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Intercostal Nerve Block for Postherpetic Neuralgia

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Posted 2/27/2014 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
I was hoping to hear from others who have had an Intercostal nerveblock, specifically for PHN, but also for any other condition really. I have been suffering from PHN on both sides of my torso since I got shingles twice 4 years ago. I had a nerve block 3 weeks ago and so far no imporvement, the pain is the same. My pain doctor did say it could take up to a month to kick in, and I have heard of it taking 2-3 months sometimes. I was just hoping someone could tell me about their experience, whether it was succesful or not, how many they had done, how long before they saw an effect. I've heard it can usually take more than one, but my pain doctor says there's no point doing another one if this doesn't work. I'm in a lot of pain, and just need to know if this is going to help or not. Any feedback or advice would be greatly appreciated :)
Posted 2/27/2014 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum, Jane.

Yeah, and the neuralgia could go away by then. Your doc is probably right that if the first one didn't work there's no point in repeating.

I've had intercostal block for slipping ribs that are detached in front (pain in the same area that should respond to blocking the right nerve) and it did nothing. Then I had a thoracic spine injection (don't remember if it was facet joint or epidural) that did work.

The doc doing anything thoracic, or in the neck, should be an anesthesiologist who does these things routinely. My physiatrist does lumbar, but my anesthesiologist does the higher ones. If it works for a while and the pain comes back the anesthesiologist can do an ablation, but you have to be in the OR for that because there's something like a 20% chance of deflating the lung.
Posted 12/20/2014 6:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Jane I have the EXACT same problem you do. Let me know what resolutions doctors have given you. I had the same nerve block and nothing happened. Many blessings

Hello & welcome to the forum. It is against the forum rules to post personal information. You can go into your profile & put the address there & only members of Healing Well will be able to view it. Thanks

Post Edited By Moderator (straydog) : 12/21/2014 1:26:58 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/20/2014 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there Jane, welcome to the forum.

As far as nerve blocks go, did you experience even a few hours of relief after the procedure? My PM doc, and others I've spoken to, confirm that even if you get relief for a few hours, that's an indication of success and they'll continue to perform the nerve blocks with ever increasing doses of medication.

I personally have had 3, I'm done with them. Mine were superior and inferior hypogastric. No relief whatsoever, except the first one, I had sedation (versed) and felt okay for a little while after, but I suspect it was the versed. I had 2 more since then and did not have sedation, and no relief at all from those.

However, it's been most helpful in figuring out that my problem doesn't come from the nerves he targeted in the blocks. My problem has been isolated to my pudendal nerve. I am scheduled for a pudendal nerve block with a DIFFERENT PM doc on 12/26. If that doesn't work, my next step is an interstim device :(

As far as I know, nerve blocks are supposed to work right away, but your doctor could be using a different medication.
Posted 12/21/2014 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
I had a radiofrequency intercostal nerve block in September that everyone thought had failed after a month with no relief, and then it suddenly kicked in a total of two months after the procedure. So I dunno, you might get lucky, but it may be that yours actually didn't work. The doctor and nurses said beforehand that the relief was usually immediate, but then started talking about the longer time frames after it obviously wasn't immediate.

I did have a test block a week or so beforehand, to make sure they'd identified the right nerves, and that took the pain away immediately but only lasted 18 hours, but it wasn't meant to last any longer.
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