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From: Keith.Jones@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Keith Jones)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Sympathetic nerve blocks?
Message-ID: <16198@handicap.news>
Date: 18 Jun 91 16:28:24 GMT
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Index Number: 16198

[This is from the Chronic Pain Conference]

-> I had a nerve cut in my right foot.  6 months later the shooting pain
-> had worsened.  I had a temporary nerve block.  The doctor said

   The word is now out on having nerves cut. It does not work. In fact
many times,as in your case, the result is worse pain. I was offered a
rhizotomy (nerve cutting) a year ago and turned it down for the reason I
just mentioned.
-> was blacklisted because I continued to complain about the pain. The
-> attitude was that I should be well even though they discovered that
-> the original cut nerve had not healed and the
-> bare nerve ending was rubbing against scar tissue from the operation.

   This is typical of the medical establishment. They go in and do their
handywork and, of course, it is perfect. How dare you question them! The
problem simply cannot be that they screwed up. If you complain, you are
a source of frustration to them. Their big egos cannot deal with you.
Therefore you are labeled a "head case" or a difficult patient.

-> I met an amputee who had a nerve block in his spine.  It didn't work
-> so he had his first amputation.  He developed phantom limb pain.
->
-> A year later he was given a second nerve block.  This one was for the
-> other leg.  He shortly after this had to have this leg removed.
-> He told me that he now had phantom limb pain in both legs plus the
-> effects of the nerve block.  He had to use a catheter because
-> he couldn't control his bladder.
->
-> When I met him, he was in for a colostomy because he couldn't control
-> his bowels either.

   This is a very strange scenario. I have to believe this man had other
problems he did not tell you about. I know some people who have had
nerve blocks and were greatly helped by them. I have had them myself
(though they did not help). They are relatively harmless as far as
medical procedures go (but nothing is guaranteed).

   Really sorry to hear about all your complications. I also have
terrible pain due to a botched surgery. These surgeons are not the gods
they think they are as we both know.

                               -Keith_

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