Nerve Blocks

[louise]

Hi,

I am being referred to an anaethesiologist doctor in the next month or two at a local Pain Clinic at the hospital. I believe one of the major areas of treatment I know I want to discuss is nerve blocks. My main IC symptom is the unrelenting sharp burning needle-like pain that is driving me crazy!!

Have any of you had the nerve blocks in the lumbar area with success? I would love to hear from you before I see this specialist. Thank you so very much.

LOUISE


:angel:

[Julie Smith]

Dear Louise,

Yes, I just had a series of 3 nerve blocks and can't believe how sucessful they were. I also had constant sharp burning and ruptured disc L-4&5 and these nerve blocks helped SOOOO MUCH. I am so thrilled. My uro sent me to a pain dr. who is also a anthesiologist that treats A LOT of ic patients and performs these blocks frequently. Even my back is better which is amazing bc it always hurt.

I've read on the board how many ic'ers did not have sucess w/ this I was very apprehensive but figured I had nothing to loose. Dr. put me to sleep totally and then used marcaine which is a pain aid that lasts 24 hrs. I had dr. put me to sleep bc during procedure you lay on your tummy which is agonizing and impossible for me. I was home w/in 3 hrs. and fine the next day. It is truly a miracle. the key is right dr.

I wish you the best,

Julie :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Dianne]

Can you elaborate on what you had done? I found when I had steroids in my back, that led to a 2 weeks flare as I tried to pass them. However every time I've had a plain marcaine spinal or intrathecal like for procedures, I'm pain free for 3 days but no one wants to inject a spinal just for nothing.

[Dixiefireball]

i have had two done in the pass one lasted seven days and the other lasted two weeks and i tell you it was a blessing!
but didn't last long enough and that last one i had was very painful to me. the first one was no big deal at all.
there is so many diff types of nerve blocks.
I do hope the one you have helps you and is your answers plz let us know how you are
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[Cheryl529]

Good luck with your doctor appointment. My mom has had intrathecal nerve blocks starting this summer. Hers are mainly for back problems but they have slowly been helping. She has told me that he sometimes has numbness afterwards and the next day she may have some pain but it helps better than her past pain relife atempts. I've also considered seeking this but I had not know that IC patients could do this. I always thought it was mainly for people suffereing from back problems. Good to know. Let us know how it goes. Good luck. -Cheryl :)

[louise]

Hi Julie,

Your post about nerve blocks sounds very encouraging. I have an appt. with the anethesiologist at the Pain Clinic next Thursday. I am guessing one of the treatments he will discuss are nerve blocks. Do you mind telling me a little more about what to expect? First, does the block go into your low back area or into a "more personal area" of your body?!

On your last post I believe you said you had three blocks. How much time between the blocks was there? And are you scheduled to have more?
Has the doctor given you any idea as to how many of the treatments you might need?

I have lived with bladder and pelvic pain for thirty years and with having a UTI recently along with a bad jarring in the car I have really been a wreck.
Both my husband and I are feeling the stress and strain of living with a very poor quality of life. There is very little I am able to do without it causing pain.
We took our last long holiday by air about six months ago because I just can't deal with the pain caused by the vibrations and turbulence. Riding in the car is getting worse and, well, anything of a personal nature has been out of the question for more years than I can count!! My husband wouldn't touch me with a ten foot pole even if I begged him! You get the message.
I am lucky he is so considerate and understanding; for a lot of men it would be very difficult to have your sex life come to an end when you are still quite young.

Thanks, Julie, for any info you can share as I am very leary about my first appointment with the pain doctor and with having the nerve blocks.
If you would like to e-mail me directly, that would be appreciated.
rsmonty@telusplanet.net

SINCERELY,

Louise

P.S. Anyone else who is having or has had these nerve blocks and would not mind sharing their experience, that would be greatly appreciated.