Today's Right Ganglion Nerve Block
Comments
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Cinnamon--you are one tough cookie!
That shot definitely did NOT sound like fun at all. I hope and pray it does the trick and you get all the benefit from it possible. Sending all positive energy that the month speeds by for you and you feel great!
Hugs, Renee0 -
Nerve block
Cinnamonsmile:
You are one tough cookie, just to read about your experience makes me feel faint! Hope you get enough relief to last through the month until your doctor comes back. How about some chicken soup? I am still doped up on Lyrica, need a higher dosage to stop the pain, but can't tolerate it. Yesterday I burned myself on the iron, instead of grabbing the handle I grabbed the iron instead, I put that down to being loopy from Lyrica. Put fresh aloe vera on the burn, I grow a pot in the backyard, it doesn't look too bad. I found a masseuse willing to handle me, there is a lot of scar tissue, she also noticed the sweling which the doctor described as "phantom swelling" - duh! I knew it was there! The massage felt so good I went to town during yoga class, result -I hurt bad ever since. I am wondering if the massage was a good idea or not? I am so fed up with it all!
Many, very careful hugs, Marlene
PS - A hug to your partner as well0 -
I would find out if they aremruczko said:Nerve block
Cinnamonsmile:
You are one tough cookie, just to read about your experience makes me feel faint! Hope you get enough relief to last through the month until your doctor comes back. How about some chicken soup? I am still doped up on Lyrica, need a higher dosage to stop the pain, but can't tolerate it. Yesterday I burned myself on the iron, instead of grabbing the handle I grabbed the iron instead, I put that down to being loopy from Lyrica. Put fresh aloe vera on the burn, I grow a pot in the backyard, it doesn't look too bad. I found a masseuse willing to handle me, there is a lot of scar tissue, she also noticed the sweling which the doctor described as "phantom swelling" - duh! I knew it was there! The massage felt so good I went to town during yoga class, result -I hurt bad ever since. I am wondering if the massage was a good idea or not? I am so fed up with it all!
Many, very careful hugs, Marlene
PS - A hug to your partner as well
I would find out if they are experienced in treating/massaging pain and scar tissue like my pt's are. They are VERY good at what they do. They can feel what way they need to massage my scar tissue and how to use just my arm weight for strength training. I have that "phantom swelling" feeling too. Since I started therapy, they say I lost four inches around my arms. Now that makes me wonder if I don't have mild lymphedema. When they get the scar tissue adhesions better, I am going to see a yoga instructor. I realize I am not like the normal person who goes to yoga though and will make sure the yoga inst. knows that so I can modify anything if I have to. In fact, my favorite pt, Sally, uses some yoga stretching with me in pt and gave me the name of a good yoga gal. I know what you mean about being fed up with pain!!
What they and my pain counselor have told me that there is necessary and unncessary pain. The unneccary pain is like the wierd stuff from nerve damage. I acknowledge but have to work at not wallowing in it. Necessary pain is like what I get from stretching, the massage (and it isn't like a regular massage, they are targeting scar tissue adhesions), using my arms more. That kind of pain is a good pain, it means healing, recovering, get stronger and it is quite a process to figure out what is what and figure out how to think about it and handle it.
I have had chemo brain without the chemo since 2009. So I totally understand your loopiness. Even before the gabapentin, I burned myself so many times, I have scars, forgot the stove on, forgot to turn water, off etc. We have to try to do our best and learn how to live with it.
I try to drive very little now, and Brian helps me out a lot. I don't always like asking for help with somethings, but it is how the life is now.(I can talk smart today cuz even though my neck still hurts, my mind is perking up lol)
I have to really cut back on what I do so I don't over do it and fall into the pattern of overdue it, do very little til I feel better, and it goes on and on.
I just figure it is a learning process with everything. Find out what helps, what doesn't. Have you seen a physical therapist ? Keep in touch... you are my partner in pain lol!!
I know you don't like the idea but don't forget there is the pain clinic...0 -
Nerve Blockcinnamonsmile said:I would find out if they are
I would find out if they are experienced in treating/massaging pain and scar tissue like my pt's are. They are VERY good at what they do. They can feel what way they need to massage my scar tissue and how to use just my arm weight for strength training. I have that "phantom swelling" feeling too. Since I started therapy, they say I lost four inches around my arms. Now that makes me wonder if I don't have mild lymphedema. When they get the scar tissue adhesions better, I am going to see a yoga instructor. I realize I am not like the normal person who goes to yoga though and will make sure the yoga inst. knows that so I can modify anything if I have to. In fact, my favorite pt, Sally, uses some yoga stretching with me in pt and gave me the name of a good yoga gal. I know what you mean about being fed up with pain!!
What they and my pain counselor have told me that there is necessary and unncessary pain. The unneccary pain is like the wierd stuff from nerve damage. I acknowledge but have to work at not wallowing in it. Necessary pain is like what I get from stretching, the massage (and it isn't like a regular massage, they are targeting scar tissue adhesions), using my arms more. That kind of pain is a good pain, it means healing, recovering, get stronger and it is quite a process to figure out what is what and figure out how to think about it and handle it.
I have had chemo brain without the chemo since 2009. So I totally understand your loopiness. Even before the gabapentin, I burned myself so many times, I have scars, forgot the stove on, forgot to turn water, off etc. We have to try to do our best and learn how to live with it.
I try to drive very little now, and Brian helps me out a lot. I don't always like asking for help with somethings, but it is how the life is now.(I can talk smart today cuz even though my neck still hurts, my mind is perking up lol)
I have to really cut back on what I do so I don't over do it and fall into the pattern of overdue it, do very little til I feel better, and it goes on and on.
I just figure it is a learning process with everything. Find out what helps, what doesn't. Have you seen a physical therapist ? Keep in touch... you are my partner in pain lol!!
I know you don't like the idea but don't forget there is the pain clinic...
DEar CS:
Thanks for your detailed description. The massage therapist is quite experienced and immediately honed in on the scar tissue. Although I have pain down the trunk and towards the back she says there is no scar tissue in that area, it's under the arm, under the breast and on top of the breast towards the center of the chest. I am attending a chair yoga class, we do a lot of the regular yoga moves, but modified. Can't get up and down on the mat anymore, partially due to age, and in part due to good old Gabapentin/Lyrica dizziness. Haven't seen a PT, doctor will not prescribe it, I chose to pay for the massage therapist instead. The Athletic Club's instructors are well trained and the Senior classes ideal, I think, for the type condition that you and I suffer. We stretch, use weights, etc., but toned way down. Measurements around my arm are now the same both sides, I am watching it carefully. I was told the same thing, i.e. that the pain from exercise, PT, etc. is necessary and will eventually (we hope) result in less pain. I am not opposed to the pain clinic, but just plain old scared! Lord, girl, what you have gone through! It is an option I am keeping in mind. My game plan is to finish my current Lyrica, which will be around the end of October, and then see the Internist again with the question - where do we go from here?
My doctors look everywhere but at me when I asked - why the pain and what are you going to do about it? Well, eerrrr, mumble, mumble, it MAY get better. (16 months and counting)
Not going to iron any time soon!
Take care, Marlene0 -
I can not believe your dr.mruczko said:Nerve Block
DEar CS:
Thanks for your detailed description. The massage therapist is quite experienced and immediately honed in on the scar tissue. Although I have pain down the trunk and towards the back she says there is no scar tissue in that area, it's under the arm, under the breast and on top of the breast towards the center of the chest. I am attending a chair yoga class, we do a lot of the regular yoga moves, but modified. Can't get up and down on the mat anymore, partially due to age, and in part due to good old Gabapentin/Lyrica dizziness. Haven't seen a PT, doctor will not prescribe it, I chose to pay for the massage therapist instead. The Athletic Club's instructors are well trained and the Senior classes ideal, I think, for the type condition that you and I suffer. We stretch, use weights, etc., but toned way down. Measurements around my arm are now the same both sides, I am watching it carefully. I was told the same thing, i.e. that the pain from exercise, PT, etc. is necessary and will eventually (we hope) result in less pain. I am not opposed to the pain clinic, but just plain old scared! Lord, girl, what you have gone through! It is an option I am keeping in mind. My game plan is to finish my current Lyrica, which will be around the end of October, and then see the Internist again with the question - where do we go from here?
My doctors look everywhere but at me when I asked - why the pain and what are you going to do about it? Well, eerrrr, mumble, mumble, it MAY get better. (16 months and counting)
Not going to iron any time soon!
