eye and sounded like Donald Duck. They did help me though.

The 3rd one I had, I had a bad reaction but I believe it was due to a panic attack I had about having it. I had trouble breathing after it but it didn't last that long.

My brother use to talk like Donald Duck and I use to try to and that made me think of him and laugh when I came out sounding like that.

I had an Anesteologist that did my blocks and I trust them more the PM Drs. but that's me. They work in the hospitals and know how to administer the meds therefore I feel they have more experience at doing the blocks.

The main thing is that it might help put your RSD into remission. I hope that's the case for you.

Ada

I've had very mixed results with mine.....I've had 5 so far and the first was ok. I had a few days of relief. My second was better and I had a whole week of relief. The third & fourth didn't help at all & then I had one yesterday and although it seems like the constant pain is not there, I am having these deep shooting pains when I try to use my bad arm.

Dreambeliever, it's funny that you had a panic attack about having it, because I was scheduled to have one 2 weeks ago & I normally pre-medicate with valium before I go & I ran out. I had assumed that they were going to give me something when I got there & they didn't. The next thing I knew, I was crying uncontrollably, right there in the office, I started spinning & I ran out of the waiting room.

All my hubby could do was reschedule another appointment.....They must have thought I was crazy. I felt so bad when I went back in yesterday.

Dreambeliever....I reread my post & thought "oh my heavens....I called her panic attack funny!!!"

It's not funny, it's just peculiar, because I have the same problem

Hi Ada....I appreciate your response to my question. I had the block done yesterday, after several nervous days, a minor panic attack yesterday morning, and a long talk with the doc and he and my mom assuring me that it was the sensible thing to do. I had some trouble swallowing for a while, but that eventually passed. Didn't have the droopy eyelid, but my face was really red on the right side, as well as my arm and hand, but that eventually passed also. I still feel like I've got a knot in my throat and it's somewhat uncomfortable, but nothing I can't handle.
Today it's back to work...oh joy joy.
Have a wonderful day.

Maggie

It is funny that we both had the panic attacks. I am allergic to valium or I probably would have been popping them. I have never ran out of a waiting room but I can't tell you how many times I wanted to. What I have found lately is that I have trouble even keeping Dr. appts. I can't make myself go.
I have one in Denver on the 9th and I am going to make myself do this. Twist my arm, I guess. LOL

Maggie, I do hope you have this block. It might just get you back to where you can work. Mine did help me a lot. I do want to say also I have had more then 3. I have had 4 before surgeries. They waited until I was asleep to do them.

Good luck,
Ada

Hi Tink-r-bell....thanks so much for your reply to my question. I had the block done yesterday, so we shall see how well it works. Right now it seems not to have worked as well as I had wished. This was my first one and when I felt a panic attack coming I was ready to call it off....but I got through it. Doc told me it will take more than one. I keep looking for that miracle cure, but so far have not found it. I've fought this so long that I've retrained myself and am becoming left handed now....I'm not holding out any false hope that the nerve blocks are going to make a big difference. I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that the pain is going to be there forever, so I've learned to compromise and do so many things differently now....my handwriting with my left hand is still now exactly wonderful, but it's legible and it'll get better.
Have a wonderful day
Maggie

Sorry, I read that first reply to me. You had already had the block. They do like to do a series of them. Mine did help me but I went through almost 4 years of PT and also get triggerpoint injections when needed.

Don't reside yourself to thinking you will not get better. It can be done. I was so bad off that several people thought I was going to die. I actually had to sign a living will for my Dr. but with the right help, you can get better and you will.

Ny right hand and arm is the worst. I have had 5 surgeries on that side but I can use it now. My fingers still spasm up at times and the weather changing sets me off but I can use that arm and hand. It wouldn't even do for me to try to use my left hand to write. My left hand won't do anything my brain tells it to. LOL

Seems like we all deal with panic attacks don't we?

Ada

I'll definately cross my fingers (on my good hand) for ya & hope that the blocks work. This is my last shot at the block before we move on to the spinal stim. (I really am on the fence about that one )

ihave had the procedure, my md is great she puts me out and she has been using ketamine with the blocks and i've feel ok.