More Pain - Pain Selective Nerve Block? - Back Problems Message Board

Suzy-Q · 07-07-2008, 10:18 AM

Hello,
Well, here I am in trouble again with my back. So sorry to see so many familar 'faces' but I am glad to see the same caring and wonderful support that helped me through some very rough surgery years (failed fusions and revisions at L4-5). I've been busy dealing with some other health issues for which I am preparing for a next big abdominal surgery in Sept. Ok, so what's up? I've been having mostly sciatic, left leg pain issues for many months but it was mild until January. Things have gotten worse and I let my surgeon know I was not able to cope with this level of pain with only neurontin and motrin. In fact, I won't be able to take any NSAIDs at all after my Sept surgery. Talk about terrifying.
My doc wants me to have a nerve root block for diagnostic purposes. I'm going down to Boston for that on Wednesday. My paperwork says "Pain Selective Nerve Root". Opinions and sage expertise needed, please? The real scoop? Is this just a shot or a pain-inducing procedure? I've had many epidurals and they have ranged from "no big deal" to true ordeals with tanked BP and many hours of IV therapy and severe reactions to the steroids and so on. I know I will be IV'd for this and I think sedated to some degree. I also know I have to cope with it regardless but I don't rely on docs anymore for realistic expectations. I rely on you. Thanks so much, Suzy-Q

tiggertoo2174 · 07-07-2008, 10:56 AM

SuzyQ,

Is there some reason you cannot have opiate type painkillers? I've had a series of 3 4-level intercostal nerve blocks and received Vicodan for 1 and Oxycodone for the other two. The intercostals were at least for me easier than an epidural. The first 2-4 hrs where I was totally numb were great! Had a good bit of soreness after that, but was functional for what had to get done.

Tigg.

Suzy-Q · 07-07-2008, 11:14 AM

Hello Tigg and thanks for the reply. No, I can take opiates. It is just that I am not on any narcotic pain meds since about a year ago. I had revision fusion surgery in '06 and felt good enough to be off pain meds about a year later. I still had nerve pain so I stayed on the neurontin and that worked well enough for many months. If needed, my surgeon would refer me to pain mgmt but it hasn't happened as yet. Right now he is focused on trying to see if this pain is coming from the level below my fusion and so on.

I'm not sure I understand you exactly. Your nerve block procedure was as easy as epidurals? Did you get the Rx for pain meds for home or was this administered to help you get thru the procedure? I guess I'm trying to learn if the nerve block procedure itself is likely to be difficult? Thanks again - Suzy-Q

tiggertoo2174 · 07-07-2008, 12:06 PM

For the procedure itself I wasn't given anything other than the lidocane that is in the injection with the cortisone. The pain meds were for after the procedure. I get a reaction to cortisone that causes the pain levels to go way up for the first 3-4 days.

Tigg.

Suzy-Q · 07-07-2008, 12:15 PM

Well, Tigg, that sounds very encouraging. I had read something that made me wonder if there is a difference between nerve blocks for pain mgmt versus for diagnostics. I was hoping I was wrong and sounds like I might be. That's great. Thanks again. Suzy-Q