if any nerve blocks work..for how long??

[chia]

i have read so many good posts on here about all sorts of nerve blocks ect..i had to write nothes on them to keep them straight..the one thing missing is..if you find one that works for you, how long will it help or do you have to have them redone ever so often..some are pretty heavy priced to keep getting them..i am reading on the nerve surgeries they do too..so much to think about..i thank all of you guys for your imformation..i was dx'd with i.c in 96..after tons of meds treatments even some blocks just not sure which ones..even had my bladder out in 2000 and guess what!!! the pain came back after one mon...so i am sure it is a nerve thing ..which is why i am asking about blocks to try before any more surgeries...thanks..deedee:angel:

[Kara Isabel]

I think the results can be so different for everyone that you really just have to try it and see how it works for you.

I didn't have great success with mine, it only helped for a few hours, but others seem to get days or weeks of relief from it. I think its just one of those things you have to try out and its worth a try!

[etherealred]

I agree, it's worth a try.

I got my first nerve block done on March 17th (two days ago). So far, so good, and I am scheduled for a second nerve block (they did the left side yesterday, will do the right side next time) in two weeks. I have heard of people even getting months of relief from a properly placed nerve block. I hope I am one of those people! My nerve block has been immensely helpful-- pain's cut in half-- so far. I know it's only been two days, but I have hope that it'll last at least a month at a time. :)

[RagnarsCricket]

I have had 3 nerve blocks thus far and I am so thankful for them. While they do not take away ALL of the pain, they do help to make the pain much more manageable.

[KatieB]

Can you tell me where you had you nerve blocks put? I asked my pain mgmt doc about nerve blocks (which he does for my discs in my neck) and he said the relief would only last for hours.

[RagnarsCricket]

Ganglion Impar Block is the one that I am getting. He (the pain doctor) said there were different levels of nerve block that he could do, a minor one, a semi-permanent one, and a permanent one. He did not recommend the permanent one because it could make things worse and cause phantom pains or an even worse situation for me. He wanted to do one as strong as possible without actually "killing off" the nerve. He mentioned that there was a lessor one he could do, but it would not provide the relief that I would need based on my pain levels. So based on that, I am thinking that there are at least 3 types of Strength for the Ganglion Impar Block - but that is only my interpretation from what the doctor was saying to me.

Mine last 2-3 months at a time. I have been getting them since Feb 2010 and have been quite thrilled with the outcome thus far. Basically it is a procedure where they put me to sleep just a little bit while they use an x-ray machine to target the needle into my coccyx/tailbone area ( the actual place is about two fingers down the booty crack from the top to where the needle goes in *sorry if that is a bad description, I just don't know how else to describe it*).

After the procedure is done, I am usually a little groggy for a couple of hours and my tailbone is sore. We generally go straight home and I take a nap. The first few days the tailbone is tender, however, the bladder pain is GONE by this point, so although the tailbone is sore, I generally don't care so much at this point. I do take it easy for a few days ( I generally have the procedure done on a Thursday or Friday and relax at home for the weekend).

From there, I am almost "normal" and other than watching my foods to try to keep from further damaging my bladder, I am usually feeling awesome.

Having said this, I must state that when the pain block goes, there is no warning, it is just GONE. My doctor is great about getting me in to get a new one, but my work is NOT so great about letting me have the time to go get it done. Currently I am waiting until the 14th to be able to get it done, but my doctor could do the procedure tomorrow. Work just refuses to allow me off to get it done on this short notice so it is going to be a long couple of weeks.

Good luck to you.

[RagnarsCricket]

Well, I don't know where to begin. I posted this on the 3rd and on the 4th both my husband and I were laid off from work (we had worked for the same company for nearly 4 years). So I went in on the 5th and got my nerve block done to take away the pain.

I am afraid, very afraid. This one does not seem to have done very well. I am concerned that it is not going to be an option for me for much longer. I am still in a considerable amount of pain that has me on very light duty. I can't stand at the sink and do dishes for very long or walk through the grocery store without experiencing bad pains.

I keep hoping that the nerve block just takes time to take effect, when I know that it has always worked immediately upon waking from the proceedure. Although my tailbone still hurts from the proceedure, and I do have some relief...this is not going to be the perminate fix all for me. I don't know what I will have to do next or what the next step in treatment will be.

I am scheduled to see my pain specialist again mid February...so unless the pain is unbearable I will wait and take notes on where I am at for him.

I guess I just wanted to post this here because I just wrote a glowing review of nerve blocks - yes they did help for quite some time, but that time very well might be over.

Would I do them again? The year I did not have pain was well worth it. It is just likely time to find a different method to deal with pain. If nerve blocks work for you then in my opinion they are worth it. :)

[Itis]

KatieB,

I get my nerve blocks , or trigger point injections as my specialist also calls them, externally on my abdomen and internally in my ureters. The abdomen shots reach the muscle around the bladder, and I believe the bladder itself. I have a pain map drawn up every time, because at different times different areas are worse.

I get my shots once a month, and they usually last an entire month as well. These shots are the best thing that I have ever tried for pain management; I actually feel like a normal person again, and I am able to do many things that I couldn't while in pain. While they do not take away 100% of the pain I would say for me it takes away 85-90% and I usually register as an 8 or 9 on the pain scale without medications.

My doctor also said that I will need less and less shots over time which sounds like a good thing to me. The external shots aren't that bad, he uses a topical anesthesia spray, but the internal ones are very intense. They can't use the spray there, but if you focus they are over soon.

