Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 & Belinda, The epidural injection has been used for a long time to relieve pain. Only one injection is given if the "nerve block" is needed for a couple hours. This is how surgery is done when a general anesthetic can not be used. The three injections are given to give if at least a couple months relief of pain is needed. The principal behind this treatments are simple. The nerves they are aiming at are those which carry a signal to the spinal chord an on to the brain, that there is pain in a certain part of the body, back to the spinal chord and with out the "nerve block" we feel the pain. Theoretically, this could be used on any nerve coming from the spinal column. The bad news is, if the doctor is not knowledgeable enough about the specific location of each nerve root emerging from the spinal column. Injecting the wrong nerve could cause paralyses or even respiratory arrest (These are very rare events}. This whole procedure results in the patient not feeling the pain, even though it's still there. A great benefit of using a spinal block to "relieve" pain is that it works at the site where it is injected, and does not circulate through the rest of the body as do pain reliving IVs or oral pain relievers like morphine do. By the way, the block used by the OBGYN doctors to relive the pain of labor is called a "Saddle Block", because it cuts off the senses in the area of the body which would touch a saddle when one is riding a horse. It makes the later part of labor pain free. Since I am a man, I can not talk with authority about the latter use, even though I was present at the births of both our children. :> ) Sorry for the long message! God Bless, Judy & Jim Stark Pain Meds/Thx Belinda Yes, Belinda, you are right--the shots are referred to as epidurals; I had forgotten. I am glad to know that someone w/MSA has found relief from them. That means there is some hope for my mother before the last resort of morphine. I am not sure what it was you thought you shouldn't tell me, but if your neurologist recommends that you go to a pain management specialist, then by all means, go to one! Thanks for the info. ~If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 On that same vein is anyone familiar with ablation, it was mentioned as a last resort for my cranio-fascio pain which I'm having a lot of break-thru pain with despite the 1200 mg of neurontin (which cuts it to about 50%) At 5/28/02 06:53 PM Tuesday, you wrote: & Belinda, The epidural injection has been used for a long time to relieve pain. Only one injection is given if the " nerve block " is needed for a couple hours. This is how surgery is done when a general anesthetic can not be used. The three injections are given to give if at least a couple months relief of pain is needed. The principal behind this treatments are simple. The nerves they are aiming at are those which carry a signal to the spinal chord an on to the brain, that there is pain in a certain part of the body, back to the spinal chord and with out the " nerve block " we feel the pain. Theoretically, this could be used on any nerve coming from the spinal column. The bad news is, if the doctor is not knowledgeable enough about the specific location of each nerve root emerging from the spinal column. Injecting the wrong nerve could cause paralyses or even respiratory arrest (These are very rare events}. This whole procedure results in the patient not feeling the pain, even though it's still there. A great benefit of using a spinal block to " relieve " pain is that it works at the site where it is injected, and does not circulate through the rest of the body as do pain reliving IVs or oral pain relievers like morphine do. By the way, the block used by the OBGYN doctors to relive the pain of labor is called a " Saddle Block " , because it cuts off the senses in the area of the body which would touch a saddle when one is riding a horse. It makes the later part of labor pain free. Since I am a man, I can not talk with authority about the latter use, even though I was present at the births of both our children. :> ) Sorry for the long message! God Bless, Judy & Jim Stark Pain Meds/Thx Belinda Yes, Belinda, you are right--the shots are referred to as epidurals; I had forgotten. I am glad to know that someone w/MSA has found relief from them. That means there is some hope for my mother before the last resort of morphine. I am not sure what it was you thought you shouldn't tell me, but if your neurologist recommends that you go to a pain management specialist, then by all means, go to one! Thanks for the info. ~ If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 Aletta, Ablation: the removal of a body part, often by surgery. Here I think we are talking about ablation of nerve tissue. This would have the permanent effect of reliving pain. Unlike ablation, an epidural is only temporary. God Bless, Judy & Jim Stark Pain Meds/Thx Belinda Yes, Belinda, you are right--the shots are referred to as epidurals; I had forgotten. I am glad to know that