Info on a nerve block?

[Ashelliak]

I was told at my pain clinic appt. that I was going to have a nerve block done. He didn't give me a name of the nerve block they were going to be doing but, he did say that I would be awake and be numbed with Lidocaine and then they were going to stick a needle in my spine. Other than that I have no idea what this is that they are doing to me. Does anyone know or have had this done? I couldn't get a word in with this Dr. I saw at the pain clinic and did not get to ask the questions I needed. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. :loco:

[Dixiefireball]

I've had two done. I don't remember the names of the nerve block's each one was done with different type of medicine, but both was done the same way.

I was took in a out patient O.R. room they had in their office. laid down on my belly on a table with my shirt off then a paper top was put on my back side. (this was done by the RN) she stay at my head at all times asking me questions even after the Dr. came in. When the Dr. came in of course he started asking me questions he put some type of cold gel on my back. told me to take a deep breath. he put in several shots in my back near my spine. YES IT HURT LIKE HECK!! The RN was sweet kept telling me to relax I didn't have to scream or cry. "YES I DID IT HURT" after the numbing medicine was put in he then started putting in the nerve blocks. they kept asking me did i feel pain and if so where (in my back?) after it was done. They helped me up I felt a bit dizzy so the Dr took me in another room to watch my blood pressure for a bit and kept asking me how i was. I think the reason I got that way was because the needles at first hurt so badly! Plus I was numb down to my knees (on one of the nerve blocks not on both.)
The first one I was pain free for a week. I ate done what ever I wanted then bam! it was back. the second one lasted for two weeks I also done and ate what i wanted. then yes it came back! I had to call the Dr back after the last one I had he had a very rude side bed side manner. he talked so hateful to me. I was having pain in the center of my spine when the numbness wore off. I didn't know the office closed early on a Friday I was still a new patient.
anyways I never went back! I would rather suffer in pain for the rest of my life then go back to that place to have to put up with that Dr's rude bed side manners. I told my uro this very same thing. I still mean it to this day. I would rather suffer. My uro started treating my pain again. Most of my pain was due to hunners anyway. My uro does a pretty good job taking care of me he listens, shows he cares, works with me as team in my health care. (i wish they where all that way!)

I hope and pray that your nerve blocks work wonders for you, and they last for a very long time. I've heard some people say they have good success with them. I did but they just didn't last long enough. I also believe their is only so many a person can take. I'm not sure how many those are? If you can get pass the ordeal of having the numbing needles place in your back then you should do fine.
Oh they put the shots in the lower part of my back right their at the tail bone on both sides of the spine.

best wishes.
Rhonda

[Kara29]

I would stop him before he even starts to talk about what his plans are for you and ask him if you can ask him your questions when he is done talking. Call back on Monday and ask what type of nerve block you are having done (the name) a nurse can give it to you. Then we can explain a bit about what they are doing for you. Some places use lidocane or a variation of it and some places use consious sedation. The only other place that does nerve blocks here in Syracuse that I am seeing uses concious sedation which I prefer but not everyone needs it. I just have my reasons for wanting it. Some can tolerate it just fine without and just the lidocane. Are you going to Upstate or St. Joes?

Kara

[hollipop]

One thing you might want to ask for is to use marcaine instead of lidocaine. It works much better and lasts longer for me.

[**Angie**]

I had a sympathetic nerve block on Tuesday. YES--the numbing HURTS!! I was offered to be put under but the Dr preferred that I stay consious. If I do it again I don't want to remember it. After the numbing I felt a lot of pressure but no pain during the procedure. I'm not real sure if it has worked yet?? I started my period on Wed. -- so I had 3 days of cramping. Yesterday was about the best day so far. No pain meds all day. :woohoo: I was probably on a 2 (pain scale) just irritated. Today (Sunday) 2-3. I hope to make it thru the day again with no pain meds. The Dr wants to do a series of one a week for 5 weeks. ?????? We'll see.

[Dixiefireball]

I ask the pain clinic the same thing. "Could I be put under?" The answer was no. the reason I was given is because they need to be able to talk to me during the nerve block.

I do know for a fact that Marcaine works better and last longer in installments. I'm unsure how it would work as an injection, but wouldn't hurt to ask the Dr. his thoughts. I did learn the reason a lot of Dr's use the lidocaine instead of Marcaine is because its cheaper on them, and their patients. As far as installments goes. I would rather have Marcaine any day!!

