Second Trip to the Pain Specialist/ My First Facet Blocks

I just got home from the pain doctor. It was a long trip, hour drive each way and they made me hang out for a long time after my treatment.

I had my botox done as well as well as bilateral facet blocks between C2-C4.

The blocks were just a smidge below 10/10 on the pain scale. Like....9.9999999 out of 10.

One side was easier then the other.

I was not expecting to have either done today. Needless to say....I was scared and anxious and unsure and all those other things that happen when you have something new done.

This doctor is something else. I still don't know if it's a good or bad something...lol

I've had the botox many times, but my coverage ended and the cost was at about 400.00 a month and couldn't afford it. (He covered the cost today!!!!!!!)

He wrote a letter to my extended provider, so hopefully they will re-instate my coverage.

I have never had the block before. (Steroids injected with a large needle right into the nerve?)

Has anyone else? (I bow down to anyone who has had it done twice....I don't know how I'll work up the courage to face that pain a second time!)

Well, I had the steroid shots, but I'm a wienie wimp woman, and they twilighted me for it. Mine was in the sacri-iliac joint. I can't imagine having it right in to a nerve , while awake!

Are you still smarting from it?

I had some success with botox, but I had to stop after the insurance quit covering it. It was kind of hit or miss (three of the five sessions gave me some relief), and too expensive to roll the dice on.

What is "smarting"?

Milo,

I've had facet blocks twice: once in C6-7 awake with local anesthetic and once in C1-C4 while asleep. I'll take being put to sleep for this, or any, procedure. The facet block while I was awake didn't really hurt as compared with a migraine or the upper back pain I was experiencing, but it was uncomfortable and made me anxious. Both times I got the most benefit from the local anesthetic, which, unfortunately, wore off after by the next day.

Likewise, I've had botox injections once. They were not painful at all to me, more like a pinch. I experienced no benefit from the botox unfortunately.

I hope your facet block and the botox provide relief for you after you so bravely got them. Hang in there.

Becky

The botox has been good to me....most times.

I had to stop because they stopped covering it. If it gets reinstated I will remain on it.

I'm very sore today....from the blocks...the botox didn't hurt a bit and I have no sore spots from those injections....just the big steroid ones. UGH

Ok, so I had the facet blocks on Tuesday and it's now Thursday.

I have had two days of feeling like I'v been run over, as well as bad migraines at the end of my work day.

I did manage to do my short run yesterday despite the pain.

This morning I woke up with only a little pain at the injection sites. I have quite a bit of bruising.

I had a migraine warning sign this am....(if I ask my partner if she used anything different in the shower it's a surefire sign that I will have a migraine that day).

I actually think that these facet blocks are going to work though. It's normal for me to have a migraine cycle after my botox injections.

Something just feels different today...in a good way. *FINGERS CROSSED*

What is "smarting"

It means hurting.


http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=smarting

Hi all,

I just had my first round of facet injections monday as well. I had migraine pain immedaitely following the injection which lasted through the night. No other side effects from the injection though. Today is Thursday and i am pain free for the first time in a while. The weather has been nice here so i don't know if its the injection or just luck. We'll see in the next few days how i feel, but i also have a good feeling about this intervention. Good luck to everyone.

B

I'm working up another killer headache today, but for some reason I feel this is going to really help. I'll know in a few days. Please keep us posted on your updates too fin.

I am one week out from my first facet injection. The weather has been up and down which is a usual trigger. I am not migraine free, but the pain is much more dull than it usually is. So far, i am very happy with the facet injection. Now i am just curious how long the injection will last for. I have heard anywhere from days to weeks. 1 week so far and so far so good.

I have been having some pretty nasty ones. So far the verdict is still out for me.

Today is one week and one day since my injections. I am having a very bad day. I managed the gym today but I only completed my 2 miles and was barely able to run.

Now my head has a knife plunging through it. I'm considering calling the pain specialist for something more effective. I'm stuck seeing four more patients before I can become one myself.

It's hard to be cheerful and effective as a professional cheerleader when your head is splitting in two.

I have faith that the botox will kick in in about two more weeks. Sure hope it works.

Sorry this seems to have not worked for you. On the plus side, you can opt never to do it again. It sounds like it was painful to begin with and the fact that it hasn't helped makes it that much worse.

Hopefully the rest of your day passes quickly and you can go home and medicate and attempt to feel better.

I have not had them related to migraine, but I had them for pain in my lower lumbar in my back L3-L5. They worked like a charm. That was over a year and a half ago and I have not had to have it redone yet. I have recently had to have a steroid injection into my knee due an injury I sustained doing Zumba (a Latin/Salsa based form of dance aerobics for those who are unfamiliar) and it worked like a charm. My MRI showed significant arthiritis for my age (only 38) but I was an avid dancer and gymnast in my youth so I suppose this type of thing was bound to happen sooner or later. The good news is that the steroid injections really do work.... but boy, do they hurt going in. I screamed like I was in labor. Knee (and back) both feel great now though.

I am curious to know if you have had botox in your neck also? I have had Facet blocks in my neck several times ..been asleep each time and grateful for that...unfortunatly didnt have relief for too long after. I have also had botox several times in temples , forehead and neck...which does give me more relief ( not pain free but less intense) usually lasts about 2 1/2 months. My only complaint is that with the botox in my neck I feel like a" bobble head" for several days after(as if my head is too heavy for my neck) which then makes me tense up shoulders and sure enough a migraine! Wondering if its just how I react to this procedure or if common to everyone. Thanks for your input!

I have had botox in the past with no luck and they were very expensive. I have reacted really well to the facet injections though. One interesting piece of this happened when my doctor pushed on two points in my neck. The left side was more tender than the right (i usually get migraine behind the left eye). When he pressed down a sharp pain went through my left eye, as if he provoked a migraine. This is where he administered the facet injection. Its been close to two weeks now and i have not had a major episode at all. Even with the weather ranging from warm to cold snow to rain and hail (perfect circumstances for a migraine).

Good luck to all, i'll keep you all posted.

B

Two of my doctors, both the neurologist and the pain specialist inject botox into my neck as well. The headache specialist did not when she did the injections.

I too had referred pain when he was doing the facet injections, down my back and up and around my head and into the eye.

We have had some HUGE weather changes, so I think that may be partially why I am still having bad headaches.

The botox tends to work for me from week three to week eight after the injections. We'll see, as I'm still in week two.