someone w/MSA has found relief from them. That means there is some hope for my mother before the last resort of morphine. I am not sure what it was you thought you shouldn't tell me, but if your neurologist recommends that you go to a pain management specialist, then by all means, go to one! Thanks for the info. ~ If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 Jim, I think it is actually more like wearing away, sort of like going directly from solid to gas with no liquid phase, maybe a cell at a time. I know they are using lasers and calling it that. I would guess too that it would be controlled frying of the nerves with a laser, but I am not a medical doctor. I would think as an engineer that this would work both ways and cause a deadening of the tissue in the area of the nerve. I personally would want to know ALL the details and possible problems it could cause. Take care, Bill Werre ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim wrote: Aletta, Ablation: the removal of a body part, often by surgery. Here I think we are talking about ablation of nerve tissue.This would have the permanent effect of reliving pain. Unlike ablation, an epidural is only temporary. God Bless,Judy & Jim Stark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 Jim, I think it is actually more like wearing away, sort of like going directly from solid to gas with no liquid phase, maybe a cell at a time. I know they are using lasers and calling it that. I would guess too that it would be controlled frying of the nerves with a laser, but I am not a medical doctor. I would think as an engineer that this would work both ways and cause a deadening of the tissue in the area of the nerve. I personally would want to know ALL the details and possible problems it could cause. Take care, Bill Werre ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim wrote: Aletta, Ablation: the removal of a body part, often by surgery. Here I think we are talking about ablation of nerve tissue.This would have the permanent effect of reliving pain. Unlike ablation, an epidural is only temporary. God Bless,Judy & Jim Stark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 Jim, I think it is actually more like wearing away, sort of like going directly from solid to gas with no liquid phase, maybe a cell at a time. I know they are using lasers and calling it that. I would guess too that it would be controlled frying of the nerves with a laser, but I am not a medical doctor. I would think as an engineer that this would work both ways and cause a deadening of the tissue in the area of the nerve. I personally would want to know ALL the details and possible problems it could cause. Take care, Bill Werre ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim wrote: Aletta, Ablation: the removal of a body part, often by surgery. Here I think we are talking about ablation of nerve tissue.This would have the permanent effect of reliving pain. Unlike ablation, an epidural is only temporary. God Bless,Judy & Jim Stark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 Bill, You are exactly correct in pointing out that ablation is used for many uses other than removal of nerve tissue. One of the most used ablation therapy burning off warts. This done mostly with laser but there is also burning treatment. cryo ablation (the use liquid nitrogen for this treatment, and lastly, surgical removable of warts. All these treatments are ablation treatments because tissue is being removed. I have learned a lot from you also. Thanks. God Bless, Judy & Jim Stark Re: Pain Meds/Thx Belinda Jim, I think it is actually more like wearing away, sort of like going directly from solid to gas with no liquid phase, maybe a cell at a time. I know they are using lasers and calling it that. I would guess too that it would be controlled frying of the nerves with a laser, but I am not a medical doctor. I would think as an engineer that this would work both ways and cause a deadening of the tissue in the area of the nerve. I personally would want to know ALL the details and possible problems it could cause. Take care, Bill Werre ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim wrote: Aletta, Ablation: the removal of a body part, often by surgery. Here I think we are talking about ablation of nerve tissue.This would have the permanent effect of reliving pain. Unlike ablation, an epidural is only temporary. God Bless,Judy & Jim StarkIf you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 Bill, You are exactly correct in pointing out that ablation is used for many uses other than removal of nerve tissue. One of the most used ablation therapy burning off warts. This done mostly with laser but there is also burning treatment. cryo ablation (the use liquid nitrogen for this treatment, and lastly, surgical removable of warts. All these treatments are ablation treatments because tissue is being removed. I have learned a lot from you also. Thanks. God Bless, Judy & Jim Stark Re: Pain Meds/Thx Belinda Jim, I think it is actually more like wearing away, sort of like going directly from solid to gas with no liquid phase, maybe a cell at a time. I know they are using lasers and calling it that. I would guess too that it would be controlled frying of the nerves with a laser, but I am not a medical doctor. I would think as an engineer that this would work both ways and cause a deadening of the tissue in the area of the nerve. I personally would want to know ALL the details and possible problems it could cause. Take care, Bill Werre ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim wrote: Aletta, Ablation: the removal of a body part, often by surgery. Here I think we are talking about ablation of nerve tissue.This would have the permanent effect of reliving pain. Unlike ablation, an epidural is only temporary. God Bless,Judy & Jim StarkIf you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 Bill, You are exactly correct in pointing out that ablation is used for many uses other than removal of nerve tissue. One of the most used ablation therapy burning off warts. This done mostly with laser but there is also burning treatment. cryo ablation (the use liquid nitrogen for this treatment, and lastly, surgical removable of warts. All these treatments are ablation treatments because tissue is being removed. I have learned a lot from you also. Thanks. God Bless, Judy & Jim Stark Re: Pain Meds/Thx Belinda Jim, I think it is actually more like wearing away, sort of like going directly from solid to gas with no liquid phase, maybe a cell at a time. I know they are using lasers and calling it that. I would guess too that it would be controlled frying of the nerves with a laser, but I am not a medical doctor. I would think as an engineer that this would work both ways and cause a deadening of the tissue in the area of the nerve. I personally would want to know ALL the details and possible problems it could cause. Take care, Bill Werre ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim wrote: Aletta, Ablation: the removal of a body part, often by surgery. Here I think we are talking about ablation of nerve tissue.This would have the permanent effect of reliving pain. Unlike ablation, an epidural is only temporary. God Bless,Judy & Jim StarkIf you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 After four years of this, ablation sounds like a miracle. At 5/28/02 08:13 PM Tuesday, you wrote: Aletta, Ablation: the removal of a body part, often by surgery. Here I think we are talking about ablation of nerve tissue. This would have the permanent effect of reliving pain. Unlike ablation, an epidural is only temporary. God Bless, Judy & Jim Stark Pain Meds/Thx Belinda Yes, Belinda, you are right--the shots are referred to as epidurals; I had forgotten. I am glad to know that someone w/MSA has found relief from them. That means there is some hope for my mother before the last resort of morphine. I am not sure what it was you thought you shouldn't tell me, but if your neurologist recommends that you go to a pain management specialist, then by all means, go to one! Thanks for the info. ~ If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 After four years of this, ablation sounds like a miracle. At 5/28/02 08:13 PM Tuesday, you wrote: Aletta, Ablation: the removal of a body part, often by surgery. Here I think we are talking about ablation of nerve tissue. This would have the permanent effect of reliving pain. Unlike ablation, an epidural is only temporary. God Bless, Judy & Jim Stark Pain Meds/Thx Belinda Yes, Belinda, you are right--the shots are referred to as epidurals; I had forgotten. I am glad to know that someone w/MSA has found relief from them. That means there is some hope for my mother before the last resort of morphine. I am not sure what it was you thought you shouldn't tell me, but if your neurologist recommends that you go to a pain management specialist, then by all means, go to one! Thanks for the info. ~ If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 After four years of this, ablation sounds like a miracle. At 5/28/02 08:13 PM Tuesday, you wrote: Aletta, Ablation: the removal of a body part, often by surgery. Here I think we are talking about ablation of nerve tissue. This would have the permanent effect of reliving pain. Unlike ablation, an epidural is only temporary. God Bless, Judy & Jim Stark Pain Meds/Thx Belinda Yes, Belinda, you are right--the shots are referred to as epidurals; I had forgotten. I am glad to know that someone w/MSA has found relief from them. That means there is some hope for my mother before the last resort of morphine. I am not sure what it was you thought you shouldn't tell me, but if your neurologist recommends that you go to a pain management specialist, then by all means, go to one! Thanks for the info. ~ If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 Jim, The freezing with liquid nitrogen is basically burning except that it is more controllable than heat. The damage to the tissue is the same as heat. I am much more familiar with ablation heat shields (space shuttle type) where they wear away by using up the heat caused by re-entry thereby saving the shuttle itself. But several sources on ablation showed ablation surgery - mostly with cancer and warts/moles and mostly using lasers (probably for precise control of burning). I am happy you (as a person in the pharmceutical field) too feel opiates can be dangerous. The Soma comments also bear out my knowledge of it and overdose of it. How are you feeling these days, don't see you emailing as much. Take care, Bill Werre ------------------------------------------- Jim wrote: Bill, You are exactly correct in pointing out that ablation is used for many uses other than removal of nerve tissue. One of the most used ablation therapy burning off warts. This done mostly with laser but there is also burning treatment. cryo ablation (the use liquid nitrogen for this treatment, and lastly, surgical removable of warts. All these treatments are ablation treatments because tissue is being removed. I have learned a lot from you also. Thanks. God Bless,Judy & Jim Stark Re: Pain Meds/Thx Belinda Jim, I think it is actually more like wearing away, sort of like going directly from solid to gas with no liquid phase, maybe a cell at a time. I know they are using lasers and calling it that. I would guess too that it would be controlled frying of the nerves with a laser, but I am not a medical doctor. I would think as an engineer that this would work both ways and cause a deadening of the tissue in the area of the nerve. I personally would want to know ALL the details and possible problems it could cause. Take care, Bill Werre ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim wrote: Aletta, Ablation: the removal of a body part, often by surgery. Here I think we are talking about ablation of nerve tissue.This would have the permanent effect of reliving pain. Unlike ablation, an epidural is only temporary. God Bless,Judy & Jim Stark If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 Jim, The freezing with liquid nitrogen is basically burning except that it is more controllable than heat. The damage to the tissue is the same as heat. I am much more familiar with ablation heat shields (space shuttle type) where they wear away by using up the heat caused by re-entry thereby saving the shuttle itself. But several sources on ablation showed ablation surgery - mostly with cancer and warts/moles and mostly using lasers (probably for precise control of burning). I am happy you (as a person in the pharmceutical field) too feel opiates can be dangerous. The Soma comments also bear out my knowledge of it and overdose of it. How are you feeling these days, don't see you emailing as much. Take care, Bill Werre ------------------------------------------- Jim wrote: Bill, You are exactly correct in pointing out that ablation is used for many uses other than removal of nerve tissue. One of the most used ablation therapy burning off warts. This done mostly with laser but there is also burning treatment. cryo ablation (the use liquid nitrogen for this treatment, and lastly, surgical removable of warts. All these treatments are ablation treatments because tissue is being removed. I have learned a lot from you also. Thanks. God Bless,Judy & Jim Stark Re: Pain Meds/Thx Belinda Jim, I think it is actually more like wearing away, sort of like going directly from solid to gas with no liquid phase, maybe a cell at a time. I know they are using lasers and calling it that. I would guess too that it would be controlled frying of the nerves with a laser, but I am not a medical doctor. I would think as an engineer that this would work both ways and cause a deadening of the tissue in the area of the nerve. I personally would want to know ALL the details and possible problems it could cause. Take care, Bill Werre ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim wrote: Aletta, Ablation: the removal of a body part, often by surgery. Here I think we are talking about ablation of nerve tissue.This would have the permanent effect of reliving pain. Unlike ablation, an epidural is only temporary. God Bless,Judy & Jim Stark If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2002 Report Share Posted May 28, 2002 Jim, The freezing with liquid nitrogen is basically burning except that it is more controllable than heat. The damage to the tissue is the same as heat. I am much more familiar with ablation heat shields (space shuttle type) where they wear away by using up the heat caused by re-entry thereby saving the shuttle itself. But several sources on ablation showed ablation surgery - mostly with cancer and warts/moles and mostly using lasers (probably for precise control of burning). I am happy you (as a person in the pharmceutical field) too feel opiates can be dangerous. The Soma comments also bear out my knowledge of it and overdose of it. How are you feeling these days, don't see you emailing as much. Take care, Bill Werre ------------------------------------------- Jim wrote: Bill, You are exactly correct in pointing out that ablation is used for many uses other than removal of nerve tissue. One of the most used