Take care, Marlene
I can not believe your dr. will not prescribe pt for you!! I have pain that goes under the arm pit and around the back a little too. So much so I cant wipe with towel, hang a purse on shoulder, etc and that is from the nerve damage from the mastectomies and node dissections. Since, my regular pain dr. is on vacation for a month, I saw the first dr. I'd seen. He gave me a left ganglion nerve block, and twenty cortisone shots on the right side where the block doesn't get. It was no walk in the park, but much easier than the last shot. Today's pain doctor also gave my pain patches to put on certain areas where touch, air conditioning in the car, etc feel like someone is blow torching my skin. They are expensive, thank god for insurance. I added a medicare prescription plan since medicare kicked in sept. 1, and they didnt pay anything towards the $207 bill (I was more than p'oed, why am I paying this premium every month now for something doesn't pay a dime.. I will have to investigate. Thank goodness I have one of the versions of our state medicaid that covered almost all of it.) I will be trying the patches tomorrow. However, the dr. didn't write the script right and maybe didn't understand the size of the patch compared to the sizes of three (could be four at times) places I need to put them. I am sure will get worked out next week. The left nerve block showed more immediate relief than the right. I saw the pain counselor today again too. He is so good at helping me deal emotionally and mentally with the pain. Doesn't matter what time of pain, he sees all kinds. I love my pain clinic, they are making my life so much better. I read this board and another and some dr.'s just aren't equipped to deal with stuff like this, but to say no to PT for your scar tissue and pain??? Just unreal!!! I don't get a regualr massage, when I saw massage, it is more pulling and pushing, and stretching the scar tissue. Man, I hope you can get someone to help you! I tmay be worth seeing a pain dr. to see about different med combos for you, and a prescription for scar tissue!!! I found o ut to day at pt by accident t hat on my scar tissue, I like cold (I complained her hands were to warm lol). She does a cold compress on my scar tissue now from a large thing made for shoulders. That and the compression feel good, so I may get some type of compression garment for my chest. But where i have nerve damage pain, I don't like tight things...Thought maybe a tank with spaghetti straps from Kohl's that I'd seen. Seriously think about the pain clinic, there are other things they can do other than shots. I just treat it like cancer, I had to put up with painful things to get rid of cancer. So the shots hurt, sometimes worse than others, but it is really worth it. Man, your dr. really makes me mad. That doc must be so out of tune with post mastectomy pain syndrome.0 -
Nerve blockcinnamonsmile said:I can not believe your dr.
I can not believe your dr. will not prescribe pt for you!! I have pain that goes under the arm pit and around the back a little too. So much so I cant wipe with towel, hang a purse on shoulder, etc and that is from the nerve damage from the mastectomies and node dissections. Since, my regular pain dr. is on vacation for a month, I saw the first dr. I'd seen. He gave me a left ganglion nerve block, and twenty cortisone shots on the right side where the block doesn't get. It was no walk in the park, but much easier than the last shot. Today's pain doctor also gave my pain patches to put on certain areas where touch, air conditioning in the car, etc feel like someone is blow torching my skin. They are expensive, thank god for insurance. I added a medicare prescription plan since medicare kicked in sept. 1, and they didnt pay anything towards the $207 bill (I was more than p'oed, why am I paying this premium every month now for something doesn't pay a dime.. I will have to investigate. Thank goodness I have one of the versions of our state medicaid that covered almost all of it.) I will be trying the patches tomorrow. However, the dr. didn't write the script right and maybe didn't understand the size of the patch compared to the sizes of three (could be four at times) places I need to put them. I am sure will get worked out next week. The left nerve block showed more immediate relief than the right. I saw the pain counselor today again too. He is so good at helping me deal emotionally and mentally with the pain. Doesn't matter what time of pain, he sees all kinds. I love my pain clinic, they are making my life so much better. I read this board and another and some dr.'s just aren't equipped to deal with stuff like this, but to say no to PT for your scar tissue and pain??? Just unreal!!! I don't get a regualr massage, when I saw massage, it is more pulling and pushing, and stretching the scar tissue. Man, I hope you can get someone to help you! I tmay be worth seeing a pain dr. to see about different med combos for you, and a prescription for scar tissue!!! I found o ut to day at pt by accident t hat on my scar tissue, I like cold (I complained her hands were to warm lol). She does a cold compress on my scar tissue now from a large thing made for shoulders. That and the compression feel good, so I may get some type of compression garment for my chest. But where i have nerve damage pain, I don't like tight things...Thought maybe a tank with spaghetti straps from Kohl's that I'd seen. Seriously think about the pain clinic, there are other things they can do other than shots. I just treat it like cancer, I had to put up with painful things to get rid of cancer. So the shots hurt, sometimes worse than others, but it is really worth it. Man, your dr. really makes me mad. That doc must be so out of tune with post mastectomy pain syndrome.
CS:
I am up against the proverbial wall. Having a Medicare HMO severly limits the doctors available to me, if I change I may fall from the frying pan into the fire. It would mean not having access to my very excellent oncologist, I would have to change the group, and he is only in the one I am in now. One of the reason the internist does not recommend PT (he did once before, when I had a frozen shoulder), the movement of my arm is practically normal and his hands are tied to some extend by the HMO. Houston is supposed to be on the forefront of medical facilities, but, no, the doctors are NOT familiar with Post pain syndrome (mine is from the lymph node removal). You should see the surprise on their collective faces when I describe my pain, especially on the pain guy's. The only "good" thing is - none of them have patted me on the head yet "there, there, little lady, take a tranquilizer", they DO take me seriously. I am putting my hope into the masseuse that she knows what she is doing, I have 4 more sessions with her and that Lyrica will calm the nerves. I got a lidocaine gel to apply under arm and also Voltaren gel (NSAID), use both 3x/day. So, round and round and round I go.
M.
PS - You were the only one who replied to my question about post pain syndrome, have you seen any other posts referring to the pain you and I suffer from?0 -
It is interesting that youmruczko said:Nerve block
CS:
I am up against the proverbial wall. Having a Medicare HMO severly limits the doctors available to me, if I change I may fall from the frying pan into the fire. It would mean not having access to my very excellent oncologist, I would have to change the group, and he is only in the one I am in now. One of the reason the internist does not recommend PT (he did once before, when I had a frozen shoulder), the movement of my arm is practically normal and his hands are tied to some extend by the HMO. Houston is supposed to be on the forefront of medical facilities, but, no, the doctors are NOT familiar with Post pain syndrome (mine is from the lymph node removal). You should see the surprise on their collective faces when I describe my pain, especially on the pain guy's. The only "good" thing is - none of them have patted me on the head yet "there, there, little lady, take a tranquilizer", they DO take me seriously. I am putting my hope into the masseuse that she knows what she is doing, I have 4 more sessions with her and that Lyrica will calm the nerves. I got a lidocaine gel to apply under arm and also Voltaren gel (NSAID), use both 3x/day. So, round and round and round I go.
M.
PS - You were the only one who replied to my question about post pain syndrome, have you seen any other posts referring to the pain you and I suffer from?
It is interesting that you mention that you have full range of motion of your arms. I have full range of motion, yet have scar tissue adhesions on the chest and armpits that cause pain. When I began pt, however, the pain and scar tissue affected my already bad posture that my shoulders were rolled inward constantly. I am now learning to walk with my shoulders in a better posture. What a shame that you are not able to find a medical team to treat you. I just started medicare this month, but do have excellent state medicaid as my secondary insurance.
I tried a pain patch prescription yesterday. Twelve hours on, twelve hours off. To remove the pain patch from the underside of the upper arm caused more damage than it helped. The patch placed under the bottom of my armpit and around the backside a bit came off much better, but I am left with this goo on my arms that I couldn't get off this morning.But I had tried to get it off when it was wet. Will be trying before bed now. Does the lidocain cream seem to work? I may ask my dr. for that instead of the patches but wonder how it will work if you put clothes on, etc? I have seen very few comments on here about PMPS. You and I seem to be the only ones that communicate about it frequently. Until there are others, we are in the same boat, til someone else joins in floats along with us.0 -
Nerve Blockcinnamonsmile said:It is interesting that you
It is interesting that you mention that you have full range of motion of your arms. I have full range of motion, yet have scar tissue adhesions on the chest and armpits that cause pain. When I began pt, however, the pain and scar tissue affected my already bad posture that my shoulders were rolled inward constantly. I am now learning to walk with my shoulders in a better posture. What a shame that you are not able to find a medical team to treat you. I just started medicare this month, but do have excellent state medicaid as my secondary insurance.
I tried a pain patch prescription yesterday. Twelve hours on, twelve hours off. To remove the pain patch from the underside of the upper arm caused more damage than it helped. The patch placed under the bottom of my armpit and around the backside a bit came off much better, but I am left with this goo on my arms that I couldn't get off this morning.But I had tried to get it off when it was wet. Will be trying before bed now. Does the lidocain cream seem to work? I may ask my dr. for that instead of the patches but wonder how it will work if you put clothes on, etc? I have seen very few comments on here about PMPS. You and I seem to be the only ones that communicate about it frequently. Until there are others, we are in the same boat, til someone else joins in floats along with us.
