~How Frequent were YOUR Blocks?~ - Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Message Board

AngeInBoston · 08-05-2003, 09:04 PM

Hi All

I'm doing a survey....the first Pain Center Joey went to for his Lumbar Sympathetic Blocks made it clear they do their blocks once a month, and a Maximum of 3! He's had two so far, and still has the appt for his 3rd on 8/19, but in the meantime, we're switching to a different Hospital's Pain Center, but Joey thought he heard them tell him that they also do the blocks only once a month (?? He's not sure...we go there on 9/2)

This makes me angry because it seems to me everyone on here has their blocks at LEAST once a week for a number of weeks, and sometimes 2x/wk??? I REALLY want Joey to have AGGRESSIVE treatment, and I want to go armed with the ammunition I need to GET IT!! Since his RSD was triggered on 3/26/03, his window of opportunity is closing fast....I feel like we've just frittered away the last few months!

Hope you all have a low pain day....
~Ange

sharon1030 · 08-05-2003, 09:27 PM

Hi Ange,

I hope you're okay. I know you're having a stressful few weeks.

The first set of blocks I had was four-done every other day. Then I had other sets that were also done every other day. This was a long time ago so maybe things are different now. I also knew a woman who had a set of 10 or 20 (can't remember) and they were done every other day as well. That's my story for all it's worth.

Sharon

Horsie Nutt · 08-06-2003, 08:13 AM

Hey Ange, please tell Ramrod hello for me. I had one test block done, and it was successful, so they set me up for a series of 5. Two a week for 2 weeks, then the last one the on the Monday of the 3rd week. My second series, we did the first one on a Thursday, then we did 3 the next week, but they weren't doing didly (and I mean *absolutely nothing*), so we decided in the O.R. to try the epidural infusion, which we scheduled for the following Tuesday.

My doc told me from the beginning he wanted to treat this aggressively. He understood I didn't want the radio frequency sympathectomy, and hasn't mentioned it since I said absolutely no way. He has mentioned doing a stim a few times, but I opted to try the infusion first. He mentioned while I was in the hospital that he had conferred <sp> with his new partner and that he (the new partner) has had some remission success with a temp stim- a 2 week trial, with the battery either internal or external, patient's choice. They put it in place and send you home, so I know that's what he'll mention next, but I want another infusion right now I think. I am lucky cause my doc listens to me and lets me make the choices for my treatment, so many of the people on here don't seem to have that option. I go see him tomorrow, so I'll talk with him further on another infusion vs this 2 week stim thing, I wouldn't be as leary of it if the battery is external, cause it's the incisions I am afraid of, I don't want any new sources for my rsd to start from. It sounded as if he'd insert the leads kind of like he inserted the epidural catheter. I'll keep you posted. He did say it's for people who haven't had rsd for very long if I remember correctly, so I'm somewhere in the same boat as Joey on that standpoint, I am somewhere less than 7 months into this monster. I'm not sure exactly when mine started.

I'll let you know what my doc says. Joey sure is lucky to have such a support system in this with him Ange. He needs every ounce of it he can get. Thanks for being there for him, and for being here for him. I know my family wouldn't come on here. He**, I can barely get them to read any articles about rsd. They do help me in other ways though, but I do with they'd read up more about this monsterous condition.
Take care, and my best to Ramrod as always,
Cathy

dayton · 08-06-2003, 10:07 AM

Ange, my doc said must be done fast so I had two right together then 1 the next week and so on. total five. Please get them done together. My doc said if they're too far apart, they loose effectiveness. don't give up and keep pushing for them close together!! My symptoms have all but abated so I'm doing good. Now if my fibro clears up I'm ok.

RSD_Angel · 08-06-2003, 10:15 AM

I had my blocks done every week for a total of 6 weeeks. They need to be done close together or else they will loose the ground that the one gave him and the whole point of the blocks is to get ahead of it and put it into remission and with only getting one a month its not doing anything for the RSD to put it into remission, it just gives his some pain releif..

Bryn