ablation therapy burning off warts. This done mostly with laser but there is also burning treatment. cryo ablation (the use liquid nitrogen for this treatment, and lastly, surgical removable of warts. All these treatments are ablation treatments because tissue is being removed. I have learned a lot from you also. Thanks. God Bless,Judy & Jim Stark Re: Pain Meds/Thx Belinda Jim, I think it is actually more like wearing away, sort of like going directly from solid to gas with no liquid phase, maybe a cell at a time. I know they are using lasers and calling it that. I would guess too that it would be controlled frying of the nerves with a laser, but I am not a medical doctor. I would think as an engineer that this would work both ways and cause a deadening of the tissue in the area of the nerve. I personally would want to know ALL the details and possible problems it could cause. Take care, Bill Werre ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim wrote: Aletta, Ablation: the removal of a body part, often by surgery. Here I think we are talking about ablation of nerve tissue.This would have the permanent effect of reliving pain. Unlike ablation, an epidural is only temporary. God Bless,Judy & Jim Stark If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2002 Report Share Posted May 29, 2002 Jim, You are right about the use of these shots. I also had epidurals with all 4 c-sections. This shot was done outside the spinal cord. Spinal blocks are done within the spinal cord. This was done during my mother's time of having babies. I don't believe they do spinal blocks anymore or at least not like they use to. Believe me, first hand knowledge, when I had one to have a baby it totally paralyzed me during the surgery but the pain came back ALOT faster. There is a difference in the pregnancy shots and the shots for pain. > & Belinda, > > The epidural injection has been used for a long time to relieve pain. Only one injection is given if the " nerve block " is needed for a couple hours. This is how surgery is done when a general anesthetic can not be used. The three injections are given to give if at least a couple months relief of pain is needed. > > The principal behind this treatments are simple. The nerves they are aiming at are those which carry a signal to the spinal chord an on to the brain, that there is pain in a certain part of the body, back to the spinal chord and with out the " nerve block " we feel the pain. > > Theoretically, this could be used on any nerve coming from the spinal column. The bad news is, if the doctor is not knowledgeable enough about the specific location of each nerve root emerging from the spinal column. Injecting the wrong nerve could cause paralyses or even respiratory arrest (These are very rare events}. > > This whole procedure results in the patient not feeling the pain, even though it's still there. > > A great benefit of using a spinal block to " relieve " pain is that it works at the site where it is injected, and does not circulate through the rest of the body as do pain reliving IVs or oral pain relievers like morphine do. > > By the way, the block used by the OBGYN doctors to relive the pain of labor is called a " Saddle Block " , because it cuts off the senses in the area of the body which would touch a saddle when one is riding a horse. It makes the later part of labor pain free. Since I am a man, I can not talk with authority about the latter use, even though I was present at the births of both our children. :> ) > > Sorry for the long message! > > God Bless, > Judy & Jim Stark > > Pain Meds/Thx Belinda > > > Yes, Belinda, you are right--the shots are referred to as epidurals; I had forgotten. I am glad to know that someone w/MSA has found relief from them. That means there is some hope for my mother before the last resort of morphine. I am not sure what it was you thought you shouldn't tell me, but if your neurologist recommends that you go to a pain management specialist, then by all means, go to one! Thanks for the info. > ~ > > If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may > unsubscribe by sending a blank email to > > shydrager-unsubscribe@y... > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2002 Report Share Posted May 29, 2002 Jim, You are right about the use of these shots. I also had epidurals with all 4 c-sections. This shot was done outside the spinal cord. Spinal blocks are done within the spinal cord. This was done during my mother's time of having babies. I don't believe they do spinal blocks anymore or at least not like they use to. Believe me, first hand knowledge, when I had one to have a baby it totally paralyzed me during the surgery but the pain came back ALOT faster. There is a difference in the pregnancy shots and the shots for pain. > & Belinda, > > The epidural injection has been used for a long time to relieve pain. Only one injection is given if the " nerve block " is needed for a couple hours. This is how surgery is done when a general anesthetic can not be used. The three injections are given to give if at least a