Does Hibner require CT guided block?

[Faith]

Those of you who are Hibner's patients. Does he require a CT guided block in Alcock's canal before considering you a surgery candidate or will he take other blocks you've received elsewhere that were done under fluroscopy? Or does he make you have a block by his radiologist or pain management doc or whatever he uses first?

I read in his article in The Journal of Mimimally Invasive Gynecology that he does 3 CT guided injections at Alcock's canal. Anyone know why he doesn't do any at the ischial spine level at the sacrospinous ligament?

[nyt]

I am a patient of Dr. Hibner's but I had my CT guided blocks done by Dr. Westesson in NY who he knows and trust to do the blocks. I can not say for sure what he will or will not take for the pudendal blocks but I would anticipate he will want something that they know they blocked only the pudendal nerve. He will not just do surgery on you. He will require a trial of Botox injections into the pelvic floor and if that doesn't give significant relief then a trial run of the On-Q pain pump. He does not rush into surgery even if you have been diagnosed by his other colleagues. I was diagnosed by both Dr. Howard and Dr. Conway, both recommended surgery and he still is requiring me to do both of these before we do surgery. Be thankful he is conservative and just doesn't open people up with such a major surgery.

[Faith]

I am very thankful he is conservative. I want to avoid surgery if at all possible. I am just trying to figure out if there is any point in trying treatments more locally if he requires them to be done again. I have a doctor who does Botox as well but they don't think that will really benefit me that much. How long does he leave the on-q in for? So if you fly to see him you then have to possibly fly back for blocks, Botox, and on-q before surgery?

[nyt]

The On-Q pump is in for about 3 weeks and you remove it yourself at home. If you already have an appointment to see Dr. Hibner or are thinking about making one why don't you call his office and ask about the blocks.

[Robyn]

What is the On-Q Pump or where can I find info on it at?

Also.................I called Hibner's office last week to see how long it takes to get your 1st appt with him..............I was told 8 months and that could change to a year the next day.

Is it kosher to go ahead and make an appt, then cancel it down the road?

Right now, Dr Hibner would be my choice for surgery, but that could change, depending on what other info or treatments I may try prior to that 1st visit with him.

Robyn

[A's Mommy]

The information about the ON Q pump can be found at www.askyoursurgeon.com

[Faith]

I called Hibner's office last week to see how long it takes to get your 1st appt with him..............I was told 8 months and that could change to a year the next day.

8 months?! Are you serious? That's kind of ridiculous. Just for an appointment? Do you still have to have all your paperwork faxed before they will even schedule you? I called a month or so ago and they said you can't schedule an appointment till they have all your paperwork. I personally would go ahead and schedule an appointment. If you get to the 8 months and don't need it you can always cancel. I am going to try to schedule an appointment ASAP.

If you already have an appointment to see Dr. Hibner or are thinking about making one why don't you call his office and ask about the blocks.

Last time I called about trying to make an appointment they wouldn't give me any info about his process for PN patients. They just said have your records faxed. That takes some time when you've been to several doctors.

The On-Q pump is in for about 3 weeks and you remove it yourself at home

So what is the purpose of the On-Q...to see if the Pudendal nerve is the cause of your pain?

I looked at the link you gave, A's Mommy, about the On-Q, but that's just talking about post surgical uses. I have taken care of many post-op patients with an
On-Q so I am familiar with how they work I have just never heard of them for pain relief other than post surgery.

[pianogal]

the purpose of the On-Q is to try to cure or lower your pain. Dr. Hibner did the On-Q on 6 patients and out of them, one was completely cured from it, and the other 4 were 50% improved, and I think one took it out too early. So he is trying this before surgery, to see if possible to avoid surgery. Same with the Botox. Some patients get cured with it and don't need surgery. (some, like me, get worse, but at least botox is temporary so it's a temporary worse.) (and for some, the on-q won't go in... that was my situation... guess I had too much scar tissue from previous surgery, so he said he won't do the on-q on people who had surgeries before after mine didn't go in)

his office is impossible to get in. take what you can get even if you are unsure. you can always cancel. I wish I'd made my appt. when I wasn't sure I needed it. By the time I decided, my appointment would've been there. instead... I called again, and had to wait 7 months... once you're in, it's easier to get in again.

[Faith]

That's very encouraging about the use of the On-Q and Botox to avoid surgery in some patinets. Thanks for posting!

[Celeste]

That's very encouraging about the use of the On-Q and Botox to avoid surgery in some patinets. Thanks for posting!

Sadly, none of the people who post here have had anywhere near those kind of results.