Effects of blocks - Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Message Board

dayton · 09-10-2003, 08:20 AM

Last night my right leg and foot were so swollen you couldn't even tell if I had ankle bones or not!! The inside of my knee was very mottled a pale red and purple kind of blotchiness.

Should I call the doctor and ask for a block? I had about a 2 or 3 burning sensation. Will the block help with the swelling or is it just for pain?

I'm still frustrated about all this. So many of you have had immediate pain which started at 10 and hasn't been below a 7 or 8. I've only had one night of about 8 or more pain and it went away. Mine is just like a very bad sunburn. I've never missed work because of the pain and it's been 8 months. Forgive me, but I just don't understand this or maybe I'm still in denial. My pcp is screaming "you don't have rsd. I don't know what you've got right now but it ain't rsd."

Oh poo, had another argument with hubbie. The bills from the blocks started coming in. They are going to send me to a collection agency cause I don't have the money and I'm making payments. Hubbie said what are you going to do in retirement, we don't have the money (yeah, right, he has an airplane, bassboat, 2 motorcyles, canoe, 2 computers, hunting lease costs $1500 a year!!) and I'm going nuts over medical bills. He said well you better keep on working and make any appointments during the day cause I'm not taking off just so you can go see the doctor. Anyway it just went on and on......

Bob A · 09-10-2003, 10:03 AM

Blocks do not normally reduce swelling. If you have had more than 3 ganglion blocks you should be seeking some other avenue of treatment. I talked to a lady who had 36 blocks. Her nerve junction was riddled with scare tisue and her sympathetic nerves built up a resistance. What I'm going to tell you may help. but you may not agree. Start taking 1,000 mg. of natural vitamin E (look for D and not DL on the back of the label) every morning when you get up and every night before you go to sleep. For some reason if I don't do this my pain gets worse , especially at night. Also, start taking Ginkgo Biloba. Start with 60 mg. per day and build up to 240 a day. Do this over a period of 5 days. Both combined will take at least 2 to 4 weeks to start the control, and neither should hurt you unless your pregnant or are on blood thiners. Your blood pressure will also stabilize if it is too high or too low.

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Bob A.