Oh team.....my block did not go well. This was my first one and by the time I got home (20 minutes later) my foot was swollen twice its normal size and red and hot (I never did get the "warm" sensation that I've heard is supposed to happen). The swelling makes it hard to walk again. I had to take a Vicodin before I even left the hospital parking lot. I am so depressed. I was so hoping that this would do SOMETHING to at least give me hope. I was able to move my foot around while still in the hospital so I don't know if the swelling is from the block itself or a response to me moving it around so much (I was elated at first that I seemed to have more mobility in it). I may go try to soak in Epsom salts to see if that will help with the swelling. I'm supposed to have another block next Wednesday. I don't know if he will proceed with that since this one did not work. I've called his office to let them know. They told me to stay on the pain meds. Did anyone else have this reaction??? I feel pretty certain he just didn't get the injection in the right spot. Any suggestions???

I'm sorry you are in pain!
Epson Salt soaks are wonderful...

Abbie

Yes......I called him around 3 and spoke to the nurse. She assured me she would tell him. I actually just did an epsom salt soak.....I'm at least trying to wiggle my foot around (mobility wise) like he told me to. Hubby went out to get me some salmon for dinner......at least I'll eat healthy tonight. Thanks for writing!!

I am sorry. I just have never seen blocks be a total solution, although others may have. I know this is disapointing, I am not sure whether I would try this again or not, I did not have those same results. I had three series of 10 each Stelate Ganglion blocks, certainly not in my injured limb, and I got relief however temporary. I was in the recovery room for a few hours after and monitored closely. Things are probably different now, as well. I wish there was something I could say or do that would really help. Just know that I wish you all the best. You are in my prayers and thoughts. Rest for now. Love Diana

Sorry to hear it didn't go well. It could be that it simply didn't work for you or that the block wasn't correctly placed - there is no way to tell after the event.

I had a lumbar sympathetic block shortly after my diagnosis and mine didn't work from a therapeutic perspective. The block was clearly correctly placed in my case - it simply didn't give me any therapeutic benefits. It is becoming apparent from the more recent CRPS literature that the view is changing a bit on these blocks - they are not regarded quite so much these days as just such an effective treatment option as they used to be.

I guess you have to be guided by your doctor's opinion on the benefit of doing another one. If he feels it is worth it, you may get a better outcome which would be great. If not then at least you have tried but it is probably important to accept that there are lots of people for whom they don't provide a therapeutic benefit. If you don't feel ready to have another one done next week - ie if your symptoms still seem worse then why not ask if the next block can be postponed until your leg has settled down a bit. In the UK (even going privately) they would not do the blocks so close together - they wait a number of weeks in between to give them a chance to assess the effect. Best of luck.

Thanks so much for responding. Yeah, I don't know if it was correctly placed or not. I've always thought my body was a bit out of whack of where things are and where they're supposed to be. My legs were twisted when I was born.....had to wear full casts at 6 months and leg braces until I was two. I've had odd health problems my whole life. I've had steroid injections in my back for back problems a few years ago.....they didn't work either and actually made it worse. The same for TMJ.....had injections in that joint that locked my jaw shut for 2 months. I think my nerves are just not in the right places. We'll see what he says next week about a second one. OH......I itched TERRIBLY upon waking after the procedure today. I had a rash all over my chest/stomach.....they had to give me Benadryl in my IV. I'm really sensitive to any steroid.

I was just SO much hoping that since they've caught this so early in me (just started symptoms a month ago) that the blocks would help......at least HELP.....even a little. I literally don't know what to do now. I read all these horror stories about the different meds that are used for this.....I don't want to be on ANY of them. My 5 year old daughter keeps asking when I'm going to feel better. I don't know what to tell her (she prays for me every night).

Hopefully I will find myself feeling better emotionally tomorrow. Somehow I will make it through this. I realize it could be MUCH worse. My pain is manageable with Advil/Vicodin. The swelling is what is causing so many problems. It is keeping me from being able to exercise my ankle properly and swells every time I'm up for 5-10 minutes. I have to be very diligent to watch any sock I wear. My foot will swell around the sock and start throbbing. I cannot sleep in one as a result (so touching the sheets is miserable.....plus, it's chilly in Indiana!).

Ok.....I'm going to pull myself together and quit feeling sorry for myself. Tomorrow is a new day!! I wish all of you a peaceful and pain-managed night!!

The blocks are most effective if administered early in the process. I understand they often "cure" the disease.

