theweaver2
10-03-2006, 06:51 PM
My new pain doc thinks I may have Reflex Sympatheic Dystrophy or CRPS. All I know is I have major pain on the right side of my body due to various things over past three years.
He wants to do a series of 6 injections in my neck around the C6-7 area. Sounds good to me as my major pain in in neck/shoulder/arm area.
I PRAY it will work for me to help stop this cycle I'm in.
Anyone who has had them and could share their story, I would appreciate it.
Thanks
Barb
He wants to do a series of 6 injections in my neck around the C6-7 area. Sounds good to me as my major pain in in neck/shoulder/arm area.
I PRAY it will work for me to help stop this cycle I'm in.
Anyone who has had them and could share their story, I would appreciate it.
Thanks
Barb
Sponsor
donaeis
10-03-2006, 08:07 PM
It is rare for RSD to be cured, or even adequately treated using a series of stellate ganglion blocks. Anesthesiologists frequently will do these with somewhat reckless abandon in an office and without using fluoroscopy. This can result in major complications including seizures, stroke, popping a lung, or spinal cord/nerve injury. If one has to have these blocks, it is prudent to have them done safely using fluoroscopic guidance (x-ray).
They never cure but may help with the diagnosis, although even this is controversial. The stellate ganglion is a nerve bundle that supplies the head and arm (but not below) with nerves from a primitive nervous system that controls the size of the blood vessels, the blood pressure, etc. Each block usually lasts 1-3 days.
They never cure but may help with the diagnosis, although even this is controversial. The stellate ganglion is a nerve bundle that supplies the head and arm (but not below) with nerves from a primitive nervous system that controls the size of the blood vessels, the blood pressure, etc. Each block usually lasts 1-3 days.
theweaver2
10-03-2006, 11:03 PM
dona -
thanks for your reply. I have an information sheet from the doctor's office but it doesn't say whether or not it is done under x-ray. A good question to ask my doctor. Thanks. If not a cure, perhaps it will be a way to reduce my pain for a while and help in a more definitive diagnosis.
I recall reading on some posts where people have gotten these shots frequently from their doctors, and some even w/o sedation. I hope my doc knows the "spot" to hit..
ty
Barb
thanks for your reply. I have an information sheet from the doctor's office but it doesn't say whether or not it is done under x-ray. A good question to ask my doctor. Thanks. If not a cure, perhaps it will be a way to reduce my pain for a while and help in a more definitive diagnosis.
I recall reading on some posts where people have gotten these shots frequently from their doctors, and some even w/o sedation. I hope my doc knows the "spot" to hit..
ty
Barb
feelbad
10-04-2006, 11:13 AM
hi weave,from the description of a "series' of shots,this doesn't actually sound like a real stellate block.a stellate is actually one injection done at the front of the neck into the stellate ganglion itself.i had one a couple of years ago to determine whther or not the nasty pain i was having in my L arm and shoulder blades was for sure the actual central pain syndrome i had previously been Dxed with or RSD.i have RSD in my R knee.since i found absolutely no relief from that stellate,my previous Dx was left to stand.
a stellate is actually more of a diagnostic tool although some RSD patients do have regular injections there that appear to help at least take the edge off,when it works.this does require floroscopy to make sure the doc hits that ganglion directly.
what you explained really sounds more like ESIs(the steriod injections?)or trigger point injections?the trigger points are done exactly the way you described.i get those to try and keep the constant formation of muscle wads and tissue(trigger points) under control that stem from the nightmare of ongoing crap i have in my c spine.i will get from five to twenty,depending on how bad things are that day and whether or not both sides are screaming at me.these just help release the muscles.my injections start at the base of my skull and he will work down thru under my shoulder blades.i am actually going for another round next week(hopefully).you really do need to find out for sure just what type of injections he is planning.i am almost positive that an actual stellate injection is done only in that one area in front of the neck(the stellate ganglion).it just sounds more like trigger point inj than stellate,but hey,i could be wrong,wouldn't be the first time for that,lol.good luck anyways on whatever he ends up doing.hopefully they will offer you some relief.marcia
a stellate is actually more of a diagnostic tool although some RSD patients do have regular injections there that appear to help at least take the edge off,when it works.this does require floroscopy to make sure the doc hits that ganglion directly.
