anyone get lumbar sympathic blocks?

shannon1

Regular Member

Joined : Feb 2005

Posts : 369

Posted 5/1/2008 2:11 PM (GMT -7)

I was wondering if anyone got these for their pain, and how long and how often u get them.

I have been having them for 8yrs now, we do them in sets of 3, so i have two sets a yr, along w/ singles on occasion if i drop something on my foot or somehting....does anyone else do them this often??? between that and the PM, it is the only thing that has kept me on my feet....

they are talking about spinal cord stim....or (can't remember the name of the procedure) but laser the spot that they usually do the block to, for more perminant numbing...im afraid of both, anyone know about either one?

thanks everyone!!!!!

Toritoo

Regular Member

Joined : Apr 2008

Posts : 184

Posted 5/1/2008 7:37 PM (GMT -7)

Hi Shannon

I am one of many people on this site that has had these shots but they did not work for me so I eventually worked my way up the pain med ladder to a pain pump which I am still having trouble getting to the right dosage on but my mother is much like you and has been having the shots in a serie of 3 over a certain amount of time with oral meds for break through pain. She has usually been very pleased with her results but again like you she has been having them for a lot of years and they don't seem to be helping as much now.

As for spinal cord stimulator I have heard many different sides on this treatment. Some people swear by them while others have nothing but trouble with theirs. I guess that does not help you too much but I am sure others will write and give you their stories. Also you can go back through some of the earlier forums on this site and find a lot of information in that way.

Good luck with what ever you end up doing and hope you have a less pain night.

Toritoo

painKILLER

Regular Member

Joined : Aug 2007

Posts : 69

Posted 5/1/2008 10:33 PM (GMT -7)

Hello Shannon,
I have the steroid blocks done at the L2, L3, L4, and L5 sacral-lumbar levels. I go through this process because my doctor believes he needs to try everything in the book first. They don't work for me personally; I get a day or two of relief from the anesthetic thats administered but thats it. I hate them, too, because they have caused me to gain an extra ten pounds around my waist that I cannot get rid of no matter how hard I work out. All in all, I personally find them to be a waste. However, Shannon, its a very personal decision. Some people do get relief from them, but I think that the negatives outweight the positives outcomes. On the other hand, my Doctor is doing everything he can to make the Disk Fusion surgery an absolute last resort.
Honestly, my pain is mostly controlled through my medications. Because of that, I'll probably just stay where I am at for the moment, as I can always opt for the disk fusions surgery later on. Best of luck, Shannon....
PainKiller

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