I would do like Kara said call Monday Morning to ask some questions. You may be able to get your answers over the phone without paying a co-payment to just get answers, but then again they may be greedy and make you come in for answers. I would rather pay the co-payment to get the answers your looking for them to hop into something your unsure about. If I had to do it again I would do this! I learned the hard way not just over nerve blocks. Its best to get the all your question answered before jumping into anything! Also make sure your answers are in English. Not in Dr's slang. I would write down all my question I could think of before getting a hold of the office Monday morning (in case someone will pull your chart to call you back to talk to you about this.) If not take your Questions in with you on an appt to talk about the nerve block in more details before the main event day.
I would also if it was me make another Thread here to get some opinions of some questions you may want to ask? Pick out the ones you think applies to you Or ones you feel may possible apply to you on the paper you are going to use for the phone call/office visit.
I would also write down their answers so you can look back on this for a ref.
best wishes!!!
sending you hugs and prayers.
Rhonda

[Ginny]

I would not let a doctor do anything until he has explained the procedure completely. You need to know.
I had 6 nerve blocks done for IC many years ago. One or two may have helped for a day or few days. Not enough help to call it successful.
Last year I had 3 more done for a herniated disc. They helped a lot for the back. Again, I got a day or two relief from the IC.
The first series I was given something to not so much knock me out but to not remember having it done and that is exactly what happened.
The series I had done last year I was out with an Anesthesiologist. I take a lot of medication so they felt it was better this way.
To be honest with you I would not go through a nerve block without being put out.
If you have other questions let me know.
Ginny

[Ashelliak]

Thanks everyone for the info. I def want to be sedated, adleast somewhat. I am scared. I have had a spinal tap before and anything in the spine is painful. Kara-it is at upstate...hopefully they will be compliant with the sedation idea. EEEERRRRRRGGG I am just so frustrated! I want help for my pain!!!!!!

[Rebeccanne]

I wanted to have some kind of sedation, since I couldn't be put under. But I was only given a valium RIGHT before the procedure, and it didn't kick in until it was all over. The said they really couldn't give me anything to sedate me with, because it was so late at night, they would have to moniter me, and there just wasn't time. So I got a valium, and begged for something else because it had no effect on me, and I was scared out of my mind. They put something in my IV, which had very little effect.

I was taken into a x-ray room, and had to lay on my stomach, with a couple pillows under my pelvic area. I had a nurse by my head the whole time, who tried to comfort me. I will say the numbing medicine the inject in the back is the most painful part... and after that you really can't feel the big needle they put in. I was only able to feel pressure a couple times. It wasn't pleasent, but wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. My pain dr. also didn't explain the procedure well for me either. So I had no idea I was going to be numbed... thank God!! I was pretty sore the rest of the night, and tender the next day and part of the next. but it really wasn't bad.

I am figuring since its your first they will just do the basic one. That didn't work for me, and i am having another done in a few days. I can't remember the name... but I do know its supposed to temporarily like numb\paralyze my entire body from the chest down. It can take a few hours to wear off... I am scared for that one.

[ad8123]

My pain docs have a special (i believe patened) type of medication/procedure, they put me to sleep for the nerve block. It was called a hypogastric plexus nerve block, I was numb after one of the procedures for about 24hours they adjusted the placement after that (I used a wheel chair for the 24hours) The only pain was the iv stick and tenderness at the procedure sites (handled with lidoderm patches). Just to give you hope my pain docs (in Florida) are amzing they help me all the time and evn with each new diagnoses they continue to treat the pain. I am so sorry your experience was not a good one, if it is possible another pain doc may be the way to go or maybe a patient advocate to come with you to your appointments. I wish you the best and I am saying a prayer for you.

[ad8123]

OOps forgot to say the pain refleif was not complete but greatly reduced the use of meds for about 6months for the first set and the others lasted 3mths,2mths and then the last one was not so good but it worked for me for about 2 years. After that I was having lupus and fibro flares and was then diagnosed since then pain is not managed but I will not stop until I am feeling better after all what choice do we have. from my favorite sci fi show "you fight to you can't":angel: