Uh-oh, bad block!! - Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Message Board

dayton · 06-24-2003, 12:29 PM

I went for my fourth block yesterday at the hospital from hell!! My pain dr. practices there and also at the pain clinic. I didn't want to go but I needed to so I said ok. First the nurse couldn't find a vein in my right hand. She twists and turns that puppy until she blows the vein. I was in so much pain I almost cried. Thankfully she only tried once in the left hand. She called for another nurse who put the iv in my right arm up a couple of inches from the wrist. My right hand is now black from fingers to wrist and the size of a half dollar on the arm. Left hand didn't bruise so bad. When I woke up from the block my foot was burning something awful and itching fit to be tied. I've never had that happen before. Before the whole leg would get warm but not this time. Now this morning my right shoulder is very sore and I've had several sharp stabbing pains from right hand to shoulder. Oh lordy, I hope it's not the rsd spreading. Let's just pray that I skate on this one and it's a bad reaction to the hospital. I'll never go there again. If I can't get into the pain clinic I ain't gonna go. I've never had a bruise, swelling or anything at the pain clinic. The nurses hit my small vein first time. They also use a numbing agent and at the hospital they didn't. I told my dr. my level was a 5 but it was my arm and he looked down and said Oh, i see why. I asked the nurse if something was dripping down my arm and guess what?? blood!! eeeekkkkk. I don't need this.

Soxy · 06-24-2003, 12:52 PM

Dayton, I can sympathize with you. They had trouble with my IV the last time and boy did it hurt while they tried to find a vein! I am not afraid of needles and don't usually mind being poked and prodded but this pain was something. The next day I had such a big bruise and I was swollen where the needle wouldn't go in. I thought I had a blood clot. The block was nothing compared to that!!!!! Anyway, you mentioned your foot itching and burning. I don't remember feeling like that after a block but my foot felt like that last night. It is finally sunny and hot in the NE. Last everning we were sitting outside and my foot was red, swollen, hot, burning and itching like crazy. I had forgotten that warm humid weather sometimes does this to me. So, this feeling is not uncommom. Remember, everyone experiences RSD differently. The same goes for the treatments. Your doc is only a phone call away. Hope you will be feeling a bit better soon.
Take care.
Soxy

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Don't wish upon a star..
reach for one!

dayton · 06-24-2003, 01:05 PM

I wonder if rsd patients are more sensitive to pain!! I mean I almost cried it hurt so bad and usually I'm pretty good I think. I can look at a good looking doctor and forget all about pain!! uh, oh, yeah, pain.... well next time I ain't gonna go there, hubby even said he didn't like it (which is saying a lot)!!!

cattys · 06-24-2003, 04:35 PM

Welcome to the world of RSD!

No one can even find my veins anymore. Do you know how many veins I have had blown. Just to get a IV started is a 4 hour job. I hate giving blood or anything that has to do with needles because I know it will be a job in itself. It does not matter how good the dr. or nurse is even the iV team has a hard time. My blocks were also a hit or miss deal. Some would work some would not but I took that chance each time. My ruthless dr. gave me no sedation no nothing for the blocks in my neck I would just tilt my head back and he would put that 4 inch needle right through the middle of my neck and I could not breathe or swallow for 15 seconds, Talk about torture. I did not know no better so I did not know that other people would be sedated for this.

I was never like this before the RSd. My veins are shot. The RSD has them so constricted.

I could go on and on with all my bad exsperinces with this monster since day one it is never ending. I have been poked and proded and so many surgerys and it is just so sad all from just one fall.

So Dayton when I read your story I thought to myself it is so sad the things that we have to endure just to get treatment and to get some relief from our everyday pain. This disorder is never going to leave .I live day to day hoping and praying just to have a good decent day and to get the things done that I need to get done without being in terrible pain from doing them.

So I guess it all comes down to we have to do what we have to do to survive this monster and get through each day.

Cattys

[This message has been edited by cattys (edited 06-24-2003).]

[This message has been edited by cattys (edited 06-24-2003).]

Soxy · 06-25-2003, 11:55 AM

When I read about the people who have had blocks without sedation it makes me crazy!! Or should I say crazier LOL!!! Are we back in the Middle Ages or what?? As far as veins go, I thought the trouble they had with my veins was maybe do to my age. Now I learn it may be RSD related? Is there no end to what this monster will do to us?????????? We are all going to go down fighting, right???????
Take care.
Soxy

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Don't wish upon a star..
reach for one!