It sounds like your BP block may be the same as the anesthetic block they do for outpatient hand surgeries. I'm very curious as to what relief (if any) you experience over the next few days.

Marc I think its the same BP Nerve Block that Dr. Jordan had talked to me about last time.

I believe my rotator cuff bursitis/tendonitis was secondary to but a result of my TOS. AC joint cortisone injections have given me significant relief (2-3 months) of much of the shoulder pain each time I've had it.

http://www.shoulderinstitute.co.za/p...ECTIONS_WM.pdf

How long are you restricted from driving?

I wonder if it can provide relief for post-op patients as well? I don't think I need it now but maybe it could have helped me with the nerve pain that lasted weeks after my left side rib resection and neurolysis.

I only got the block. This morning I was feeling a little better but I also took my pain meds last night because I couldn't sleep due to the pain. And throughout the day my pain was back to what it is was before. I am also getting a lot of shoulder pain at the front too and also at my injection site today in addition to the regular pain in my hand, arm, back of the shoulder and neck. So at this point, I can't really say if the block even helped, but I will continue to monitor my pain levels over the next few days. I think the thing about these injections is, they may also cause muscle spasms in the same areas or other ones and that just makes it even more difficult to figure out whether it was effective. That is what happened when I got an epidural to my cervical spine, I had major muscle spasms and ended up in more than before. My anesthesiologist thinks the BP block was definitely positive because I felt slight relief yesterday morning. He says he is going to recommend another one to see if I can get more relief or do a scalene block along with the BP but he doesn't seem to care whether or not we figure out the source, he is more concerned with it giving me relief. I, however, want to know the source(s) rather than getting temporary relief. Still waiting to talk to my neuro to see what he thinks. I am also finally seeing a TOS vascular surgeon next week here so I am looking forward to getting some answers then.



I don't drive, I take public transportation in NYC so I wasn't really given a restriction. However, I also don't even allow myself to drive when I am for example, in Toronto because I get sharp random pain in addition to the constant pain in my neck and shoulder and am too afraid I will crash. I couldn't use my arm/hand until 7 am although it was still numb and tingling and had gotten the block around 3:30pm the day before.

I spoke to my neurosurgeon today who ordered the BP block. Apparently the anesthesiologist just confused me since he was more focused on the more longer term relief over a few days rather than the immediate relief that would indicate the block was positive. Because I did not feel any pain while I was numb for several hours, it is supposed to mean that it worked for me. My neuro is sending me to another doctor to re-do the block specifically to the lower trunk since this other one let the medication go to all trunks.

It didn't last for me, I am in just as much pain as I was before the block by today, but for some, it can have a little longer relief. My neuro also said the scalene block is more general and wouldn't help specify how much a role the BP is playing, which is why he is not recommending that for now. Makes a lot more sense to me now

Have you seen the vascular surgeon yet? I would wait to see what they say and get a second opinion before retaking it.. The Scalene block is a documented diagnostic test for TOS. My TOS dr. uses it exclusively to test for TOS. All 3 Surgeons here use it as well.

Yes that's true, that's why I asked my neuro why he wasn't recommending the scalene block vs the BP, since it is usually used to diagnose TOS. He didn't say it doesn't help as well, but just that it is more general. The lower trunk BP block would specify exactly which nerves are the problem in my case. I will wait before doing it again though, I am seeing the vascular surgeon next week.

hmm thats interesting because when I asked my dr if the BP block was a diagnostic he said its never been studied and used that way so I'm curious about that too.I will ask him again next time. I know the c-5 block will tell me if the nerve in my neck (I'm not sure what nerve it is ) is causing the pain when he stimulates it. Its good you are waiting for your vascular surgeon to get a second opinion.