They want me to do the block so I can get off the heavy duty pain meds that I am on. I researched the lumbar block and it seems to be used mostly for rsd, which I don't have.
With the pain meds, I now have some quality of life. I think the hysteria with Rush Limbaugh and the doctor shopping has the pain docs running scared, and they are looking for ways to get us off those meds.
I feel strongly that no one is going to put a needle into my spine, but I'm afraid that if I refuse, they won't continue to see me.
Has anyone has the lumbar block for lower extremity neuropathy?
What are they using for the injection? I had a steroid injection and it was a DISASTER. It set my body on fire with tear jerking nerve pain. My LLMD OK'd it, but obviously steroids & Lyme don't mix.
[This message has been edited by Foggy (edited 19 August 2005).]
They didn't last much more than a week. I still have extreme back pain when I stand for much more than 15 minutes, then legs go numb.
I can't say they made me feel any worse, mostly a waste of time and money. Once I found out about the Lyme, I canceled the third one.
I didn't ask any questions because I knew I wasn't planning on following up, and after these responses it's not likely the block does any good.
If anyone has had a positive experience, I'm willing to hear about it.
Janeymae, have you tried Neurontin for the nerve pain? It's the drug of choice for that kind of pain.
I tried Neurontin & Gabtril for neuropathy to no avail. Abx treatment was the only thing that helped, but it took time.
Try the Pain Free Diet and see if that works some. Some people swear by it. Also might try that Xango stuff because that's helped a lot of people too to varying degrees. I find that if I sort of follow the Pain Free Diet (which I can't entirely 100% follow very often) like cutting out potatoes, peppers, caffeine, and too much sugar that my pain gets much better. I added HBOT to that and it almost went away completely which was a miracle. So when I do that well, I don't need very much pain med help.
The whole narcotic pain killer thing is really strange. Some docs are scared, and others have no problems. I get mine from my primary doc, and he's more easy going than my previous two pain management docs. Always make sure you're taking plenty of milk thistle when on pain pills to block the tylenol toxicity in the liver.
I went to Herrell's yesterday and they said your house charge had been closed so I couldn't revel in a Lyme mint chip on you. LOL!