Has anyone been advised to use a celiac plexus nerve block for back and upper abdominal pain caused by a neuroendocrine tumor in the tail of the pancreas? I am early into a clinical study at Mayo (FL) with octreotide injections every 15 days and I am scheduled for a scan in March to hopefully measure progress in arresting any possible growth. But it is my understanding that octreotide does not reduce current tumor size, only affecting further progression.

I hesitate to overuse ibuprofen (or stronger pain medicine) and the only other thing my oncologist has suggested is a nerve block. Have others successfully used this when surgery is not an option? I have sought out two opinions and both oncologists feel my pain is coming from pressure on a nerve - and with metastasizes to both lobes of my liver and a lymph node, neither would offer surgery. Fortunately, upper abdominal and middle back pain are the only symptoms I routinely experience. Knowledge of nerve blocks as common practice would be comforting and very much appreciated. I'm feeling quite alone as I've not seen anything about it posted in this group.

I've been advised (by well-meaning friends AND the docs) not to let this diagnosis rob me of my daily joy and experience a full life but it's really hard when pain is a constant reminder of a tumor in my pancreas (albeit non-functioning and slow growth). Can something relatively simple as a nerve block be helpful and if so, is this a sustainable option for the long haul as I'm only 68 and otherwise healthy?