couple months relief of pain is needed. > > The principal behind this treatments are simple. The nerves they are aiming at are those which carry a signal to the spinal chord an on to the brain, that there is pain in a certain part of the body, back to the spinal chord and with out the " nerve block " we feel the pain. > > Theoretically, this could be used on any nerve coming from the spinal column. The bad news is, if the doctor is not knowledgeable enough about the specific location of each nerve root emerging from the spinal column. Injecting the wrong nerve could cause paralyses or even respiratory arrest (These are very rare events}. > > This whole procedure results in the patient not feeling the pain, even though it's still there. > > A great benefit of using a spinal block to " relieve " pain is that it works at the site where it is injected, and does not circulate through the rest of the body as do pain reliving IVs or oral pain relievers like morphine do. > > By the way, the block used by the OBGYN doctors to relive the pain of labor is called a " Saddle Block " , because it cuts off the senses in the area of the body which would touch a saddle when one is riding a horse. It makes the later part of labor pain free. Since I am a man, I can not talk with authority about the latter use, even though I was present at the births of both our children. :> ) > > Sorry for the long message! > > God Bless, > Judy & Jim Stark > > Pain Meds/Thx Belinda > > > Yes, Belinda, you are right--the shots are referred to as epidurals; I had forgotten. I am glad to know that someone w/MSA has found relief from them. That means there is some hope for my mother before the last resort of morphine. I am not sure what it was you thought you shouldn't tell me, but if your neurologist recommends that you go to a pain management specialist, then by all means, go to one! Thanks for the info. > ~ > > If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may > unsubscribe by sending a blank email to > > shydrager-unsubscribe@y... > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2002 Report Share Posted May 29, 2002 Jim, You are right about the use of these shots. I also had epidurals with all 4 c-sections. This shot was done outside the spinal cord. Spinal blocks are done within the spinal cord. This was done during my mother's time of having babies. I don't believe they do spinal blocks anymore or at least not like they use to. Believe me, first hand knowledge, when I had one to have a baby it totally paralyzed me during the surgery but the pain came back ALOT faster. There is a difference in the pregnancy shots and the shots for pain. > & Belinda, > > The epidural injection has been used for a long time to relieve pain. Only one injection is given if the " nerve block " is needed for a couple hours. This is how surgery is done when a general anesthetic can not be used. The three injections are given to give if at least a couple months relief of pain is needed. > > The principal behind this treatments are simple. The nerves they are aiming at are those which carry a signal to the spinal chord an on to the brain, that there is pain in a certain part of the body, back to the spinal chord and with out the " nerve block " we feel the pain. > > Theoretically, this could be used on any nerve coming from the spinal column. The bad news is, if the doctor is not knowledgeable enough about the specific location of each nerve root emerging from the spinal column. Injecting the wrong nerve could cause paralyses or even respiratory arrest (These are very rare events}. > > This whole procedure results in the patient not feeling the pain, even though it's still there. > > A great benefit of using a spinal block to " relieve " pain is that it works at the site where it is injected, and does not circulate through the rest of the body as do pain reliving IVs or oral pain relievers like morphine do. > > By the way, the block used by the OBGYN doctors to relive the pain of labor is called a " Saddle Block " , because it cuts off the senses in the area of the body which would touch a saddle when one is riding a horse. It makes the later part of labor pain free. Since I am a man, I can not talk with authority about the latter use, even though I was present at the births of both our children. :> ) > > Sorry for the long message! > > God Bless, > Judy & Jim Stark > > Pain Meds/Thx Belinda > > > Yes, Belinda, you are right--the shots are referred to as epidurals; I had forgotten. I am glad to know that someone w/MSA has found relief from them. That means there is some hope for my mother before the last resort of morphine. I am not sure what it was you thought you shouldn't tell me, but if your neurologist recommends that you go to a pain management specialist, then by all means, go to one! Thanks for the info. > ~ > > If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may > unsubscribe by sending a blank email to > > shydrager-unsubscribe@y... > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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