Have you had a nerve block?

[funnywalk]

Hi group - I'd be very interested to hear if anyone has had a nerve block to treat neuropathy? Did it work? What are the pros and cons?
If you have any helpful links or experience, please post here, or message me. Thanks!

[Leofwen]

Hi fw

I had nerve root block don on the 8th May. It was at th Royal Orthopaedic in BIRMINGHAM. I have to say ,and not to put you off, for me, it was extremely uncomfortable and painful procedure. It did not work for me and increased my pain and leg cramps for two weeks and then I was back to my pre block symptom.

I understand that for some they are fantastic and well worth it.  while,for me, it was not effective.

However,I am of the mind to try everything and keep an open mind

S x

[funnywalk]

Oh dear. Thanks. Sorry it hasnt worked for you. Not sure if I can face being messed about more without a probability of success. Maybe best to stick with what I got. xx FW

[Leofwen]

But it may be great for you; this is the thing with interventions, they work for some and not others. Mine was given for a problem separate to my tumour. I should not discount anything!

Take care

Sue x

[peaceandlove]

Commenting about nerve block or what is called rhizotomy,

My doctor informed me that it dos not work for people with spinal cord tumor. and I believe he is right. Why? I will explain :

In the middle of the cord lets say at T9, the tumor make a damage. We will feel leg pain. In reality, explaining the feeling of broken leg or tingling is as follow:
your leg is 100% healthy but the damage created at the T9 level , is sending new signal to brain which come on the nerve starting from the leg to the brain. So the location of pain isn't locally as seen by the brain. The signal of pain starts from T9 and not from the leg which mean that the leg is healthy and the nerve block should be done in the cord itself for the related damaged nerve at T9 which is impossible. That's why nerve block or rhizothomy which is usually done below the level of tumor is useless.
I hope you get my point, but if we were face to face I could send you the idea much better.

However my doctor state than in our cases electric stimulation is beneficial for pain management.. Many are there as I see online which I never experienced like neurostimulator, Calmare.... It is not guaranteed results.

Thanks, I hope I could help in some way... Folks, if someone can add any useful information or any other explanation or other ideas please go ahead...Thanks

Peaceandlove

[funnywalk]

Thanks for those helpful insights. My palliative care Dr says my case is not suitable for nerve block, so that's that.