Nerve Block

[leapyrtwins]

Dr Love and I are off to the beach for a week to do some windsurfing and kiteboarding and shagging (the southern beach music dancing kind of shagging, you morons!)

Why, Captain Deb, are you accusing us of having dirty minds? 

You know us all pretty well, don't you?   

Hope you and Dr. Love have an excellent time 

Jan

[marjoryb]

 
Yeah - I had a nerve block performed yesterday and last night was the first night that I've slept straight through for a long time.   My surgery was performed 7/7/06, so I just "celebrated" my 2nd anniversary.     The nerve block made my head feel like a wooden block, but I prefer that to the pain I've had every single day.  The doctors at the Hopkins headache center have tried all combinations of medications and that hasn't done anything except make me tired and stupid.  When I go to bed- I really do "have a headache".    The nerve block won't last long but it identifies where the headaches are originating.

I'll keep you informed.  Stay Poz - I've contacted Dr. Ducic, but I"m not sure I'm ready to have another surgical procedure of any kind unless there is a 100% guarantee that I'll be as normal as I was before surgery.

Marjoryb

[Janet]

Hi Marjoryb,

What nerve did they identify? Is this thought to be a scar neuroma?

I have to tell you that the surgery is no big deal. My scar neuroma is 100% fixed. The occipital nerve surgery is 80% fixed. Honestly, I would do it over again in a second. I was very hesitant before surgery and realized afterward that I worried for nothing. It is all superficial. The skull is not touched.  Dr Ducic knows what he is doing.

Keep us posted!
Janet

[bridgie]

Capt Deb-
Your nerve block is performed much like I get botox. These helped me a lot for the  "scar neuroma." (you might try botox as well) But for me, I believe I have scarring on the inside as well!

Here's why:
-botox injection last summer. don't last more then 6 months, but clinic had scheduling issues so I couldn't get an appt before 6 months.
-Dec 2007 head pain increases each day.
-Jan 2008 I try to get the pain clinic to schedule botox
-Feb 7 2008, such a bad headache I can't stop throwing up-- have to go to the ER. They do a spinal tap and I get a spinal tap headache=blood patch!
-late Feb, get a new botox injection all around up and down the auricular nerve.
-mid-March feel like I'm getting a cold or something. Swollen glands etc.--- this internal irritation ramps up my head pain and I do the vomiting thing all over again and land in the ER. 

Now I feel I'm dealing with adhesions on the dura or cerebral arachnoiditis because I know I have scarring from the epidural abscess. I'm waiting for an MRI authorization. I've now waited 6 weeks. I was literally the last patient my neurosurgeon saw 6 weeks ago. He became disabled and unable to dictate a note to send to carrier. I'm sorry about his illness and I'm hoping to get the MRI so I can find out if I something that is progressing.

Capt Deb, I'm glad you are likely dealing with local external cause to your pain. Your right, weird they didn't get you going much sooner. Hope you read the "Intractable Pain Manual" I linked. Helps to know how important it is to control the pain.  One time I told my then PCP how I felt she was under treating my pain. Those are like 'fighting words' and her eyes grew larger! Try that if you find it necessary! 

[Captain Deb]

I really feel like my headaches have multiple components, like I have some stuff going on both inside and outside the skull. I get headaches that are both triggered by movement and exertion and some that I just wake up in the morning with that don't seem to be triggered by anything.  When I saw my surgeon at the Symposium in Philly he told me that when they went in there that I had a really tight dura.  He hasn't done any follow up with me except by phone because I flew across country to have my surgery at House in LA.

If I get a cure for these things and my medicare pays for it, do I lose my disability benefits because I'll be found cured and fit to work again?


Capt Deb

[Captain Deb]

Well, Capt Deb bought a bikini and a new boogie board (a red Slick Stick) and spent all week in the surf with the teenagers getting pancaked by mother mother ocean. What Fun!  The last time I tried that I caught one wave and came out of the surf crying and spent the whole vacation up in the room with a headache. I even made Dr Love swim out to the break with me.  Alas I had no fins and the waves kept pushing me back into the trough after each ride.  Enough headache-envelope pushing. Surfing the shoreline was fine.