Dear CS:
Don't have as good a motion on the left as I have on the right, some of this is due to having had a frozen shoulder. Started some exercise right after surgery and in my case, it helped. The scar tissue under arm is in a roll of "spongy" tissue, under the breast and on top of the breast. She emphasized that she can help with the scar tissue pain, but NOT the nerve pain. Oncologist suggested OTC Lidocaine gel, husband got a bottle at Kroger it's called "Aloe Vera Pain Relieving Gel with Lidocaine & Menthol". He cautioned me not to use too much of it. It helps a little, deadens pain for a short while. Voltaren creme is prescription, again, it helps a little temporarily. Put Voltaren on first and then the gel - it's messy, usually I run around the house without a stitch of clothes on that side until it dries, husband keeps saying, why are you partially naked? Duh! As far as the medical team is concerned, I am sure you agree the most important person is the Oncologist, who is excellent. The internist is well known, my nursie friends recommend him highly and he has been very good to me in the past. That's why I was taken aback with comments like "phantom swelling". I haven't come across a single person at the Hospital's support group with the kind of pain you and I have, every other kind of side effect and problem you can imagine, but not that! The nurse coordinator of the Breast Center had heard about it, but that's all! Let's hope that somewhere down the line the pain lessens, the doctors keep dangling this hope in front of my nose, except the Oncologist who says - it will get better, but may never go away altogether.
Many hugs, dear CS - Marlene0 -
It is so nice to hear frommruczko said:Nerve Block
Dear CS:
Don't have as good a motion on the left as I have on the right, some of this is due to having had a frozen shoulder. Started some exercise right after surgery and in my case, it helped. The scar tissue under arm is in a roll of "spongy" tissue, under the breast and on top of the breast. She emphasized that she can help with the scar tissue pain, but NOT the nerve pain. Oncologist suggested OTC Lidocaine gel, husband got a bottle at Kroger it's called "Aloe Vera Pain Relieving Gel with Lidocaine & Menthol". He cautioned me not to use too much of it. It helps a little, deadens pain for a short while. Voltaren creme is prescription, again, it helps a little temporarily. Put Voltaren on first and then the gel - it's messy, usually I run around the house without a stitch of clothes on that side until it dries, husband keeps saying, why are you partially naked? Duh! As far as the medical team is concerned, I am sure you agree the most important person is the Oncologist, who is excellent. The internist is well known, my nursie friends recommend him highly and he has been very good to me in the past. That's why I was taken aback with comments like "phantom swelling". I haven't come across a single person at the Hospital's support group with the kind of pain you and I have, every other kind of side effect and problem you can imagine, but not that! The nurse coordinator of the Breast Center had heard about it, but that's all! Let's hope that somewhere down the line the pain lessens, the doctors keep dangling this hope in front of my nose, except the Oncologist who says - it will get better, but may never go away altogether.
Many hugs, dear CS - Marlene
It is so nice to hear from you. Today has been a pretty good. The nerve blocks are working again. I got a lot done (probably very little by normal standards but hey). I have a few burns, shocks, etc, but have been ignoring them.
And yes, thank you for reminding me that it gets better even if it never goes away totally. Today was definitely a better day.
Thanks for the info. on your pain cremes. I will talk to my dr. about that.
And sometimes I run around partially naked, too!!! Sometimes clothes hurt or rub the wrong way. Now if I wear creme and wait to dry it will be more of that. I found a sign to hang in a magazine that says something like "Clothing optional beyond this point." I keep thinking some day I will get it.
Thank you for being here.0 -
Glad that the nerve blockscinnamonsmile said:It is so nice to hear from
It is so nice to hear from you. Today has been a pretty good. The nerve blocks are working again. I got a lot done (probably very little by normal standards but hey). I have a few burns, shocks, etc, but have been ignoring them.
And yes, thank you for reminding me that it gets better even if it never goes away totally. Today was definitely a better day.
Thanks for the info. on your pain cremes. I will talk to my dr. about that.
And sometimes I run around partially naked, too!!! Sometimes clothes hurt or rub the wrong way. Now if I wear creme and wait to dry it will be more of that. I found a sign to hang in a magazine that says something like "Clothing optional beyond this point." I keep thinking some day I will get it.
Thank you for being here.
Glad that the nerve blocks are helping you!
Big hugs, Megan0
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