It's not unusual for them to administer it in the wrong place though it seems strange it would cause a flare.

The one and only block I had was horrific. It put me in 10+ pain for 2 months afterward! Holy cow I was so miserable! I couldn't sit,stand,lay down, nothing!! I said I must have looked like a fish out of water doing all that flopping around. LOL I've known many others who were put into more pain because of the block than before they had it done. It just sucks and really disappointing when it doesn't work.

I'm sorry you didn't have better luck with it though. It does sound like an allergic reaction to one of the meds in the block too. I guess wait and see what your doc says about it as to whether it'd be worth it to try again or not. The best way to make sure a block is done correctly and place where it should be is having it done under Fluoroscopy, which is a big word for live xray. It shows the doc exactly where the needle is so as to put it in the nerve bundle.

Gymjunkie is correct on the views changing about the blocks. It doesn't seem to matter how "early" you get them done. They're not a very good diagnostic tool which is what many doctors used to go by. There are many factors involved as to why blocks fail. One is a individuals reaction to the block itself. The biggest reason is whether the rsd is SMP or SIP. Sympathetically Maintained Pain seems to respond better to pt and blocks. Sympathetically Independent Pain is much more difficult because it doesn't seem to respond to blocks at all or very little and pt also seems to set the pain off easier.

Here's a link that explains SMP and SIP. Just scroll down a little bit, it's title is in bold print. http://www.rsdconsultants.com/crps_abstract.htm

Another one that is good: http://www.nationalpainfoundation.or...TO_Surgery.asp

This one is really good: http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/...ekhail.htm#box

Hope these help understand it all a bit better. Education is our best friend trying to understand all the components of rsd and the how and why of the things we feel and go through.

I fully believe this is why I had the reaction I had to the block. As always though, it really is an individuals body that determines everything from blocks to meds and how they react or don't react to it.

Hugs,

Karen

I've had like over 20 blocks, the ones i had for my left arm never worked, i think i had them too far after i initially got hurt... when i broke my foot i had a few lumbar blocks right away and they did help with my swelling and keep the pain from getting super intense... and when i started to spread to my right arm i got them right away for that too... just cuz i knew they needed to be done like asap. its pretty much a hit or miss i think with blocks... they've never gotten rid of my pain or other symptoms... just kinda kept them from getting super bad when done early enough.

Yeah.......HOLY COW.......SOMETHING they put in my IV (apparently AFTER they put the "chilling out" meds in) caused my hand to BURN like a MF (I believe I woke up and used that term as it went in). THAT was honestly the worst part of it. It woke me up out of my nice mellow state and felt like they had just injected hot burning acid into my hand. Anyone else had that??? Hubby said I looked like I had a severe sunburn when I woke up......ALL over my entire chest and tummy. The Benadryl worked and I didn't have to take more.

So......the morning after my block.....I am doing ok. The swelling has subsided, I won't know until I hop in the shower as to whether the color changes are still there (I'm assuming they are.....ankle turned BLUE last night). The allodynia seems a bit better.....it's mostly on my toes now (MAN, I wish those pesky ants would quit gnawing away at them). I can, at least, touch my foot and it just feels numb, not like glass is being rubbed into it (although that symptom has been coming and going over the past week anyway). I have a hair appointment this morning......will have to do a lot of sitting. THAT should be the test.....letting my foot dangle. If it swells (like it usually does when I'm upright), I will assume there has not been a lot of improvement. We shall see....

I tried to switch my mood to "optimistic". I thought there was one that said that. Apparently not. I chose "fine" since I was "buzzed" last night (one glass of lovely Cabernet) and "hungover" is not applicable. They SHOULD have an "optimistic" mood. We deserve at least to feel that, right???

You're all correct......at this point, I should be looking for ANY improvement for ANY of the symptoms....not expecting a sudden "cure". I should know well enough to just lower my standards and then I'm not as disappointed when good things don't happen!!

I have a friend who always quoted two things (I used to think of her as "cynical".....by golly, there's a button for that one here!!......I've found a lot of truth in these statements in the past decade). One is:

"The best way to avoid death is to avoid life".
The other (with my personal twist on it):
"Trust no one".

I chuckle as I write these. I try not to take things too seriously. While there may be truth in both statements, it is not a great way to live, and I have found myself more and more alone in life adhering to them. I choose to be "fine" today since optimism is not available at the moment!!
I'm off to get my hair done now so I can look PRETTY lying in the bed for the rest of the day!!

Best wishes to all for a pain-managed day!!!