Hi all

OH MY GOSH ..I had my first nerve block done yesterday by the neurologist. I am a MESS! The Dr said I am in bad shape (totally abnormal) and one of the worst he's seen in a while. He is surprsied that i'm managing the pain so well. (I'm really not) just looking like i am.

Well anyways, the diagnosis now is myofascial pain syndrome which caused thoracic outlet syndrome. Mymuscles are so tight in my neck and upper back that it casued a real mess. My muscles were jumping so bad yesterday when they were looking for trigger points...I CRIED! It was way worse than the EMG! I was then injected with lidocaine in 10 places. THe last needle injection hurt real bad...it almost burned. THey putice on me and then felt ok but on the way home I was in so much pain I couldn't move my head. I got a severe headache and started throwing up when I got home. I cried and cried...haven't felt like that in I don't think EVER. Then I started getting ringing in my ears and it kept coming and going. I couldn't move my head all night and I still feel sick. I think I had an allergic reaction to the lidocaine but not positive. I'm allergic to most pain medications and I have other severe allergies. Now what do I do? Also the Dr said I'm so bad that he wants to do this again next week

I can't go back to work either..I was told I need to rest and I can't do anything at the moment...I feel awful. I talked to the insurance adjuster yesterday for workman's comp but not sure how this is going to go. I just want to get my life back...I never expected this

Does anyone know much about reactions to injections? I guess I should call the Dr and let them know what happened. I think I need to see a surgeon as well...not sure what to do.

Tammy

I'm so sorry that you are feeling so bad... I know that Trigger point injections can cause a lot of discomfort in the beginning but after a day or so they begin to feel better. I've never had them but I have talked to those who have. I know there are many on the forum that have and still do get trigger point injections so maybe they will chime in and tell you what they experienced when they have gotten them. You should contact your Dr and let them know how you felt. If you are allergic to certain meds they will need to plan something different for you next time.
Tammy, I know you aren't feeling the best but you need to speak with an attorney. If you have to get to a surgeon you will be fighting your W/C adjuster for an approval. And further treatments will require authorization as well. Trust me it will get sticky down the road and you will need the help. I can tell you this from experience.
I do hope you feel better. Ten injections, I'm so sorry that seems like so many... Keep the ice on those injection points...
Many Hugs
Dawn

Tammy, I'm also so sorry for your bad experience! I think Dawn had great advice...call your doctor and get an attorney. Your doc needs to document the reaction you had, in case it is an allergy.

I hope you are feeling better soon!

Tammy - I'm sorry that the injections hurt so much, but hopefully you'll feel the relief in a couple of days. I have had nerve blocks, nerve blocks and trigger points, and just trigger points (on different occassions). After several of them I have felt ill by the next day. I think that can be a side effect of the lidocaine or whatever they use in them. That being said, 2 days afterwards, I feel better, and pain levels are down. The way I figure it, I can deal with a headache or the "funky" stomach feeling for a month or 6 wks of relief. I just had 6 trigger point injections this morning, and *knock on wood* so far, so good. But, I do agree that the doc needs to know about your reaction both for future treatment and in case its an allergy.

Tammy-
Sounds like you didn't get and anesthetic for your injection procedure, I always have...I am a big fat needle baby!!!

I have had the nerve block and two rounds of Botox injections. Each time they have injected several points, like you mentioned. The nerve block was the first, and when they did the procedure I was sitting there all happy afterwards (still pretty anestitized) and he asked if I needed any pain meds (i wasn't taking any at the time) and I said no i was fine...then I got home and that evening when the anestesia wore off i was seeing stars. I had never hurt that much from the TOS... I think in my case, that I react badly to the injections because I swell afterwards. Anyhow, I hurt for a good two weeks from the nerve block. When I called the doctors office to ask about it they said oh yeah, they did usually hurt...(thanks for telling me BEFORE!!!)


SO, call your docs office for SURE- throwing up sounds bad. But expect it to hurt some, and for a while. I have the same problem with the botox injections...they really really hurt for a week or two, then calm down. Unfortunately both times have only lasted about 6 weeks total, and I have spent 3-4 of that still hurting from the shots, so I am not going to do that again.

Tammy that seems like a lot of shots, my long term doc/physitrist does about 4-6. My muscles are not that severe to jump. O have huge spasms and very tight, I can locate the spot for the doctor to treat.

My sons PM does give him anesthsia and hit him up hard, six deep ones at elast for three sessions. he had a huge side effect.. I did not think that kind of treatment is any more beneficial then hitting the worse spot, ten is a huge amoutn and very intrusive to the muscle.

I have to think about this, and read your post about your doctor...has to be something ele to do.
For today try the ice, an advil or asprin type med to calm things down. Maybe even a valium if you have it.
I hope my today it is not as painful,
Di

Just forgot to add that both times I have gotten botox has been 12-14 shots...to spread out to all the parts of trapezius, pec minor, etc.

so it s not too unusual to have many. I remember others mentioning having that many as well.

Johanna

Tammy,

Like the others said, the trigger points are fairly difficult initially but they do fade on the pain after a couple of days. Your body is really sensitive in those spots and it will tend to spasm up when they're irritated. I read that spasming was the bodies defense mechanism to avoid further injury to an already injured site. It probably figured that the nerve irritation already there and the added "injury" of the injections was more than enough reason to protect those spots from any more stuff happening. Needless to say that's the last thing you want it to do but if taken at face value, it does make some sense as a form of survival. Unfortunately, all too often it seems as if our bodies subscribe to the misguided concept, if a little reaction is good, than a lot must be really good. Ice does definitely help as does good ole' time. Hang in there and I hope it calms down and starts helping you feel better really soon!

Mary

I have never had such a reaction to the blocks, but i do know how they change my ability to do things...they work so wll for me but my doc will only do every two weeks.....the day of I feel exhausted and the last time could not lift up my arm at all or lift a coffee mug with it till th next day...right side and right handed of course.....perhaps you are sensitive to the anesthetic...do you know what he used??? hopefully bupivicaine...or marcaine is the other name....it lasts longer than most anesthetics and for me it lasts about five days and I usually have 8-9 injections done....

I am so sorry that you reacted that way I do hope you get some relief from it as when it does work it really works well....hope this happens for you!

take care and hugs...gentle ones and love,
Victoria

I just found your thread and am so very interested in this discussion. I too have MFR which caused my TOS. After years of being undiagnosed and undertreated, I finally sucummbed to two rounds of Eccipical Nerve Blocks and two Cervical Epidurals. It took a few days, but after 4 months I am at least 80% better, and couldn't be happier!