Nerve blocks

[Jaime_S]

Has anyone had any experince with nerve blocks. Have they been helpful, or not? How long have they lasted?
My Neurologist is going to try a nerve block in the occipital nerves, (I have Occipital Neuralgia) next week. I have never had them before, and I'm very nervous! I really hope it helps. But I hope it doesn't hurt too much, because I'm a wimp when it comes to needles! lol
:o
~Jaime~

[jane d mccartney]

:) Hi Jaime
I have had 9 blocks to date, usualy every 8 wks.
I find they have helped with the pain, but of course not taken it all away
but has been worth having them, i`m due for my 10th sept 3rd.
I won`t say it is pain free on having it done but over quickly, your head
will feel like a block of wood for a few hrs.
It is not usual to have a reaction but i do for 10 days or so & am bed bound for around 3-4 days but sleep & sleep. pain consultent thinks it`s the steroids that do it. i must say i`m in the minority having this reaction but
telling you so if it happens you understand why.
I like you have occipital neuralgia [ mine due to pressure from tumour ]
I am 74 yrs so these things do tend to cause more upset than if i was younger plus i have many other symptoms.
I wouldn`t keep having them if they hadn`t been of benifit would i ?
Good Luck & let me know how you get on Jaime.
Sophia :)

[Jaime_S]

Hi Sophia,

Thanks for sharing your experience with nerve blocks. You have had quite a few!
I hope I don't have any bad reactions to them, that is the main thing that worries me. But if they help get rid of the pain for 2 months or so, I'll be happy!

~Jaime~

:) Hi Jaime
I have had 9 blocks to date, usualy every 8 wks.
I find they have helped with the pain, but of course not taken it all away
but has been worth having them, i`m due for my 10th sept 3rd.
I won`t say it is pain free on having it done but over quickly, your head
will feel like a block of wood for a few hrs.
It is not usual to have a reaction but i do for 10 days or so & am bed bound for around 3-4 days but sleep & sleep. pain consultent thinks it`s the steroids that do it. i must say i`m in the minority having this reaction but
telling you so if it happens you understand why.
I like you have occipital neuralgia [ mine due to pressure from tumour ]
I am 74 yrs so these things do tend to cause more upset than if i was younger plus i have many other symptoms.
I wouldn`t keep having them if they hadn`t been of benifit would i ?
Good Luck & let me know how you get on Jaime.
Sophia :)

[Jaime_S]

Well, I saw my neurologist today. But I'm rather annoyed because he changed his mind about giving me a nerve block! He wants me to try another medication for a month, first! It seems that he sees a nerve block as a last resort, after meds! So, I got all worked up for nothing, and told everyone I was getting the nerve block...now it feels like I lied! So frustrating when Doctors decide what they think is best, and not let us make the choice!
:(
~Jaime~

[jane d mccartney]

:hug: Hi Jamie.
So sorry you got all worried for nothing this time, but if another med will help it`s worth trying, seems like we have to take notice of these [Gods]
Let us know what your new med is ?
Love Sophia :hug:

[InHisHands]

I had a block that lasted 2 hours. Worked great, just wore off way too soon. I do not believe that this is the normal response though!

I hope you find relief! What is the new medication?


BTW, that is such a cute picture of yourself! :)

[Jaime_S]

My Neurologist put me on a low dose of Amitriptyline, this time. I have taken it in the past in a much higher dose, and couldn't handle the side-effects. He thinks a lower does would work better for nerve pain, I'm not so sure, but I guess time will tell!
Anyway, I'll check out the other threads on that med...




BTW, that is such a cute picture of yourself! :)

If you mean my picture?....that isn't really me!:o It's the "real" Jaime Sommers, the Bionic Woman! lol

[jane d mccartney]

:) hI Jaime,
My pain consultent has me on 25mg of amytriptaline which i take at night
it does help with sleeping for me. he also has me on 1800mgs of gabapentin, 25 mgs of methadone all these for pain.
I am due my next nerve block on the 3rd sept. they do last me abought 5 wks am really ready for my next.
I see my neurologist next weds. I saw my neuro surgeon 4 wks ago & had
my usual c.t. scan but was rather worried has he wanted another scan 2 wks later, however the tumours hadn`t grown but he wants another scan in
6 months time so still worry.
Oh dear! life isn`t easy is it?
We can just pray &try to keep smiling.
:) Sophia

[jane d mccartney]

:) Hi Jaime,
Just wondered how you were getting on with the amitryptaline,
I had my 10th nerve block last wk & my reaction wasn`t has bad this time.
At the moment is helping the pain [ but never helps the eye pain ]
I`m just hoping it helps me over my hols starting 26th sept to 17th oct.
Take Care
Sophia uk :)

[Jaime_S]

Hi Sophia,

I'm still taking the Amitriptyline, but it doesn't seem to be helping all that much. It felt like it was working for the first 2 weeks, but now I'm not so sure. I get more fluctuations in pain level than I did before (some days very little pain, and the next, the pain is high!), and I get more scalp pain and sensitivity. It seems to be stirring up the nerve endings, rather than dulling the pain. I go back again to my Neurologist on Wednesday, so I will discuss this with him. Not sure if he will do a nerve block this time, I don't want to get my hopes up too much this time! lol

~Jaime~

:) Hi Jaime,
Just wondered how you were getting on with the amitryptaline,
I had my 10th nerve block last wk & my reaction wasn`t has bad this time.
At the moment is helping the pain [ but never helps the eye pain ]
I`m just hoping it helps me over my hols starting 26th sept to 17th oct.
Take Care
Sophia uk :)

[Jaime_S]

Saw my Neurologist today, and he gave me the nerve block! I told him all that the meds were doing to me, good and bad. He wanted me to continue on them for another month at least. Then he said he would do the nerve block, I didn’t even have to ask. It was over quickly and didn’t hurt too much…..it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be! lol It seemed to work after a few minutes, I really hope it lasts. He only did it on the left side this time, as that is the main source of the pain. Now the head feels a bit better, but it didn’t do anything for the dizziness that I’ve had for the last 4 days! Oh well...
Anyway, time will tell how long it lasts…
:o
~Jaime~

[Jaime_S]

3 weeks and the nerve block is still working. So far, the pain is a lot less, and I have felt so much better in other ways. I hope it lasts a lot longer!
:D
~Jaime~

[Jaime_S]

It has been just over 4 weeks since I had the block, but, unfortunately, it only lasted just over 3 weeks. I saw my Neurologist yesterday, and he thought it was too soon to try another one. We both hoped it would last longer than that, but...oh well...it was good while it lasted!
:o
~Jaime~

[Jaime_S]

Just thought I'd give an update...
I had my 2nd nerve block a week ago. Wasn't sure if I should, but I'd rather try it again instead of taking too many pain meds!
I really hope this nerve block lasts longer than the first one...
:o
~Jaime~

[Jaime_S]

Well, Just thought I'd come back to this thread with an update...
My second Occipital Nerve Block lasted nearly 3 months! Didn't think it would last that long. But now it's starting to wear off...time for another NB I think!
:D lol But it has been great having the pain under control, without having to take high dose pain meds!
:p
~Jaime~

[Abbie]

Hi Jaime...

I'm glad you are getting such good relief from the Nerve Blocks!!!! :trampoline:



I'll keep my fingers crossed that they keep working for you!!!!


:hug:
Abbie

[jane d mccartney]

:):)Well, Just thought I'd come back to this thread with an update...
My second Occipital Nerve Block lasted nearly 3 months! Didn't think it would last that long. But now it's starting to wear off...time for another NB I think!
:D lol But it has been great having the pain under control, without having to take high dose pain meds!
:p
~Jaime~

So pleased for you Jaime, i am on my 12th now & due to have my next one
on the 3rd march. i have mine approx every 10 wks. the last one my pain doc tried a new longer lasting aneasetic but it took a few wks to kick in however i was pain free for 4 wks & then unfortunatly i had 2 seizures & all
the jerking abought ect. plus i always seem to knock my face & head a lot started all the pain off again bit of a no win situation sometime, but will still have the blocks but i am still on the pain meds.
Do so hope you continue to get some relife.
all the best :):) sophia

[jane d mccartney]

hi jaime
han`nt been around for sometime & just wondered how you are doing.
are you still with the nerve blocks?
i`v had 18 now but my last one a wk ago was done by a differnt aneathasist
& it`s not been so good.
i`v always had the same consutant aneathasist do it, but now feel i need a change onto something else.
are you still with the amitriptaline ?
my n. surgeon who has always said my pain wasn`t coming from my tumours
as now said it is [ a very difficult man ] but i feel better now he agrees.
only the removal of the tumours will get rid of the pain, but they are inoperable so i just see the rest of my life with this not a happy thought.
feeling very depressed at the moment.
regards sophia :hug:

[Jaime_S]

Hi Sophia, sorry, I missed this message!
I'm doing OK at the moment. Yes, I'm still getting the nerve blocks, and I should be getting another one in just under 3 weeks. I started back on the Amitriptyline last month because of the pain coming back, but mostly I've been taking it to help me sleep!
~Jaime~

hi jaime
han`nt been around for sometime & just wondered how you are doing.
are you still with the nerve blocks?
i`v had 18 now but my last one a wk ago was done by a differnt aneathasist
& it`s not been so good.
i`v always had the same consutant aneathasist do it, but now feel i need a change onto something else.
are you still with the amitriptaline ?
my n. surgeon who has always said my pain wasn`t coming from my tumours
as now said it is [ a very difficult man ] but i feel better now he agrees.
only the removal of the tumours will get rid of the pain, but they are inoperable so i just see the rest of my life with this not a happy thought.
feeling very depressed at the moment.
regards sophia :hug: