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From: KAK@VAX5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU (Kim)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Sympathetic nerve blocks?
Message-ID: <15814@handicap.news>
Date: 28 May 91 04:05:52 GMT
Sender: news@bunker.isc-br.com
Reply-To: KAK@VAX5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU (Kim)
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Fidonet: Chronic Pain Conference

Index Number: 15814

Hi --
this group is new to me, so im afraid im posting questions that have
been asked of the regulars many times;...

My doctor has suggested 'sympathetic nerve blocks' after almost 7
years of disabling chronic pain.  Ive become terribly isolated
since the onset of this situation (disease ?  Illness ?  Injury ?)
and realize that i am very niave concerning this type of
treatment.  Of course, ive grilled my doc, and read some 'clinical'
literature (propaganda?) but i havent been able to get in touch
with anyone who has tried this.

I know there are no guaruntees, but if this sort of treatment will
improve my mobility, i have nothing to lose (do i?). (Ive tried
every drug and form of therapy under the sun.. percocet didnt even
touch it.. i was just drugged and in pain.. Have also tried
steroids, accupuncture, kinesiology, chiropractic, healing diets,
TENS, homeopathy -currently, mega-vitamins....

Anyone out there tried this ?  Doc suggests a 'pain clinic'.  Any
recommendations positive or not?  Im not interested in learning to
breathe and other new age stuff.  I do those things to survive.

FYI, my story (short version):

I am 34 yr. old female who used to be obsessively active and
athletic .  With no warning, i developed *screaming, debilitating,
disabling* sacro-illiac lower-back/hip pain.  The pain does *not*
radiate down my leg.  Worse on weight bearing (walking) and in
cars.

It doesn't improve on rest, but definitely worsens on activity.
Sometimes there are "explosions" of sharp, "take my breath away"
pain, which, if occur too often put me right in bed. Usually these
are on weight bearing, but on a bad day, may occur while at rest.

Since the onset of this pain i havent been able to walk more than
about 50 steps-- and this with GREAT difficuty.  Wheelchairs dont
help, since the bumps, vibrations, general activity increases the
pain to *intolerable*.

Initially they diagnosed Ankylosing Spondylitis, but after about 4
yrs with no radiographic changes (no fusing), no remissions and no
help from NSAIDS,  the doc's decided that this isnt AS.

Basically, they just dont know.

I hurt like hell.  Use a cane/walker. I am essentially housebound
-- the only place i go is to work occasionally (but once there have
trouble dealing with ANY activity that requires leaving my desk..
bathroom trips, etc).  Much of the time at home it hurts just to
sit perfectly still and breathe.

Ive taken every drug under the sun and tried every form of
traditional and non-traditional therapy.....(including lots of
cortisone injections).  No relief.

For the last year I also have a host of systemic symptoms, that,
unlike the pain are intermittent-- cold sweats at night, lowgrade
fever, swollen glands, nausea, acheyness, etc..  i'm not convinced
that they're related to the SI/hip/lowerback pain.  I believe THESE
symptoms are so-called fibromyalgia, but that there MUST be
something mechanical going on with the SI situation.

Ive progressed from an active, outgoing woman to a recluse -- ive
learned that to make it to work as often as possible, i need to
spend my time not at work resting.  Ive almost accepted the fact
that i may never be athletic again, but i sure would like to be
able to go to the grocery store, or a concert, or cook a meal.. or,
even just not have to worry about how many steps is it from here to
there and do they have handicapped parking and how BIG is that
building (hospitals are a joke) and i wonder how far the bathroom
is....

so, folks in netland.. whats the scoop on these pain blocks ?? Any stories
you care to share ?

oh -- am about to try muscular injections of Magnesium.. any advice there?

Thanks for reading.
All comments/ideas/insights welcome.

kim
kak@crux1.cit.cornell.edu