what you explained really sounds more like ESIs(the steriod injections?)or trigger point injections?the trigger points are done exactly the way you described.i get those to try and keep the constant formation of muscle wads and tissue(trigger points) under control that stem from the nightmare of ongoing crap i have in my c spine.i will get from five to twenty,depending on how bad things are that day and whether or not both sides are screaming at me.these just help release the muscles.my injections start at the base of my skull and he will work down thru under my shoulder blades.i am actually going for another round next week(hopefully).you really do need to find out for sure just what type of injections he is planning.i am almost positive that an actual stellate injection is done only in that one area in front of the neck(the stellate ganglion).it just sounds more like trigger point inj than stellate,but hey,i could be wrong,wouldn't be the first time for that,lol.good luck anyways on whatever he ends up doing.hopefully they will offer you some relief.marcia
theweaver2
10-04-2006, 11:42 AM
Marcia... LOTS of good info. In fact, I have decided to postpone my injections until after my next appointment in two weeks. This is a new doctor and I really shouldn't LEAP into things until I can research them. I had a NASTY injection August 30 to what I thought as a nerve block. I do know this isn't trigger point injections. They did give me a sheet that had Stellate Ganglion Block at the top of it, so I do know it is what they consider to be that type of injection. Why there are six of them, I do not know and it will be a good question for him. I do know he said it was a diagnostic type of way to determine if my pain was RSD or not.
Right now, I think I will enjoy the fact my new pain med is working well. I have plans for a long weekend coming up at the end of the month. The last nerve block I had ruined a long weekend I had planned months in advance of the block. We ALL know how hard it it for us to plan a social even in advance. So, I think I will wait for this new series of injections.
I am also going to call my doctors office right now to see if this injection is done under flourescope. I sure hope so.
Barb
Right now, I think I will enjoy the fact my new pain med is working well. I have plans for a long weekend coming up at the end of the month. The last nerve block I had ruined a long weekend I had planned months in advance of the block. We ALL know how hard it it for us to plan a social even in advance. So, I think I will wait for this new series of injections.
I am also going to call my doctors office right now to see if this injection is done under flourescope. I sure hope so.
Barb
feelbad
10-05-2006, 09:51 AM
he may have stated the 'series' as in having one injection over a period of six times in subsequant visits?always a possibility.but even with that,if this is for Dx purposes,you still would only actually NEED one done.it just has to be in the right spot,in that stellate ganglion.
more impotatly tho,just what are your actual symptoms?i have two seperate neuro pain syndromes,one is RSD and the other is central pain syndrome,these two syndromes have alot of the same type of symptoms to them but RSD really has more 'key' signs.while they both have the burn/sting thing happening and extreme hypersensitivity to any sort of touch,the RSD has a few more to it.like a tempurature component?the affected area will always be either hotter or colder than the rest of your body temp.it also will have some swelling,in some people,not all,it will also show some sort of color changes in the skin.reddening,blue or purple cast.you can also get skin lesions or blisters.in some people,the swelling itself can be a really really huge deal.i have seen pics of some victims who actually have an affected leg that i swear to god,looks like a flippin tree trunk.it can get THAT bad in some.luckily,when compared to that,my swelling ain't quite so bad to have to deal with.
when my PM did my stellate.it was just to determine whether or not my central pain syn was truely central pain and not actual RSD.i had no response from the injection at all,and he was definitely in the right spot.i don't have all of the symptoms in my central pain arm like i do with my RSD knee either.the stellate will tell you tho whther or not your types of symptoms are being generated centrally or sympathetically.when they hit that right spot with the stellate,you can tell as the lid on one of your eyes will droop,but only for the length of time the injection is there.this is called horners eye or syndrome.i actually have this as a permanent fixture which was caused when they damaged my sympathetic during my spinal cord surgery.my lid is droppy on the L and also my pupil is always in the constricted position,that never ever changes.that is how they first determined shortly aftr my surgery that they also had damaged my SNS somewhere.
the central pain syndrome was triggered by direct damage to my spinothalamic tract.people who also have strokes that affect the thalamus in the brain can also get this too.but it has to be stemming from the thalamic areas somehow.ALOT of spinal cord injury patients will get this from their specific injuries.all it takes is having any affectation of or direct trauma to that tract.have you ever had any actual spinal cord compression?
