Ok so last week was the lidocain iv infusion which gave no relief and whether a fluke or not that night and the next day horrible pain. Then yesterday the first lumbar sympethetic block. After the procedure into the night was so much pain and this was taking meds that I usually don't like darvocet. My pain area is inner ankle/foot/calf of left and spread to the right but to a lesser degree so he did the left. Anyhow the foot warmed up a lot like hot but the pain was so bad and like my foot got run over and the same pain but began increasing through the later day into night. I still felt the inner ankle pain too. It felt more swollen as well. The right even feels worse today but still not like the left. It seems calmer then yesterday and last night though I would consider today horrible leg day but in comparison to the last hours which was horrid. So now my choices with this doctor is temp scs or differential blockades which I am not that familiar with. Or to not do anything except meds for awhile or look into ketamine with another doc maybe. I have an apt next Thurs for actually a block which is a big no since this was bad but he said if this did not help it could be the apt to talk about next steps though I may call today because my pain actually increased. I am not happy obviously as this has been 2 years and more pain is not acceptable. I also have peripheral neuropathy and really though I have seen almost every specialty and diagnostic test I feel something else too so I am wondering if these treatments are not right and am fearful to do a temp scs with these less invasive increasing pain. I am sorry I am all over just don't know what to do. The way I was living was not good doing less invasive but this yesterday was worse so I don't know. Thanks for listening and any thoughts

I was wondering if stress from having the treatments could have made your pain worse also. I believe we do become more stressed out when we are getting some of these treatments. Are you on antidepresants or muscle relaxers? They might help to relax you and help with the pain.

My stress makes me tighten up. That's what we are working on now in PT. I am like a rubberband stretched to the limit and it causes my body to tighten up.

Also as far as the SCS, make it your last resort. I don't remember if you have been in PT. If you are then I hope it's someone not making you do things you can't do. What I am getting in PT is triggerpoint release, stretching of muscles, and massages.

I do believe that stress is a big factor in making our pain worse until we do get some of the stress and pain under control.

Feel better soon.

Ada

Hi Daniella,

I had a SGB block on Monday and I think I was flaring a bit on Tuesday. I always feel lousy for a day or so after my blocks, probably because I get so stressed out about them (like Ada suggested above). Today I am starting to see more of an improvement in my symptoms. Usually I am good for a few weeks afterwards - so maybe you should give yourself a few days to chill and see how you feel. I know that my shoulder (site of my original injury) and neck and head are goners (i.e. - they no longer respond to the blocks), but my other symptoms always seem to get better, like the rashes and burning and numbness, etc. I am hoping that this time around the block will help alleviate a new symptom which is driving me crazy - I ITCH!! It's even waking me up a night!

Good luck, Sandy

When someone mentions itching, I start. I'm thinking that word should be taken out of the dictionary and can't be used. Last week I was itching like crazy.

Daniella, give those blocks a chance. They usually do series and I see so much good come out of them even though some don't always get relief.

Ada

Hi and thanks. See I do agree that stress and anxiety/depression play a role but this pain I have been in for 2 days is way different. I rarely ever take narcotics before these procedures. Even when I should I don;t and now am back to again taking them and still in high pain. My pain doctor though will squeeze me in tomorrow at 7:30 which I am thankful for and for right now I am ok taking meds to help me through. I am on daily Cymbalta,klonopin,and serequel. I will keep you updated and thanks.

I do agree that stress could make it worse. Did you take the pain meds before the injection or asap after like we discussed? I am wondering if the pain got ahead of you. I know that the pain was making you fearful....try and get something for anxiety before you go into a procedure, I am sure the docs will understand. Did they do it with sedation? Sorry it didn't quite work well for you, it could be it will take a few days (I know that is the dreaded verse you never want to hear again) but it may be true. Don't let all your hope be sucked away. Remember mind and body and how they work together...will that sucker to work. If not at least visualize the pain floating away...or some other technique you have used before. I am so sorry it didn't help but sometimes they have to play with the kinds of meds they use. I know my doc used a different med this time...it didn't work either but I know they can use different stuff. Find out what he used on you and maybe try something different. Also, think of quality of life here- if the pain from a scs being put in may be worth the benefit in the long run. Talk to others with it...maybe try HBOT I know some have thought it was great and it is non-invasive so shouldn't cause pain....have you done it yet. I am thinking of trying reflexology since they can do it on unaffected parts of your body (hands, and even ears....at this point I will try anything. If you need anything you know I am here.
lots of love,
Jennelle

I had a 2 month long flare after the one and only block I got. I'd had rsd over a year by that point. The reason it happened is because my pain was SIP or sympathetically independent pain. No amount of blocks were going to help because once the pain is SIP they are ineffective, as is a scs. These only help give some relief while the pain is SMP or sympathetically maintained. It's one of the biggest reason an scs is bad. Sooner or later the pain will be smp and it will no longer work. That's the least of the reasons I don't like the scs. It's just my opinion. :-)

It could be why your pain went up so much, the pain is sip now.

Hugs,

Karen

Hi and thank you both. Well I will update a little and Galena you were right about possible reason and why it happened. Jenelle as you know I am so appreciative for your thoughts as well and agree with what you are saying
I went back to the pain doc this morning to go over my options and why these treatments increase pain to such a bad state. He feels that my pain may be centrally located where invasive procedures actually send my pain to a flare up cause it confuses the response and like Galena said SIP possible. So if that is the case the temp scs will not work and could cause a similar but probably worse flare up. The next choice I have since we are still not sure is the differential blockade where they keep you the day and put in an epidural and block parts of your legs. If you have numb legs and still have pain then most likely the scs will not work. If it does help it can stay in for a month or I could try the scs temp. Right now I am going back on neurontin and waiting for the flare up to settle more. I am also going to possibly look into ketamine. Very confusing but I am not willing to go through 2 days like the past 2. Thanks again

I am here for you,