I'm Taking over this TOPIC ! question ...

[MakinIT]

Okay y'all..I met with my reg. doc today. and he told me what my pain doctor has planned for me...(Now I know why he's called a PAIN doctor). The pain doctor wants to do the same procedure as before, you know, the one I LOVED SO MUCH (nerve block in the superior hypogastric nerve plexus.) Anyhow, now he wants to insert a permanent relieving solution rather than the lidocaine. I don't really have much of problem with that , unless I'm CONSCIOUS!!! I truly do not want to deal with this again while I'm awake. It's not worth it to me because it reallyonly helped with pain on my right side, somewhat, and a little with my bladder...they seem to think that's ok...it is better than nothing and keeps my need for narcs down some. The left side still sucks and I canstill feel pain and spasming in my bladder (Even with lidocaine, I stillhave the superior pubic bone pain)

SO...what do you guys think? Should I, shouldn't I, have you all had permanent surgeries...Should I demand to be put out more than they had me last time? (Yeah, 2 units of versed I was charged for but it took 3 people to hold me down)

"sigh" I put a call into my uro, who, BTW, made it into portland Magazines top 5 urologists. I need to get some advice from her and here her say it's ok...AND have her call the Pain doc and tell him to put me under more.

Talk to you later....

Tracey:(

[Dixiefireball]

i know how bad you hated that i also thought it was painful but was ready to do anything that would stop me from having to take another pill:rolleyes: but still after the rude bed side manner of the pain clinic doctor i wouldnt go back there for a billion dollars i also made that clear to my uro i would rather live in pain then to see that sucker again. gggggrrrrrrrrrrr:mad: anyway it wasnt that the nerve blocks didnt help me they did for a while it was just that doctor was just down right rude and was trying to push things on me that i didnt want or need.

I think this is something you and your doctor need to talk over to make sure this is right for your health. follow your heart and listen to your doctor then let us know what you decide no matter what we are behind you we love and care for you.
sending you hugs and prayers for a better tomorrow
Rhonda

[rachelm]

My nerve block was a steroid that is supposed to last up to 3 mo. I had minimal relief for 2 days and then it came back. My dr. did another block w/steroid inj. to the nerve area just above the sacral and I noticed no improvement. Last summer I had improvement after one but not this time around. I don't remember anything but climbing on the table and getting sleepy. I was in by 9 and making lunch for my mom and I by 11:30. If you weren't out I would definitely request more anethesia. Of all the procedures I've had done this was the easiest I just wish it had helped. If you don't feel comfortable with your dr. I would look for another one. Do you know if he wants to use a steroid? That is the only kind of nerve block I've heard about. I think my dr. injected some lidicaine at the site so I wouldn't be sore after the injection but the procedure was to inject the steroid into the nerve area. Hypogastric plexus was the area. I haven't ever heard of a permanent nerve block. What is it that he's injecting, and where?

I'm hurting again and looking for options. If there is something else out there like a nerve block I would love to try it. I may talk to my pain dr. about more options. He is very good and was one of the few dr. who did a felowship in pain management instead of just anethesia like many pain dr. He has made local news around here several times for his breakthrough approches to painfull disc surgery in which the recovery time is only a few days versus the old ways of months. Let me know what he's using. Thanks!

Rachel

[yvette]

Ok first before I can give any advice....I'm a bit confused, so if you can help clarify -- just so I don't answer your question and find out it has nothing do with what you wanted to knowOriginally posted by MakinIT
Okay y'all..I met with my reg. doc today. and he told me what my pain doctor has planned for me...(nerve block in the superior hypogastric nerve plexus.) Anyhow, now he wants to insert a permanent relieving solution rather than the lidocaine. OK, so you're not jazzed with doing the nerve block again....are they pushing InterStim (nerve stim) instead???


SO...what do you guys think? Should I, shouldn't I, have you all had permanent surgeries... Should you do which? Are you asking us whether you should do another Nerve Block injection or are you asking whether we think you should do InterStim? BTW: InterStim is a permanant device -- it is in theory a pacemaker, it just happens to be implanted in a differnt part of the body and stimulates the lower spinal nerves rather than the cardiac area....Also, Nerve Blocks and Nerve Stimulation are 2 completely different Animals. In either case, we really can't tell you what youshould do -- as that would be considered Medical Advice -- and we're not to give medical advisement....Does that help?

[MakinIT]

No, they are not talking interstim, although my frequency has certainly shot up last few days (like up every hour at night)!. By Permanent surgery, he wants to inject a solution that would, in effect, kill that nerve plexus...bye, bye, never to be heard from again...not the temporary ones most people get. It would be the exact same procedure only different "stuff" injected into the plexus to make it whither up and die.