the one big question you need to ask your doc is just why in the heck he feels you actually need more than one stellate?the only time i have heard of a PM doing that is when someone has been definitely confirmed with RSD and its being used to maintain pain control.if you do not have RSD they would do absolutely nothing for you what so ever.be sure of that before you consent to anything,K?the stellate would ONLY work if your pain is being sympathetically generated.if this is possibly central like mine is up there in my arm and shoulder blades,there are other possible treatment options availiable.
just be sure of what your needs really are before consenting to anymore than one stellate.please keep me posted on just how things go,K?good luck,Marcia
more impotatly tho,just what are your actual symptoms?i have two seperate neuro pain syndromes,one is RSD and the other is central pain syndrome,these two syndromes have alot of the same type of symptoms to them but RSD really has more 'key' signs.while they both have the burn/sting thing happening and extreme hypersensitivity to any sort of touch,the RSD has a few more to it.like a tempurature component?the affected area will always be either hotter or colder than the rest of your body temp.it also will have some swelling,in some people,not all,it will also show some sort of color changes in the skin.reddening,blue or purple cast.you can also get skin lesions or blisters.in some people,the swelling itself can be a really really huge deal.i have seen pics of some victims who actually have an affected leg that i swear to god,looks like a flippin tree trunk.it can get THAT bad in some.luckily,when compared to that,my swelling ain't quite so bad to have to deal with.
when my PM did my stellate.it was just to determine whether or not my central pain syn was truely central pain and not actual RSD.i had no response from the injection at all,and he was definitely in the right spot.i don't have all of the symptoms in my central pain arm like i do with my RSD knee either.the stellate will tell you tho whther or not your types of symptoms are being generated centrally or sympathetically.when they hit that right spot with the stellate,you can tell as the lid on one of your eyes will droop,but only for the length of time the injection is there.this is called horners eye or syndrome.i actually have this as a permanent fixture which was caused when they damaged my sympathetic during my spinal cord surgery.my lid is droppy on the L and also my pupil is always in the constricted position,that never ever changes.that is how they first determined shortly aftr my surgery that they also had damaged my SNS somewhere.
the central pain syndrome was triggered by direct damage to my spinothalamic tract.people who also have strokes that affect the thalamus in the brain can also get this too.but it has to be stemming from the thalamic areas somehow.ALOT of spinal cord injury patients will get this from their specific injuries.all it takes is having any affectation of or direct trauma to that tract.have you ever had any actual spinal cord compression?
the one big question you need to ask your doc is just why in the heck he feels you actually need more than one stellate?the only time i have heard of a PM doing that is when someone has been definitely confirmed with RSD and its being used to maintain pain control.if you do not have RSD they would do absolutely nothing for you what so ever.be sure of that before you consent to anything,K?the stellate would ONLY work if your pain is being sympathetically generated.if this is possibly central like mine is up there in my arm and shoulder blades,there are other possible treatment options availiable.
just be sure of what your needs really are before consenting to anymore than one stellate.please keep me posted on just how things go,K?good luck,Marcia
theweaver2
10-05-2006, 11:28 AM
Marcia,
OMG - you sure are knowledge about this injection stuff. Yes, I think he is aiming to find out if it a central pain syndrome. He thinks my central nervous system (the automated one..?) is in the "ON" position because I've carried untreated chronic pain for so long. I really dont think it is RSD after reading ALL those nasty symptoms.
I am not sure about the 6 injections, but have more questions for him next time. Perhaps he is going to aim at several different locations? I know he said he was hoping with the series to lower my pain longer periods of time each time, like retraining my nervous system to stop responding so fast.
It made sense at the time, but I do have more questions after researching and hearing others respond to my questions.
you dont know how helpful your feedback has been. I think we all go through our "stuff" in life for a reason. Just know that what you have been through just has helped another.... me.
thanks
Barb
OMG - you sure are knowledge about this injection stuff. Yes, I think he is aiming to find out if it a central pain syndrome. He thinks my central nervous system (the automated one..?) is in the "ON" position because I've carried untreated chronic pain for so long. I really dont think it is RSD after reading ALL those nasty symptoms.
I am not sure about the 6 injections, but have more questions for him next time. Perhaps he is going to aim at several different locations? I know he said he was hoping with the series to lower my pain longer periods of time each time, like retraining my nervous system to stop responding so fast.
It made sense at the time, but I do have more questions after researching and hearing others respond to my questions.
you dont know how helpful your feedback has been. I think we all go through our "stuff" in life for a reason. Just know that what you have been through just has helped another.... me.
thanks
Barb