Hypogastric Plexus Block injection a problem given positional asphyxia

Hello @cpalmer. If you are comfortable sharing, could you tell us a bit more about why this procedure was suggested to you. I found this article Cleveland Clinic:

- Hypogastric Plexus Block
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17117-hypogastric-plexus-block
Based on this article, a Hypygastric Plexus Block is usually administered for hip and groin area pain. You mentioned positional asphyxia when prone. Are you having trouble breathing when you are prone? Or is it pain you are experiencing while prone?

Jonathan,
Thank you for your assistance and the article.
I received spinal surgery in 2017 replacing discs and treating scoliosis with two rods. Despite surgery back pain persists with post-operative complications including edema and asphyxiation when prone.
I have chronic pains including chronic rectal and coccyx pain for which I have had several ineffective injections. Since the injections processes were relatively brief I was able to brace myself with my arms to avoid gasping for breath as I do when on my chest or bent over. Crawling into a prone position on a treatment table hurts a lot, but the loss of breath is of greatest concern.
I had hoped in this thread to identify a solution to the lower spinal injection procedure that braces the patient elsewhere than against the chest on the supposition that there must be others with similar problems. It would be unreasonable to undergo intubation or sedation for such a procedure.
If you can further direct me I would be appreciative.
Thank You, Carleton

@cpalmer. That is quite the journey. It sounds like your asphyxia was something that started after your disc replacements and rod placements? The hypogastric plexus block has been suggested for your coccyx pain, correct?

I'm inviting @sandpiper49 to this discussion as they also have had discs replaced and may be able to share some of their experience. I'd like to also invite @nm418, @lisadt, @sutherlin, and @trish70 who all had rods placed and subsequent pain issues like yourself.

@cpalmer - If asphyxia is a concern when you are prone, how are you managing sleep? Are you hoping to avoid another injection, or find another way to have it done?

Justin, Thank you for your help. Today I spoke with my pain management physician who shares with me the opinion that sedation and/or intubation would be (perhaps literal) overkill for such a procedure. I suggested that providing support at hips and shoulders would relieve the chest of pressure so he showed me a webpage of a spinal operating table called a Jackson that could have been designed by Torquemada. After sedation one clamps in the patient’s head and rotates the body like a roast on a spit. Thanks anyhoo. Sleeping supine (on one’s back) is no problem because it is chest and neck position from lying face down (prone) that causes suffocation. It seems that the injections can’t be done with the patient positioned laterally (on one’s side). Unless there is another solution I’ll continue explore arranging pillows and supports on my own, and again thank you for your help. Yours, Carleton