Bringing this to the top - so others see this again.

I have had great success with nerve blocks in the past and was just given the go ahead by my doctors to start again. I was recently diagnosed with chiari malformation and was waiting to see if I was a candidate for surgery. It turns out that I am not for now, but that I can go back to nerve blocks, but no steroid injections or oral steroids. I did find steroids usesful as well, but I cannot continue with those. I am hoping that that I have as much success this time around - it's been a while. I had relief for several months at a time - not total relief but it was definitely worth it. Besides the chiair I have several herniated discs and cranial settling. Basically my spine and my skull are being "squished" togehter a little bit. It really hurts, especially during a bumpy car ride. I wear a neck brace everywhere I go. Besides that I have a small brain herniation, but not enough to justify surgery but enough to cause a CSF blockage. I take meds to help with the CSF blokage but can't take steroids. The nerve blocks really helped tremendously with the back and neck pain and headaches. The only thing I will definitely recommend is sedcation. There are doctors that do the blocks without sedation and depending on the type of block - it can be barbaric. Ask if they use sedation or not, and if not, move on to the next guy. I had no idea there was an option at first.

I had three steroid injections through pain management. They worked quite well at first. I had a good six months pain free. Then the pain came back worse. Or maybe it just felt worse since it had been so long since I had it. Anyway, I arranged for the injections again. The second time they didn't do anything. Methotrexate helped but then I had problems with that. Now I am thinking about asking for the nerve blocks.

Good luck to you. Let us know how it goes.

peace and love ... Kyle Anne

Hi ~ I've been thru 3 pain management clinics, and each one REQUIRED the steroid injections ~ none of them worked at all. I used to belong to a forum that operated out of Mass. General Hospital/Harvard and there were thousands of members. On the spinal disorders forum, there were hundreds there who had had these injections and about 97-98% of them got NO relief. Unfortunately, these shots are BIG money-makers for the doctors, so the like to use these as part of their 'treatment.'

Hi I've been working with the same pain management doctor for 6 years, and I've had enormous success with both pain management treatments and local injections. I've been receiving injections of pain killer and local anesthesia almost every month since then. Although for a while I used steroids and I had some pain relief from it, I wouldn't recommend the steroid injections because I now have a lot of skin atrophy in the area of the injection that is really hard to repair. I've also had 2 caudal epidurals which have given me up to 8 months of being ALMOST pain-free! I was just given the go to get another one and I would really recommend trying it out. 8 months may not be a lifetime, but its given me the strength to keep going:) Good luck and let me know how it goes

Katie

I had an epidural done to my lower back and I have no idea what meds were used. I can tell you that about 3 weeks after that I got a horrible stomach ache that burns so bad and I am still dealing with it 3 months later. Just be very careful about what they want to shoot in your bady...I wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy..best of luck...V

I've been through all sorts of pain management. My left leg is paralyzed so I get severe nerve pain in the leg. It's been this way for about 9 years now and the pain increases as time goes by which my doctor told me sometimes happens in patients with damaged nerves. I tried the spinal injection but it actually seemed to have a bad effect on me and it increased my pain somehow. I have to deal with more of the narcotic pain medications because the others such as Lyrica and cymbalta don't work and I'm allergic to Neruontin.

I have been taking OPANA for about 3 months now and it's like a miracle pill. It has really dulled down the nerves alot more than any other medication ever has. I take that with Percocet 10/325. I have tried almost every medication in the past including herbal remedies and non-narcotic medications but this seems to be the only combination that will control my pain enough for me to be able to function again.

My suggestion is to ask your doctor to switch your medications and try something new. If the pain is still bothering you that much while you are in Vicodin, then you may need a stronger dosage or new medication. Keep in mind that our bodies can easily get addicted to the medications but that does NOT mean WE are addicted to them. Also, if the medications have a sluggish effect on you, ask about ER, extended release, medications which will keep a level dose of medication in your body which I have found really helps to control my pain.

I wish you all the best and I hope you find relief soon. But always keep in mind that it's YOUR body and you have the right to live without being in pain all the time. Don't give up until you find something that will work for you.
~Zainab~

I see I can get all kind of info now in this site for my hubby! Some was suggested to him by his doctors. WhenI get home from my MS app today I'll be busy on this site. So will hubby if he has the energy. He's getting MORE tests done today too. They said Dystonia last week and now It's changed to Neuropothy with his other health problems. Please take care.