Hi all -

I wanted to share my happenings as they pertain to this discussion about needles and injections.

Going back to the beginning of my health issues...I began with cervical and occipital pain coupled with migraine, and occasional shoulder/arm numbness. MRI's only showed 2 bulging discs and a moderate herniated disc. Orthopedic Drs found no great defect and steered me to Pain Management where the Dr immediately diagnosed me with Occipital Neualgia. Cervical Spondylosis, Cervicogenic Migraine. It took all of 5 minutes for them to push injections. I mean that's what I was there for, I guess. I believed them and wanted pain relief so I went for it. First, were C4-7 facet joint nerve blocks which were diagnostic tests to determine if they provided acceptable pain relief. Then right and left occipital nerve blocks. I had to report my findings back to them and if enough pain relief was felt then we'd move on to burning off the nerves by Radio Frequency Ablation. This would fry those nerves so I didnt feel pain for a longer period of time. The nerves do grown back eventually, with or without the same pain, and insurance allows for RFA every 6 months. The fine print of course reads that these procedures can possibly cause permanent nerve damage. But, like opting to take medication with side effects, we weigh the odds and take a gamble. Maybe certain things are worth the risk for pain relief.

So, on I went...I believed I had felt pain reduction from the nerve blocks in both the right and left side of my head and neck. I honestly questioned myself as in do I truly feel relief or do I desperately want to feel relief??? After 2 years and 10 RFA's to my head and neck, pain began to increase. Laying on a table face down time and time again for fluoroscopy guided nerve burning in my head and neck was no picnic. I opted out of sedation because I knew I could handle it. By the end of 2 years, I no longer could and would cry on the table from such terrible pain and experience.

Bottom line is, was too much, too much? Probably. Do I suffer from permanent nerve damage now? Yes. Was it from all those needles being injected and further more being fished through my body to burn my nerves? Maybe.

As you all mostly know I inevitably was diagnosed as B12 deficient and with Small Fiber Polyneuropathy. Hmm...let's see, which came first? The chicken or the egg? I've often wondered...did I just have horrible luck and was bound to have permanent nerve damage one way or the other, or, did I contribute to the mess with all those needles and such? I will never know. Water under the damn now.

I also have back pain and have received two sets of low back steroid injections. They helped my hip as well as back but, I no longer receive them. I suppose I'm leery, afraid and concerned going forward with any more needles. Enough was simply enough for me.

I do think injections are of benefit for some and believe in them to a point. They certainly are a bandaid and can be a life saver to many who are desperate for pain relief.

Rachel