What is Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic condition characterized by severe pain following injury to bone and soft tissue. The International Association for the Study of P...
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Does Sympathetic Nerve Blocks help RSD conditions
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After spending years over taking prescribed medications and covering up the horrible pain of RSD since 2004 I have been finally offered a Gangolion Nerve Block. I have heard from several doctors that it may not work since I have been in pain for 41/2 years now. I have also heard from patients that it can be useful. I feel very distressed because the pain I am experiencing started in my right elbow following a fracture in 2004 and now the left elbow and entire arm in now hurting. The muscle tremors I have is beyond ridicoulous and I find myself not able to rest most of the time. Can someone give advice and tell me what to expect with a nerve block injection? Are my chances good for success in pain relief? How many times will I have to repeat this procedure? Thankyou all for your time and attention in this matter.
Posted on 12/06/08, 10:12 pm |
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I have had RSDS for over 3 years now and I have tried almost everything. I have been to the Cleveland Clinic for several treatment that failed. I have been to 5 other pain doctors and most recently a Neurologist where he has done extensive testing--he said that my best choice at this time would be to try the Mayo Clinic (which is over 1000 miles from where I live now).
The last pain doctor told me that there is nothing more they can do for my pain--the spinal stimulator won't work because the pain has been embedded in my brain--plus they have found out that it only works in about 30% of RSDS cases and each year afterwards it losses its effectiveness. From what I have been told that the longer you have the disease the less they can do for you. Every person is different and so there is no set treatment that works for each of us--no miracle cure. I have had nerve blocks and besides being painful, they don't last very long (less than a day at the beginning) You need to keep going back for more. But again, other people may have had success and it depends on your level of pain and your body system. I stopped going through these process after the 10th nerve block because I was in so much pain from the needle (I have spinal stenosis and my lower vertebrae are fused together and I was born with a small spinal column) that I was not seeing results from the procedure. Again, this is my results and you may have a better reaction. Lucky I have been able to keep working even though I need a walker to move around. I only take my pain meds at night and so my body has not built up a tolerance where I need more and more. I suffer through the day and my boss has told me that if I need to go home because the pain is too bad, then I can. I try to keep my mind active and do not center myself on the pain. Some days I need to sleep 15 hours and so I just come home from work and go to bed. RSDS has changed my life and it is hard for some people to understand completely, but they do. I am fortunate to have friends and love ones that realize that my life has changed and help me as much as possible. People know that I have limitations and respect that. Take care of yourself and I hope that you will find some relief from this awful disease that we have. All the best, Russell 
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hey fallen-
first, i am so sorry about your situation. no one deserves to be in the position that you're in. i read your bio, and it's AWFUL what you've gone through - i will keep you in my thoughts and prayers! as we all know, everyone's pain here is different, caused by different things, helped by different things. i have addison's disease and a tumor in my spine - i've been told that i have RSD, and also neuropathy ... i'm confused as to which is caused by what, it's all a crazy maze, as you obviously well know. i can tell you this, however: i have had numerous nerve blocks/epidurals/what have you ... some of them have worked wonderfully, and some have not. most people that i have talked to in person, face to face, have had the same experience as i did: third time's a charm. the first two made things even worse, if you will, but you have to keep trying until you hit that third block! i have been getting them for over a year now, and they are completely helpful. sometimes not as much .. maybe for a week only, but sometimes for as long as five weeks (and i get them every 5-6!). they may not work for you at all, fallen - and that would suck, i won't lie. but YOU WON'T KNOW IF YOU DON'T TRY. not one of us would know ANY pain relief if we were not willing to try new medicines, new treatments, new doctors ... we will NEVER have a chance at getting our 'old' lives back, that we so desperately want, if we aren't willing to work for them. it absolutely stinks that we are in the positions that we are, but i have to believe that one day we will look back at these times as just that - times, in our lives, that are over, that we got through, and that we are proud of ourselves for. *misa* (i hope i don't come across as naiive or uneducated - i'm just *truly* doing my damndest to take the positive, upbeat, 2009 is going to be the year that things get BETTER road - and trying every treatment we can just might be the way to get us there, i think ... good luck!)
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