Updates



Update

Sunday 1/10/99 I had the seventh block on 1/6/99, and had a pretty rough time with it. After having to wait for
2 hours, they had a very hard time getting the IV started. You see I have moving viens, just when the nurse or
doctor thought they had a good vien for the IV needle, the vien would move away. They tried 4 times before getting
it right, and the back of both hands are still black and blue. Then, they were so far behind, my block was rushed
which caused me a lot of pain. Before I left the hospital, I was having severe pain in the upper, inside thigh,
(some say the groin area), and numbness in the leg. By numbness, I mean I could not lift the leg unless I reached
down and picked it up by hand. This lasted all evening and night. By the next morning, most of that had left, and
I felt very little pain, except in the left leg and hip. The blocks I have are for the original RSD leg, (the right),
and knee, they do nothing for the left leg and hip. Then on 1/9/99, I started having pain in both legs again. The only changes in medication made this time was switching from Amitriptylin 50 mg at night, to Trazodone 50 to 100 mg at night. This helps with the pain at night and helps me sleep. I will have another block on 2/10/99, and will update again then.

Update

Friday 2/5/99 I had another block on 2/3/99, it was done early because the last did not work at all. This block went a lot smootherm
So far it has reduced my pain level to 3-7. This is a big relief for me, since last moth my pain level was off the scale.
There was no changes in my medication this time, though we talked aboutthe fact that the Vicodin is not helping much.
If I continue to have very little pain relief from the Vicodin, the Doctors can give me Lortabs. This is one I can take more often
but I've used them before with no pain relief. I have another block scheduled for 3/10/99, and I will update again then.

Update

Friday, 3/12/99, I received my 9th block on Wednesday. I have not had the expected pain relief.
Where my leg should have been warm all the way to my ankle,
only from top of the knee up got warm. I have been having severe bone pain in my right thigh,
and knee pain. I am also having the pain in my left hip.
Only it seems to be getting worse.
I will be having another Lumbar Block next month, and I plan on talking to my Doctor about any other options I may have.
It is very hard to keep going throuth these blocks, and not getting any pain relief.
I will update again, after I see the Doctor.


3/16/98

Since the last block on the 12th, I have had very severe back pain.
This pain starts at the point on the injection, and goes down through my leg.
It gets so bad, that I lose muscle control. By that I mean I can't lift the leg to cross
the ankles. Both ankles are swelling, to the point that my pants and shoes leave an indented look.
I will update in about a month, or sooner, if I have more problems.


Update

Sunday, 4/25/1999, I had my 10th block done on Wednesday, the 21th.
This block brought no relief for the pain. In fact, it was like the block I had in January of this year. The block caused severe pain in upper, inside thigh.
This started as I was getting ready to leave the Hospital.
By the time I got home, The thigh was hot, but it never reached the knee, or the lower leg.
I knew it was going to be a bad day, when they tried to put the IV needle in, they messed up.
You see I have rolling viens, and if they are not "trapped", the vien will move after being pricked with the needle.
Well this happened, and I ended up with the vien bleeding under the skin.
By the time the bleeding stopped, it left a swelling that almost covered the back of my hand.
They finally got the IV in the other hand.
Then before the block is started, I am given medication through the IV to relax me.
Again, this did not work, and I was given a double dose before the first needle was prepared for my block.

On top of this block not working, now the RSD in the left leg,(which the doctors have pretty much ignored),has flared up.
I thought it was hard to walk with severe pain in one leg at a time, but with both legs it is near impossible.
By afternoon, every step I take I am in tears because the pain is so severe.

Since the last few blocks have not worked, I am not scheduled for another.
Monday, 4/26/1999, I am to call my Doctor at Emory to report how the block has done.
She has talked about using a Spinal Cord Stimulator for the pain. I am not sure I want to try this.
From what information I have read, the SCS is implanted next to the spine.
There are leads that are placed by a needle to the pain points.
I must be honest with you and say I really do not know exactly what the SCS is or how it works.
I do know they do a tial for 7 to 10 days, before the permanent implant.
After I speak with the Doctor, I will update again.
Most likely, I will have to make an appointment with Her before I really know anything.
If that is my next step, I will update before and after the appointment.
For anyone wanting to know more about the SCS, go to The SCS Unit Site
There will be other linksfor information on the SCS on my links page.


Update


I saw my Surgeon on 4/28/99 about the pain in my left knee.
He stated that RSD could not be ruled out, but the x-ray showed arthritis and the start of bone spurs.
This is the same thing I had the total knee replacement done for.
But this time there will be no surgery, because That is another way RSD spreads.

On 4/29/99, I saw my Pain Management Doctor at Emory's Pain Center.
She is trying a different block on me, and if it works
She will do these for a while. The leg is wrapped very tight and a tourniquet is placed very high on the thigh and inflated.
Then my leg is unwrapped, and the blocking medicine is injected in to my leg veins by way of the foot.
I stay like this for half an hour, and my foot and leg are very cold and purple.
After 30 minutes, the tourniquet is deflated, and removed.
I am given a full IV bottle, then the IV is completely removed and I can go home.
My foot and leg are still cold, for the IV made it colder.
By night fall, the leg and foot begins to feel more like room temperature.
Today is 5/1/99, and my pain level has dropped some, so most likely I will have this block again.
I will let you know when, and the results.



Updates


I do not know what has happened to my updates for the last few months.
I will try to locate them on my computer, and list them here.



Updates

8/6/99, I had anpther IV Block yesterday. My viens are shrinking, and the doctors are having a hard time finding them. Then I have a hard time with pain as the IV needle is put in place.
They were finally able to get the block started. Afterwards, I am to have a full IV bottle, but this time it would not go in. The drip was sp slow, I would have been there all day, so the doctors stopped the IV and sent me home.
All evening, I had pain in the vien on top of my foot. I'll just have to see how well this block works. I have another one next month, and will up date then.


For some reason my update have vanished. I will tell you that I am no longer having nerves blocks of any kind. Also my pain has gotten so bad that now I am on two different pain medications. The Lorcett7.5/700, and Methadone 5mg. Some of the other medication changes are, Amitriptyline 150mg, Hytrin 2mg,and Tegritol 200mg. My days start out with meds at 4:00 AM, and end with meds at 11:00 PM

I'm sorry that I have not been back is over a year. There was a problem with getting in to work on it. But I have not been able to work on it also. So I am not going to do any updates, unless something drastic happens. As of now, I am on alot of medication, and sometimes my mind doesn't work right. Even so, if you have any questions, or need more RSD sites, please feel free to email me. It may take a day or two, but I will get back with you.

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