Nerve Block experiences

[Faith]

Where were you numb after having a block?

I had my 2nd block today and I was numb from almost my pubic bone back through my rectum and even down one leg (the sciatica must have gotten some anesthetic too). I am having a little pain in the clitoral area, but the numbness is still wearing off. My last block didn't affect my vuvlar area mostly just my butt and ischial tuberosity area. So, I feel like this block must be in the right area (moreso than the last one) since I was numb in the distribution of the pudendal nerve, but I felt some strange pulling sensations on one side of the vulvar area so I don't know. I guess only time will tell. Those of you who had flares what did they feel like and when did they start? Increase in old symptoms or new symptoms? I know some people have been permanetly worse unfortunately. This block had steriods, my last didn't. Just praying that I don't flare and at least go back to "normal".

[JeanieC]

Where were you numb after having a block?

I had my 2nd block today and I was numb from almost my pubic bone back through my rectum and even down one leg (the sciatica must have gotten some anesthetic too).

Faith , I do hope you are doing well after your second block. I was numb all over my pelvic floor from front to back and had weakness in my right leg. It was wonderful, but very short lived, about an hour after the first set, done at the ischial spines bilaterally. These were blocks containing local anesthetic and steroid. My pain was back at baseline for several days, and then for a few months I worried because I had some new pain in the tuberosity area on the right. It was very mild though, nothing like the left side which has the sharp and burning quality, especially in the anal/perineal area.
When I went back to Houston 6 weeks later for the second set of blocks, I did request to have them done on the left side only and Dr Renney said that was what was planned for me anyway, to help distinguish whether the pain was really unilateral on the left. This set was done in the ischial spine area and Alcock's canal on the left side. The neuroradiologist, Dr Twiford, said he would give me extra local anesthetic so that I would get longer lasting relief. I did get a full 3 hours this time, very numb in pelvic floor and buttock, on left. On the right, which was not injected, I did still have feeling, and it seemed like there was still a lump feeling in my rectum, but it was not painful, just slightly uncomfortable.

This result from the blocks helped me to decide to have unilateral surgery on the left, plus the PNMLT result, which was 4.1 on the left and 1.0 on the right. (I know there is debate about the value of this test, but for me it just seemed to be there to help make a decision) In addition this was what Dr R. suggested for me. Since the surgery I have only noticed pain on the left, so I am just hoping that I will not need to have surgery on the right side.

So, to summarize, I had a minor increase in pain on my relatively non painful side, which lasted for several months. I noticed your question about sacral pain on another thread, and I sometimes wake up with that in the morning on both sides, but after getting up and moving around, the pain falls down to the pelvic floor. This was also true before surgery. The blocks had no effect on the sacral area.

Thank you for your input on the nortriptyline thread regarding the pain management MD. It really helped me to to have a new attitude. The PMD I had before going for dx in Houston had wanted me to try a neurostimulator, and had emphazized how much worse I could become from decompression surgery so at that point I gave up on him. The one I see next week
specializes in physiatry and PM, so maybe his focus will different from the anesthesiologist/PMD

[Faith]

Thanks for sharing your experience Jeanie. I am still a little flared up from the block, but not as bad as I feared. What's strange to me is that my first block didn't numb me in the perineum, mostly just in the sit bone and butt area. I actually felt more relief in sitting from that block that I did from this block which I am pretty sure "got" the pudendal nerve. I don't exactly what this means, but I know one thing is for sure I am not getting any more blocks until I see a PN specialist. Plus a large portion of my pain is in my sacral area which is never numb so I don't know what is causing it for sure. My sacral area only hurts on my left side mostly, but my sit bone are hurts bilaterally so I don't know what this would mean if I had to have surgery because I really don't want to have bilateral surgery.

I am glad I was of some help to you Jeanie about pain management. I hope you are having a good day today!

[elephants27]

I have had 2 blocks. The first one was in June of 2010 and it was done in an or, where they just shot me blindsided with the needle. It actually caused my pain to be worse and now I have pain in my butt, and numbness. My 2nd block was done in November of 2010 and it was done through a guided ct scan..i noticed a difference and it lasted for about a month. I still had pain, but it was not as bad as before. It did come with a disadvantage. I had no feeling durnig sex. This lasted for 3 months. I was wondering if anyone out there has had the same experience as me. What did you do about it? My pain is fully back and very very painful. I am not sure if i should get another block done, since it may cause sexual disfunction again. The doctor said that it could happen again considering it has happened before. At this point i am not sure what to do, i don't want to have sexual dysfunction again but I do want my pain to go away. So if anyone has any suggestions i am open ears. Thanks

[elephants27]

I have had 2 blocks. The first one was in June of 2010 and it was done in an or, where they just shot me blindsided with the needle. It actually caused my pain to be worse and now I have pain in my butt, and numbness. My 2nd block was done in November of 2010 and it was done through a guided ct scan..i noticed a difference and it lasted for about a month. I still had pain, but it was not as bad as before. It did come with a disadvantage. I had no feeling durnig sex. This lasted for 3 months. I was wondering if anyone out there has had the same experience as me. What did you do about it? My pain is fully back and very very painful. I am not sure if i should get another block done, since it may cause sexual disfunction again. The doctor said that it could happen again considering it has happened before. At this point i am not sure what to do, i don't want to have sexual dysfunction again but I do want my pain to go away. So if anyone has any suggestions i am open ears. Thanks

[JRS]

Faith,

I was wondering where and who did your block? I live in Ohio and am scheduled for my first on 3/22. Are you doing better?

[Faith]

Faith,

I was wondering where and who did your block? I live in Ohio and am scheduled for my first on 3/22. Are you doing better?

I had my blocks done by a pain management doctor in Nashville, TN. That's where my current doctor is located too. I am not doing any better unfortunately. I seem to just progressively be getting worse. I am awaiting an appointment with Dr. Hibner in Phoenix in August. I hope your block goes well.

[JRS]

I'm sorry to hear your progressively getting worse. Sometimes an hour at a time or day at a time is all we can expect of ourselves and keep trying to educate ourselves and gain support here with our fellow suffers. Thank you for your reply. All being said now, would you do the block again? I'm scared but am told it's the best diagnostic tool. I'm exhausted and worried about keeping my job. I hold myself off my seat as I drive to work, I now stand all day but have high levels of sacral pain so I wear a pain patch and use ice packs throughout the day in the back of my pants. I drive home holding myself up again, ice again, try my best to take care of my children but my life as I knew it 9 months ago is long gone. Have you had an MRN? My doctors have done 5 MRIs (L-spine, Pelvic, C-Spine, T-Spine and Brian) as my pain just keeps growing but I see MRN referenced on the forum and wonder if that is a test that I should have done. After 14 specialists, I finally got to a pain management doctor and was directed to a Pelvic Rehab PT this week and a block next week -- it all seems kinda quick. I'm not sure if I should try PT first to see if there is relief there before doing the block that they so quickly scheduled? Im in pain, I want relief like everyone but geez I am worried. Any input from anyone please.

[Faith]

JRS-

Do you mind to tell me a little more about your pain. How did it start, what are your symtpoms, etc? You can even add that onto your signature like some of us have (under the user control panel and click edit signature) it helps to be able to see that to remind yourself what is going on with each person.

I do think I would have had the block again. I had been searching for a diagnosis for over 9 months and had already tried lots of meds, an S1 nerve root injection, and PT. I wasn't getting better and to me being able to have an official diagnosis was very important for me (maybe because I am a nurse and that's how I think). It helped me be able to cope with the pain better knowing what I have.

I have not had an MRN. You will find a lot of people on here are big proponents of the 3Tesla MRI done by Dr. Hollis Potter in NYC. She has special software that enables her to see scar tissue and if the PN is entrapped. I would like to have this done, but am going to wait till I see Dr. Hibner in August first I think.

Since you haven't tried PT yet and are nervous about the block maybe you could reschedule the block. Give it 12 visits with PT. If you aren't feeling any better then go forward with the block. Is this PT familiar with PN? If she tries to get you to do Kegels do not do that. Most people with PN have extremely tight pelvic floors and doing Kegels will only further the problem. There is no research that shows there is good success rates with PT for true PNE, but there are some people who do get some relief.

Keep us updated and feel free to ask more questions. Hope my answer helps.

[JRS]

I had my first PN epidural nerve block with steroids yesterday, sedated under CT-scan. The first 5 hours were amazing...I had NO pain. By evening, the sacral pain returned and I found more burning in my upper thighs than previously experienced and leg cramping. I cried, I ICED, I cried, I ICED and finally slept from exhaustion when pain spiked to an 8. Awoke today to a 5 baseline with no additional pain than normal but do feel a litle "less" constricted in the overall tightness I felt throughout the pelvic & legs & heels before the injection. I did develop a flushed face but overall I would rate the block worth at it this point and I'm hoping with PN PT starting I can regain a little of my life back and find out more on rotation and motion limits that may be making the situation worse.

Trying to stay positive, trying to work as I need to support my family as I'm single mother of 4 and am so grateful to have found Hope from others living this process. Like many, I thought life was challenging before...now those troubles seem so small, if I could just have my health back and not feel a prisoner in my own emotions and body. I use to work all day, clean my house, feel accomplished and excercise to manage my stress. I've learned a lot about perspective...I am curious what have others found in way of activity to burn off all this extra anxiety without additional pain -- is it possible?