My problem is A) the original procedure result were just ok...minimal relief which they all say is better than nothing, at least they are getting somewhere and can keep my narc load where it's at and not have to up it. B) The original procedure was incredibly truamatic to me and typical of doctors, they don't really see it. He really didn't think I needed anything. If I decide to dothis, I am demanding more, dammit.

I know you can't offer medical advice...:) Just the experiences of what you;ve been through. I'm tryiing to find someone who has has a nerve plexus permanently blocked, and see how helpful it is.

Dixie: Sorry your pain doc was so awful. Mine is not bad,just kind of typical patronizing knows better than I do. When we can get these MD folks to realize we know our bodies better than they do, we can become involved in these decisions...they just need to educate us in the specifics...(Hey, a guy can't be that bad if he sing "oh Danny Boy during my surgery, with a serious eastern Indian accent...Wow" I was just like, "What the hell is that noise?" They all busted up, including the doc, who said "my 14 year old always says that too when I sing this song...don't you reconginize o danny boy?" geez..(This was all after he finally found the damn nerves and put t he meds in)

Thanks so far...any other advice is welcome!

Tracey

[yvette]

Tracey: If I could make a couple of suggestions:
Let this thread die.
Post a NEW thread under Pain Management, rather than any of the Nerve Stimulation -- your questions really have nothing to do with the implanted device.

And put NERVE BLOCK in the title....I'm hoping people like Cricket, and others can share their stories of different kinds of Nerve Blocks with you.

Best of Luck in whatever you decide with the injxs... :)

[rachelm]

Good suggestion yvette. I would love to know what the injection is. I've had the steroid injection in the plexus area but it didn't help. Is it Botox? I've not heard of a perm. nerve block. Please post more about this in the pain management section. In the meantime I will be talking to my pain dr. who redilly welcomes my suggestions. He even admitted that he learns about new treatments from patients and then researches it for himself. I can't stand the cocky type. I clash big time with that type because I have to feel like they validate me and truly listen to me. I know a lot about my I.C. and it's important that we work together. Please keep us posted on your decision. If you know of a web site that discusses it please post a link.

Thanks,
Rachel

[MakinIT]

okee dokee...I will try to move this thread..let's see if I screw it up and it disappears entirely.

Tracey

[MakinIT]

Apparently...I have no authority to move this thread:) so if one of you lovely ladies who has the magic key will do it please, I'd appreciate it!!!!

:cool: Tracey....thanks

[yvette]

I'm sorry I thought I was clear, I meant start a NEW thread (not moving this one) and start it under PAIN MGMT

Let this this die (don't respond anymore to it)

Start a NEW thread by clicking "New Thread"....

Sorry for the confusion...

[MakinIT]

Wow...someone did move my thread from nuerological stuff...coolll...thanks whoever was the mystery guest and I'll let this thread die and hopefully y'all can respond to my new one. Thanks.

Tracey

[sue041]

Hi Tracey has anyone from Medtronics suggested a device called a intertheratcal implanted pain pump. That is what I have since the year 2000 and it is great. The only problem I have right now is the battery is on its way out and I keep having to have my pump raised up to a higher dose. Check it out for yourself it may be what your doctor is talking about.
If I can answer any questions concerning the pump, please feel free to give me a pm
Take care and remember there are a lot of options out there, no one has to suffer in pain in this day and age.
Sue:hi:

[MakinIT]

So Sue...what medication do they fill it with? I know I've worked with a kid with pain pump....it was filled with baclafan due to major muscular spasms...do they fill yours with lidacaine?

Thanks...I'll ask about it. I'm sure the Pain Doc will want to try the permanent nerve killing off first because it is less invasive....

[Julie Smith]

ok, tracey

where did this topic get moved to ?

Later,
Julie:confused:

[MakinIT]

It got moved from Nerve trials to Pain management. The same topic is going along with it in Pain manangement.

Also started by me....but kinda the same thing:) More info though....

How are you doing Julie? You never answered me if you've been to the Palm Pavilion on Clearwater Beach.....You know, Awesome Pina Coladas? Oh man, just the thought is making me sad. Warm white sand, Palm trees, warm water, AHHHH (as I sit here with my heating pad, staring at the rain, in my sweat shirt...trying to decide if I can brave the coldness of my bathroom to take a shower...)

Tracey

[sue041]

Hi Tracey, I have Morphine and Bupivicane in mine and it is working just fine and has for the past four years. Now I am coming up to the time when I will be needing a new pump because the batteries only last 4 to 5 years. I just had it turned up this last time I was there. I would not be without it.
Please ask all the questions you want, they are very nice at Medtronics, at least they were to me.
Take care and good luck with whatever you decide.
Sue