We also took a boat out to Shakelford Banks for a day of beachcombing and exploring.  No way to get back to the car till they come get us hours later. Played on the beach all day and swam like dophins in the beautiful water. Hour drive back to the condo. Yeay me! Not even THINKIN' about the dreaded brainwreck!!!!!!!!

All hail Dr Douglas and his big needle fulla Depomedrol!!!!!!!  Never, NEVER, coulda had this much fun without him!!!!!!!

Capt Deb

[Kaybo]

Capt Deb~
HOOOORAY!!!  So glad you had such a wonderful and PAINFREE vacation!

You deserved the break!!
K

[leapyrtwins]

Wow, a bikini AND a boogie board   

You're a braver soul than I am Capt. Deb 

I'm so happy this nerve block is doing the trick 

Jan

[Captain Deb]

BTW got the bill for the nerve block! $700 for the pain clinic and $500 for the doc fee.  They did not take my old insurance.  Only pain clinic in town.  I would have had to pay for the whole dang thing.  Which is why I never went. Thanks to Medicare my total bill was $50.  YIPPEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

Capt Deb

[Sue]

Cap't Deb, I am so happy that you have had some "normal" times lately.  You really do appreciate the good things in life, when you are pain free.   I feel your joy clear over here!  Thank God, somebody finally thought of something to help you.  I hope your good fortune continues and that this is the "beginning of a beautiful friendship" with your new meds.  Praise the Lord and pass the Depomedro!   

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

Sue in Vancouver, USA

[Omaschwannoma]

I have known of your incredible journey with head pain and I am so glad you FINALLY found someone who could help with that!  Here's to a very pain-free future--cheers!

[yardtick]

Capt Deb,

So glad you are doing better.  Maybe I should try depomedro.  I'm crying here in mega pain.  My neck and shoulder are spasming and my the pain behind my eye is stabbing. 

Well I guess life goes.  Another battle to fight.  One day when I grow up I want to be pain free

Anne Marie

[Captain Deb]

AnneMarie,
Have you ever gone to a pain clinic? I think the Depomedrol shot in the occipital nerve is pretty standard treatment for occipital neuralgia-like symptoms, which we all seem to have in scads!  I don't know how long this last shot will last or if Medicare will keep forking over the money to get them on an unlimited basis (too good too be true?) or if there is a limit to how many of these shots one can have over a certain time period (it is a steroid) but I will keep you all posted on my results.  I'm still maintaining my meds at 1200 mg of gabapentin (Neurontin), down from 1800, and 100 mg of Topamax, down from 150.  Tramadol and I are still pretty good friends at times.  I hope you can find your way to find some relief soon--it is out there somewhere!!!!

Hugs,

Capt Deb

[TaylorsMom]

Capt Deb,

   That is great news!!!!  Sounds like you've been making up for lost time.  I'm so happy for you.  What a great feeling it must be to have finally found a treatment that seems to work like magic, only has to be done every few months, doesn't cost you an arm and a leg, and lets you be your wild, fun-loving self without fear.  I hope Dr Love will be able to keep up with you!

   Kathy

[yardtick]

Capt Deb,

I going to ask my GP about sending me to a pain clinic.  Have you had an problems on the Neurontin?  I'm freaked out because I've been on it since April and my cholesterol is now very high.  I went off of it on Monday.  I'm just taking Toradol at the moment.  I have T-3's for break through pain.

I vaguely remember my Dr telling me he injected something inside of my scalp before he sewed me back up when I had my scar neuroma operated on a few weeks ago.  I've got to call him.  My GP is good for blood work and minor things but anything else I need the Specialist.


Thanks Capt Deb,
Anne Marie

P.S. Have you seen Sawyer around lately.....been watching the DVD's of Lost when I can't sleep!