My Nerve Block

Laurie,

Ok, to start

((((((((((((Laurie))))))))))))

I can't remember if you've had nerve blocks before, but the longer term effect may not be known for a few days. Usually, though, some local anesthetic eases the pain for the first 24 hrs. You know I've never had or needed IV sedation for any nerve blocks or epidurals, so I don't know. And I've had a lot of them. Unfortunately, none ever helped with the exception of the SI joint injection.

I'm glad you have an appointment tomorrow morning! And vent all you like!

I also found ice to the site helps during the first 24 hrs.

We're here.

PaLady

This was my first one I also have two more to go through. for about 24 hours you are right I was alittle numb but its long gone now..lol My doctor doesn't believe I will get any benifet from them but just wanting to do the procedures to say he did. Covering all bases.

PAlady I can't beleive the ones you had didn't come with IV sedation.. Dang If I'm to have another 2 of them they better give me meds the pain shot down to my foot. I had a hard time breathing during mine,.

The nerve block, which I thought you all were talking about, is a shot given that prevents the nerve from working, basically, for 60-90 days.

Strange. One of them I DID feel a wildly weird sensation where it felt like a bullet train running down my back from the injection site to my knee.

The doctor, I think, was unused to failure. It didn't take long for him to convert me from a pain block failure to a pain block challenge.

As to the Fentanyl, I think it is a topical solution. Same stuff used in Chloraseptic to kill sore throat pain (Chloraseptic is stronger than what they use as a local for the nerve block, I think).

I also failed on the Fentanyl Patch, by the way. Made it one day of the 9 day initial trial period and the pain was too intense - I had to go back to Lyrica/Cymbalta or whichever the tradeOff was.

Chartreux

      I agree with you allot of insurance companies have protocols, you can't do this, unless you have done that, and so on. Even if the Doctors knows that it is a waste of time and resources. They do the same thing in sleep Apnea, they start you off on the cheapest machines, and if that fails they will have you have another sleep study and give you a diferent more expensive type of machine and treatment. But if they would just go by what the Doctors  tells them in the first place they would often safe allot of time and money, plus all the pain and frustration that the patient has to go through! But I guess that is not important,  if they think they can possibly keep from spending a buck, that is what is important! Whether they actually do or not is irrelevant!

LLPLUV I do hope this nerve block helps you! I also hope the pain eases up for you!

I wish you only the Best

White Beard

Me-> That 'steroidal' sounds familiar. They have a machine and one person guiding another person with a needle who injects the 'stuff' into your back in an effort to deaden a particular nerve that carries specific signals so you get relief through numbness of the nerve that would otherwise be carrying the signal of pain.

At least, that is my understanding.

Unfortunately, they tell me that 3 of the 4 major nerves for me are all messed up in both legs and feet. So 3 of the 4 are sending uncontrollable "I'm in screaming pain" signals 100% of the time. The only relief is to deaden it with drugs; finding the right drug or combination of drugs is where the doctor comes in; and I honestly believe I have found one who is really good at it. I just don't think I can get my hopes up too high where actually finding a combo that will kill the pain much better than what I have is possible.

He uses very small amounts of Methadone with me, getting started. In combination with Morphine for breakthrough in larger installments (but remember the ratio is not 1:1 -> the ratios I've seen start at 1:2 <30mg, 1:4 40mg-100mg and rapidly change from there).

Anyway, if you are going to experiment with dosing, do it with your doctor's full knowledge an his assistance to find the right amounts or crossovers for you. Do NOT do it without your doctor, please.

I'm just hoping they will start to work along the way. I just got back from the doctor and he told me he can't adjust my meds until the procedures are done. He says the clinics rules are medication changes can not be done when procedures are locked in. He said after my third block we can evaluate and adjust from there. I'm thinking it does have something to do with insurance. They did mention my insurance has certain requirements the clinic has to fullfill to receive continued payments. I guess its not so back. I still have medication not enough but enough to bare with it. He did up my night medication of trazodone so I can sleep through most the discomfort.