Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Hi my name is Eve. I would like to ask a question please. Has anyone had the Medial Branch Nerve Blocks? I am having the third one tomorrow and if I understand it right, if this one works the the doctor will decide if the burning of the nerves will work for me. I have so many places if my back that I have been told that surgery is out. I am in so much pain most of the time and do not want to take pain medications all the time. I don't want to be out of it, I have to much I want to do! If anyone can give me some insight on this I would appreciate it very much

@hosta Hello Eve,
I hope that you had your Medial Branch Block done today and that it was successful. By successful, I mean it gave you relief so you can get the Radio Frequency Ablation or RFA. I had one done a few years ago on my lumbar spine. It worked very well and I have not had to repeat it.

Yes, I did have the MBB done yesterday. I had been told that I would have immediate relief. Well it hurt so badly that I really don't believe that it worked. I am, getting so discouraged. But I guess that there is nothing more that can be done. I don't have another appointment with the Pain Specialist until May 22, 3o18. That is a long time to wait. But I will make it, with God's help. If anyone has a suggestion, I will be ready to listen. I am so happy the procedure worked for you! Thank you for responding.

@hosta

Eve, I'm so sorry that the procedure hasn't helped. Is it something that's supposed to have an immediate effect?

My wife has pain in her lower back from stenosis, and an inflamed sciatic nerve. She had a shot in October that only helped for a couple of weeks, and the second one is starting to kick in today. I expect that she'll have surgery for it in the near future. Constant pain is something that has to be experienced to understand the impact it has on our lives.

I had a spinal cord stimulator implant in June, and though it has reduced the peripheral neuropathy pain, anytime I'm on my feet for very long, my feet burn and hurt. I don't wish chronic pain on anyone, and there seem to be many, many sources of it.

Since the MBB hasn't been effective, could you get in to see the pain specialist sooner? I hope you will be able to enjoy Christmas and New Years in spite of your pain.

Jim

Thank, you Jim for your kind words. This is the 2nd day after the procedure and I don't hurt as bad. Yes, you are right, if people don't have constant pain, they don;t understand. Some think we are just a complainer. I think if I didn't have so many places in my spine that are affected, then something might work. I have had three spinal surgeries. I get pretty discouraged sometimes, But I know that God is always there for me and he is always listening.

My family will be home for Christmas and I will enjoy it!

@hosta Eve, I'm sorry the MBB did not work. Getting any of the procedures are rough on our body. Do you feel the deep bruising where the needle was? I dread post procedures when there hasn't been any help.
May 2018 is a long way off. Is there a reason for the delay in seeing pain management?
Gentle Hugs
Jen

I'm Glenn i have a painful arthritic index finger joint which has not responded to injections of steroid...keeps me from all activity involving that finger which is ,like, most activity
Both thumbs have been fixed by joint fusion . ...really worked well...I'm looking for anyone else who has worn these joints out pulling and squeezing ropes and or heavy cable such as in stage or rigging work
I'm looking first , srcond by for surgery covered by my Ontario (OHIP) second by a foreign surgeon who can fix it with money

Thanks @sandhtoes Jen. I was told I should feel relief right away. I didn't. In fact I hurt worse/ This is day 2 and I'm not hurting as bad as I did right after. The pain doctor is the one who did the procedure. He is very hard to get an appointment with. So I take what and when I can get it. I don't know what else I can do. I think most pain management doctors's answer is pain medication. I don't want to be so doped up that I can't think or do things for myself. Not until I have to. Thanks for the 'Gentle Hugs' I take all the hugs I can get!

Hello @gdonald3. I would like to give a late welcome to the group. Thank you for introducing yourself to the Chronic Pain group. If you don't mind me sharing, is it osteoarthritis in your fingers? It sounds like you must have done a lot of hard work with your hands. I have not heard of someone fusing their thumb joints. However, I know what it is like to have a joint fused all to well as I fused my left ankle in 2015 from end-stage arthritis. Tough recovery. Are your thumbs like my ankle, little to no movement?

1) ..osteoarthritis...

.2)..I was IATSE rigging and electrical cable .

..3)...surgery relieved pain in both thumbs...very little limitation of mobility...a few weeks recovery with physio and splints...

.4)..concurrent carpal tunnel controlled by wearing splints at night.

.5)...right knuckle joint very sensitive to even slight use, has not responded to injections...

6) ...the finger is actually obstructing use of the adjacent thumb- opposing finger and as such might be better amputated because I have seen no facility which might do a similar fusion to the thumb