Nerve Blocks

[Krisandra83]

Has anyone had them... Did they work? Pretty much and infomation you can give me.. would be helpful.

Good or bad stories.

thanks

[Kara Isabel]

I had a nerve block a few months ago, I was pretty scared about it, really scared! lol But I survived.

Unfortunately, the relief only lasted about 4 hours or so, so the pain clinic decided not to continue with them. The doctor found the nerve pretty quick and didn't leave any bruises like they told me it might, and no real soreness after the fact either.

[Freckles]

NO, I've considered having them and my pain doctor has suggested them, but from what I've read they aren't very successful. I have severe IC and even I am not ready for that. I would never do interstim.... I may have to eat my words one day, but I believe that the doctors mainly want to do this treatment because they make a lot of money. Sad..... I've had this disease 10 years and only one good doctor and he moved a few months ago. I don't think it would hurt to try it if you are desparate for relief, but just don't get your hopes up. Think positive always. You may be one of the ones that it helps, you just never know. I don't want to put my body through anything that hasn't been very helpful to other IC'ers. To be honest the one thing that helped me the most was walking. I haven't done it in a while because it got so hot here (fl) that I stopped. The first mile was so hard, but the second better and I actually got to walking up to 6 or 7 miles a day. I guess the endorphins would kick in and I would actually be pain free for up to two hours afterwards and my body had never looked better. I'm going to try to get back to it, but don't know if I'm able now. I have to take my own advice and think positive and just make myself start slow and see if I can. I wish I could give you better advice. I just really don't believe nerve blocks are the answer otherwise we'd all be doing them and fast.
God bless
Karen

[Carol Junco]

have been told because of IC, that I have nerve damage around the bladder. I have had steroids injected into the site and last week had a sacroiliac joint injection which did not help at all. Now, they are talking about radiofrequency ablation because the nerve is damaged. Has anyone had this? Has anyone had their nerves damaged around the bladder or lower pelvic area because of repeated UTIs. Please let me know.

THanks

Carol

[etherealred]

I had my first spinal nerve block yesterday. The pain went down to a 6 (from a 9) rather quickly. When I woke up this morning, my pain was at a 5. A 5!!! Normally I would wake up at at least a 7-1/2 if not higher.

Nerve blocks aren't permanent (they have to cut the nerves for that to happen), but I am willing to do them repeatedly because my results were so good. A 5 is still significant pain, yes, but it's tolerable pain for me... not like how it used to be, waking up in bad pain and it just getting worse over the course of the day.

My nerve pain in my joints is now almost gone, and the only serious pain left is the pelvic pain, focused in the bladder itself and surrounding area. There's some urethral pain but even that is better than it was before the nerve block!

I feel very positive about my nerve block and the pain specialist who performed the procedure. I only had the left side done yesterday, and I am going back for the right side in two weeks.

He lidocained me up really well so once the lidocaine took effect, there was very little pain during the procedure. I was expecting excruciating pain. It hurt some when the needle first went in, but the lidocaine worked quickly. He waited until after it kicked in to guide the needle into my spine with the help of a digital x-ray machine. Then he delivered the blocking agent and cortisone treatment. It felt weird and a little uncomfortable but there wasn't real pain. It was over in fifteen minutes once the needle went in.

I also started Elavil and Neurontin last night.

[etherealred]

Update: my nerve block stopped working late last night. Very very disappointed and sad! Pain is back to where it used to be. Ugh.

[Thingone]

I had one recently. It cost me about $2000 for a few hours of pain relief. I'll never do it again. I have seen two other doctors since them and they stated that they didn't work.

[amaranthe]

I had one a few years ago. Mine was done by my Pain Dr. The procedure itself didnt hurt or anything, but afterwards, I went into complete urinary retention for about 3 days!!! Luckily, I knew how to self-cath, b/c if I didnt, I would have been in a world of trouble and would have had to have a Foley Cathater placed! It was pretty scary, since I didnt know how long it was going to last!

I have heard of a few ICers who got a lot of relief from nerve blocks, but they are few and far between. Most of the stories I have read on here about people who tried them said they only gave them a few hours or a few days worth of relief. (And even then, it didnt take the pain away completely. It just brought it down a few notches.)

But, as you know, we are all completely different. What works for one, may not work for another. And what doesnt work for one, can be a great source of relief for someone else!

So, I guess the bottom line is that you really aren't going to know for sure for yourself until you try it. But, like Freckles said, I just wouldn't get my hopes up too high for this!

[Mytita]

NO, I've considered having them and my pain doctor has suggested them, but from what I've read they aren't very successful. I have severe IC and even I am not ready for that. I would never do interstim.... I may have to eat my words one day, but I believe that the doctors mainly want to do this treatment because they make a lot of money. Sad..... I've had this disease 10 years and only one good doctor and he moved a few months ago. I don't think it would hurt to try it if you are desparate for relief, but just don't get your hopes up. Think positive always. You may be one of the ones that it helps, you just never know. I don't want to put my body through anything that hasn't been very helpful to other IC'ers. To be honest the one thing that helped me the most was walking. I haven't done it in a while because it got so hot here (fl) that I stopped. The first mile was so hard, but the second better and I actually got to walking up to 6 or 7 miles a day. I guess the endorphins would kick in and I would actually be pain free for up to two hours afterwards and my body had never looked better. I'm going to try to get back to it, but don't know if I'm able now. I have to take my own advice and think positive and just make myself start slow and see if I can. I wish I could give you better advice. I just really don't believe nerve blocks are the answer otherwise we'd all be doing them and fast.
God bless
Karen
Thank you for the encouragement, especially about walking. I have to force myself to walk around the block because the friction causes more pain usually. But I have read others who say you get to a place where the exercise helps, so I will try to do more.