Also there is a certain amount of recovery time. For me, since I get around 30 external shots and about 6 to 7 internal shots it takes me roughly 3 days to recover. It changes from time to time depending on whether or not I am having a bad month or not.

I also think the trigger point injections/ nerve blocks may work better for some people depending on what areas are being injected and also the solution used. I highly recommend them instead of installments and for pelvic pain, but I have never had them for back issues.

Hope this helps :) (and sorry it is long)

[carmenelp]

My daughter also has shots for treatment and has to travel to Phoenix every 3 months. She lives in Austin, Tx and the biggest problem is finding a pain doctor who wont give up on her. They almost seem to be put off because she sees out of state doctors. Even though no one in the area can help her. Her pain has crippled her for almost 3 yrs now and just lost another pain doctor. The entire family is crippled when she is. She has twin boys who have not really had their mother since they were born 2 1/2 years ago. What do you do when no one can treat you?

[pookashell21]

Hey All,
When I first started seeing my pain doc I was in an incredible amount of pain so he suggested performing a series (7 in total, one each week) of hypogastric plexus block in order to help break the "pain cycle".

I was so desperate for relief that I agreed despite being scared as hell! I do NOT do well with needles or pain (real wimp here!) and I would be lying if I said it was an easy procedure...in fact in my personal opinion it was quite painful. However it did instantly (like in 15 min) stop the pain that I had been feeling for months on end. So despite my continued fear of the procedure I agreed to go through with the series.

In my case it completely stopped the pain between injections. Even after the series I had a significant reduction in pain and frequency for about a month. However it is worth noting that (I think) nerve blocks are not a permanent solution and you can only have so many before you need a break due to the build up of steroids. However it is a godsend for those who are out of their minds with pain!

I no longer have nerve blocks but would consider getting them again (despite the fact that I abhor them) if my pain became uncontrollable again.

Good Luck!

[RagnarsCricket]

I should update my post here to state that I shared my concerns with my pain doctor and he changed the meds for the nerve block to something stronger to make it last longer. I love my pain doctor. :) Nerve blocks are well worth the effort in my opinion!

[sully02]

I just had my first nerve block. I was scared to death but he gave me a sedative and I did not feel a thing. I do not know what the name of the block is called. I think I was too afraid to ask. But, he said it was like an epidural and it put it into my tailbone area. He said it would take a few days to feel it working. I really don't feel much different at this point, I had it 2 days ago. He said he used lidocaine and a steroid. I have an appt for another one in one month. I believe I will have a series of 3 and then I am not sure where we will go from there. He also put me on doxepin which bummed me out because elavil made me gain weight and from the drug description this one will too. He also has me scheduled to see the pain clinic's psychologist. I know I need some mental help dealing with this. It is driving me crazy and I feel like if this is all my life is going to be from now on, what is the point? I think I have not given up hope but maybe I have.

sully

[nyeema]

I am working with my new Uro/Gyn. she did not seem to know what i meant when i said 'nerve block'. What exactly is being injected into the sacrum? and is it the sacrum each time or do they inject into different locations?
thanks
nyeema

[sully02]

The pain clinic Dr described it as putting it right into the space at the end of the tailbone. If you look at a diagram of the spine you will see a small space right about at the tailbone. MY Dr called it an epidural, like in childbirth but he put different drugs than for childbirth. I had no numbness afterwards. In fact I just feel a little bit sore. Like I said before I was so afraid of having something in my spine I really only wanted him to tell me he would sedate me to do it. He said he put lidocaine and a steroid into that space and it would take a few days for the drugs to travel to the nerve sites. I have not had a lot of pain today. So maybe it is working. He made it sound like it would take awhile and I do have an appt in a month for another one. He did not mention puting the injections anywhere else for me. However, I have read others on this forum say they have had injections in the abdomen and vaginal area. He had me lay face down on the table and they sedated me but he also had an xray machine which he used for exact placement.
Hope you are having a good day.
HUGS
sully

[sully02]

Update on my nerve block. It has been one week and one day since my nerve block. I feel great. I have not had any pain for a week. It is a miracle. I forgot how good it feels to put on clothes and not have to take them off immediately because it hurts. I still don't know the name of what kind of nerve block he gave me but I have an appt for another one in 3 weeks and I will find. I have no soreness where he did it either......the only area that is somewhat tender is my low back area. I think it is where the drugs have moved into. He did not put it into my spine but rather in a small pocket of space at the end of my tailbone. I was sedated when he did it and did not feel a thing. What a miracle! No pain meds for a week now. Halleluhau! I am grateful for each day I get. I did not believe it was possible after 3 years. I will be sedated for the next one too. I don't think I would want it if I was not. Just want to bring some hope to all of you.

Sending healing hugs.
Sully

[chia]

i know it has been frever since ive ben on. it gave me some good things to read. i had sooo many kindsof crap done tome when i was in the pain clinic. i cant count the nerve blocks i take it..its crazy but at that time i was so druged up on so mny narcs tht was main the pain ven worse i didnt care r ask wht he did just to get some pain rlief..im getting my records fromhi just to c..he also is the one who implanted my spinal cord stimulator which now my in wont cover to get out.im not on all the oxy ect and morphine u name it ..after detoxing i took only ultram for 4 yrs bt now the nerve damge is worse and i had to add hydo/codine mayb the blocks will workths time..wonder if having bladder ou will make a diff.i still have chronic pain 24/7 in vaginaland now rectum also..thnks and soy so ong..ps..i am on disability.wonderif my ins will even cove it??