HELP what is Hypogastric Plexus Block

[ad8123]

Any heard of it? I am having it done in a week. My understanding they will inject something to block the nerves in my spine to block the impulses from the bladder from getting to my brain so I will not sense (feel) the pain. If it works, but does not hold for very long I am a candidate for Spinal cord stimulation or Interstem.

So has anyone had it/heard of it????

[Jmeisnor]

Hello

Here is some info I got off the web:

Superior Hypogastric Plexus Blockade (SHPB)
Composed of the lumbar sympathetic chains, branches of the aortic plexus and parasympathetic fibers of the S2-S4 roots, the superior hypogastric plexus innervates the ureteric, testicular or ovarian plexuses, the sigmoid colon and a plexus that surrounds the common and internal iliac arteries. It is blocked just anterior to the L5 vertebral body. The inferior hypogastric plexus is blocked by proximal blockade of the superior hypogastric plexus.

SHPB is used to treat intractable visceral pelvic pain of both neoplastic and nonneoplastic origin. Visceral pelvic pain is usually described as vague, poorly localized, dull, crampy, pulling, squeezing, or colicky. A diagnostic block may help distinguish between visceral and somatic pain.

This is a block of the nerve center from your spine to your brain, which is how the pain is recognized. Visceral pain is common for IC, it's the pain that makes us feel so emotional, because it goes right to the part of the brain that responds to (or with, I dont know) emotions.

This treatment could be very helpful for you. Good that you are exploring options.

I have been offered the treatment listed below. It is the same effect, but working with a lower part of the spine. I'm scheduled for Nov 2, but awaiting a cancellation spot if any.

Ganglion Impar Blockade
The paired paravertebral sympathetic chains terminate at the single Ganglion of Walther. This ganglia is blocked just anterior to the sarococcygeal junction.

Intractable neoplastic visceral perineal pain of sympathetic origin are responsive to this procedure. This tends to be a vague, poorly localized pain with sensations of burning or urgency. This blockade may also help distinguish between visceral and somatic pain.

If anyone has had this treatment, I'd like to hear about their experience.

[tigger_gal]

WOW..... thanks for the info.. I have never heard of this.....
hugs
Brat

[Kimbamor]

I just went back to work again. My doctors told me they will do a celiac plexus block (I thought that only covered middle abd...pancreasr ,liver to descending colon.) I am going to ask them some more tommorrow (everyone wanted a piece of me so didn't have much time. We have really picked up on this type of block as well as the hypogastric 9think htey are the same though)in the last year. Couple things to remember...3 in 6 months should be your limit. Unless they do not use depo with it. I even think we have done a couple RFTC's (radio frequency thermal coagulation)on them with good success.3-12+ months pain relief. Very few centers do the rftc's in that area or even cervical rftc's. The rftc actually burns the nerve by radio frequency and takes longer then a simple block. If they do do rftc's where you are at you must have 2 successful blocks with 70% relief for a min of 8hrs. (they do a tie breaker if needed.) I'll find out about the rftc's....and let you know....we use flouro (xray) and continuious burn rather then pulse. (they did a study on which type worked better...pulsed burn or continuous. and the later won hands down). It may take me to the end of the week to find out though....

[ad8123]

I had mine done WED, it went well. They accidently numbed my right meg though (lasted till the next morning), so I had to not walk that night (got carried around by hubby :) It is now Monday, I have had several days of great relief, I was able to eat at a resturaunt without pain and I moved furniture in my house (that may have been overdoing it though). Today i have a severe pain in my lower back and the start of pelvic pain, not sure if theblock is "wearing off" of if it is from the furniture moving or because my period is due. i am still set to have three more, 19, 29 and 22nd. I will let you know how it goes then. It hurts when the initial numbing wears off, at the injection site, make sure you have a good supply of pain meds before you leave the hospital or office (Mine was done in office but I was alseep.)
Good Luck to Jmeisnor!

[enchantedlady]

I too have similiar situation, I am for the first time seeing my doctor about this, and I had to tell him what my problem was, he always just wanted to mask it with more and more pain meds. I got sick of that realy quick due to the fact that they werent working for me. frustrated and not knowing what to do, I turned to my chriopracter for help, and within 10 minutes, he told me exactly what my problem was, I called mt doctor and told him and of course he wants to see me first thing in the morning, saying he will be giving me an injection of sorts to see if that will help my situation, feeling like i am a human pin custion at this point, I guess I am willing to try, but Im rather confused and scared........ I feel your anxiety as well. Im 40 years old and have had 2 major heart attacks and several surgeries to include angioplasty... Im tired of being given stuff to just mask my problem..... why is that my chriopracter knew in a matter of minutes when my doc whom has been treating me for 5 years not be able to pick up on whats actually my real problem. i wish you the best of luck and i hope to hear from you after they do the injections......... I shall be waiting on your reply as I will do the same and hopefully, together we can support one another. lord knows i need that!

[ad8123]

Hello again okay let me update the post you are reading is from oct 04, the blocks went very very well, that email (2nd one) was on my 28th birthday! That was just at the one year mark for my diagnoses. Now Iam going to share my results with a little personal info as well just so you can see the whole thing. My husband left me two days after that post. okay I know not what you were expecting but you have to know that part to get how great it was after the three blocks I was ablr to go back to work full time at a very stressful job, i was working december after having the blocks in october I had several months of needing very little in the way of pain meds a very little diet modification (although lookng back should have stuck to the diet) Iwas emotianaly at the worst time of my life but still blocks worked. I pray they work for you. I continued to have them over the past two years, the last one failed but 2 years is a great time frame. Now, the reason it is not working now I have some sort of nerve damage and back problems the great part is that i am having great luck w the blocks on my backnow need one about every three months. My ic has encounterd other issues and i have had to return to a very strict diet and persuing other options now may have fibroidmaylgia or cfs. I am still a candidate for nerve burns or interstim units my pain docs do both and would proceed if i was ready I just am not ready for any new surgerys now epecially since I need another hydrodistention and urethra dialation, my bladder got small and so did my urethra again seems like i have to repeat those about once every 12-16 months. sorry i did not use spell check too tired and ned to be in early to work.:smile tee :smile tee