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14051 tn?1238251732

Low back, hip, leg, foot, RSD pain: post ALIF

I have had 7 lumbar surgeries starting in 1983 with the most recent being and double ALIF, 04 and hardware removal in 06. I have multiple problems resulting from my injuries, mulitlple surgeries, etc., with severe back pain, right side of back, groin, right hip, leg, right ankle and right foot, with RSD in right foot which is a result of the surgeries. I have gone back and forth to my surgeon, local doctors, Ocmed, neuroligists, and now, for the second time, a physiatrist for assistance. I have had 2 sympathetic blocks in the past, but no real relief. My surgeon gave me Lidocaine injections, on 2 different occasions, in my back, where the rod was on the right side to see if I had infection or the rods were the issue. The Lidocaine was a godsend!!!! I haven't felt so good in my life since a few months prior to the fusion which also made the RSD in my right foot completely absent, but it wore off after an hour so the surgeon removed all the hardware, in 06, except for the spacers. My surgeon basically said that there was not much more he could do for me. I have had MRIs and EMGs, regular X-rays including on my hip, and I do have nerve damage on the right side, and I have slight foraminal narrowing on the right-L5-S1 and left-L4-5. Today I saw the Physiatrist for the second time and had an injection in my right hip to see if may help with some pain as it is hard to sit, walk, sleep, on & on. So, with that said, This morning, I had the same effects with the steroid/Lidocaine injection in my right hip/Trochanter as I did prior to the hardware removal. I immediately felt a sharp pain in the right side of my back when the doctor realeased the first part of the medicine, then I could feel fast relief in my right foot, leg, hip, groin, back. My doctor has no answers as to why it relieved the other pains. This again lasted only for 45 minutes. At this moment, my right Trochanter feels pretty darn good, but have the pain in my back, groin, leg and foot. My question is: Why did the steroid injection with Lidocaine, that I had today, give me the same relief as the 2 injections of Lidocaine in the middle of my back? The doctor and I are baffled. If anyone has any thoughts, throw them my way as I am grasping at straws and a sympathectomy is looking pretty darn good to me right now!
Cyndi
3 Responses
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Avatar universal
Just follow the prescription of your doctor. Don't take your own ideas it can effect your health.
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Avatar universal
Dr. proposed celiac plexus nerve block using X-ray and lidocaine only for pancreatic cancer pain and to reduce pain killer dependence.. I see alcohol or phenol most often mentioned for this.  Anyone know if lidocaine only successful?
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Avatar universal
Hi Cyndi,
How are you feeling?
I feel sorry that you have to go through all this.
Well to tell you about RSD, here the patients live with constant and severe burning and/or deep aching pain. Usually it is related to trauma or injury, but in lot of cases there is no apparent reason as it is in your case.
Many a times patients are not been understood properly by family members, health care workers and medical professional's. Often they are been told that there symptoms are in head.
In actuality, the sympathetic nervous system is in heightened alert state. Even the gentle stimulation of a light breeze on the skin creates tremendous pain.
Burning or aching pain in one or more extremities is the first sign of RSD.
The pain discourages movement, which leads to disuse muscle atrophy.
There are some who complaints of stiffness, hence making it difficult for them to initiate movement.
The stiffness can be alleviated with a sympathetic nerve block.
How long is this treatment going on for you and what have the doctor's planned?
Is there any improvement?
The treatment of RSD is difficult. Approximately half of the patients can be managed non-operatively.
Desensitization measures include massage, electrical stimulation, and heat and ice treatments. Active range of motions should be encouraged, since disuse perpetuates the pain cycle; however, passive motion beyond the patient's tolerance may exacerbate the pain.
Why did the steroid injection with Lidocaine, that I had today, give me the same relief as the 2 injections of Lidocaine in the middle of my back?
I feel you got relief as per the basic mechanism of these medicines. The action of steroids is that it is anti-inflammatory in nature and relieves pain to its action. The action of lidocaine is that it is a local anesthetic hence it prolongs the action of any drug when administered together.
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.
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