posted
Is there anyone out there who has been treated with a Celiac Nerve Block for abdominal pain. Someone in our support group is facing this procedure and unsure if they should proceed??
Posts: 366 | From Louisville KY. | Registered: Nov 2003
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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- Yikes. Are they being treated by a LLMD? If so, what does the LLMD say.
Are they also being treated for coinfections?
Is the pain inside the stomach vessel itself, or outside.
As this procedure is done for pancreas pain, it can be caused by lyme or other tick borne infections.
I hope a LLMD &/or LL ND is on board. Other thoughts:
Are the dairy, corn and soy free? Also considered other food sensitivities and done juice fasting to avoid certain foods for a period of time before reintroducing them?
Are they diagnosed with celiac? Are they absolutely ALWAYS totally gluten free and aware of: (Google) Hidden Sources of Gluten
Have they considered visceral manipulation with a practitioner trained in the UPLEDGER TECHNIQUE
or similar body work with someone trained in FELDENKRAIS method.
ACUPUNCTURE, too, can be helpful. A LL ND (naturopathic doctor) may have suggestions.
Have they tried CORYDALIS for pain (it's an herb). See PubMed for some medical abstracts. www.hepapro.com for HerbSom formula.
They probably are clear of additives but, just to be sure, double check all here:
If the pain is inside the stomach vessel, L-Glutamine can help. However, there are important considerations regarding dose. See the detail about that in Excitotoxin link above.
Most logical: MAGNESIUM IVs; GLUTATHIONE IVs. Generally getting levels up of both, with various methods orally, too, but IV can be much better results, quicker.
Now, you may sense that I would do ALL this above - and more - before I'd consider having nerves in my body destroyed. -
[ 06-24-2012, 01:05 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
They should know that acetaminophen should be avoided, even in small dose. That blocks glutathione and that creates a terrible cascade of events.
I'd like to assume their doctor has informed them of this but many doctors are not aware of this.
I do assume, however, that they are not taking NSAIDS as they can cause so much stomach pain. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Steroids, Dye - other Rx that can hard on the liver . . . very long needles going in the back near the spine and all the way to belly nerves . . . oh, my!
I cannot imagine anything that would convince me to have this done. Ever.
With the possibility of steroid / epinephrine, this can be very damaging to someone with lyme. NO STEROIDS with lyme. EPINEPHRINE can cause serve symptoms that can cause anxiety for many month.
The LLMD MUST be on board with this and offer protective measures. Still . . .
IMO, there are much safer and gentler ways to achieve the desired results.
Quite frankly, I cannot see any condition under which a LLMD would think this would be proper for someone with lyme.
The very physical nature of this and the toll on the endocrine system could set someone back months. But, mostly, the nerve problems are often resolved with diet, nutrients and proper treatment for lyme and other TBD that attack those nerves.
A celiac plexus block is an injection of local anesthetic into or around the celiac plexus of nerves that surrounds the aorta, the main artery in the abdomen.
Normally these nerves control basic nerve functions. In certain conditions, these nerves can carry pain information from the gut or abdominal organ tissues back to the spinal cord and brain.
. . .
What is actually injected?
The injection consists of a local anesthetic. On occasion, epinephrine, clonidine or a steroid medication may be added to prolong the effects of the celiac plexus block. . . .
. . . This procedure is done under local anesthesia. . . . .
. . . The procedure involves inserting a needle through skin and deeper tissues. So, there is some pain involved.
However, we may numb the skin and deeper tissues with a local anesthetic using a very thin needle before inserting the actual block needle. Most of the patients also receive intravenous sedation . . . .
. . . It is done with the patient lying on stomach. The patients are monitored with EKG, blood pressure cuff and an oxygen-monitoring device.
The celiac plexus block is performed under sterile conditions. The skin on back is cleaned with antiseptic solution and the skin is then numbed with a local anesthetic.
Then X-ray is used to guide the needle or needles into the proper position along the outside of the spine. Once in place, a test dose of dye is used to confirm that the injected medication will spread in an appropriate area.
If this is okay, the injection takes place gradually over several minutes. The physician will use the X-ray to evaluate the spread of the injected medication. . . . .
. . . How many celiac plexus blocks do I need to have?
If you respond to the first injection, you will be recommended for repeat injections. Usually, a series of such injections is needed to treat the problem.
Some may need only 2 to 4 and some may need more than 10. The response to such injections varies from patient to patient. . . .
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Of course, if considering this, MANY more sources should be consulted and others who have had this done should be found to talk to about it, too. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Added thought: if your friend STARTLES at all, this should not be done (IMO). Since they won't be put out and just a local anesthesia is used, any startle can result in major problems.
Many with lyme have a sensitive startle reaction to all kind of stimuli -- beeps, buzzes and clicks of the monitoring machines -- smell of the topical numbing agent -- motion -- and the pain that can occur could make some pull back.
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