Posts Tagged ‘Nerve Blocks Fibromyalgia’

Injections & Nerve Blocks For Treating Fibromyalgia

Written on September 3rd, 2009 by adminno shouts

Fibromyalgia Pain Relief

Treating Fibromyalgias With Nerve Blocks For

Chronic Back Pain

Chronic low back pain is a big problem and can side line anyone. Missing time from work, decreased mobility, reduction in social interactions, and can causing havoc with your home life can degrade your quality of life. There are many treatment options, and as with life there is no one size fits all fibromyalgia remedy. Today we will look at different ways of treating fibromyalgia back pain symptoms.

Many fibromyalgia suffers seek help to treat their:

Stiffness
Pain
Muscle Spams
Pain radiating or shooting down the legs or buttocks
Pain radiating down legs to feet
Numbness or tingling sensation in buttocks and legs
Numbness or tingling sensation in groin
Numbness or tingling sensation in feet and toes

Treatment Options For Fibromyalgia Pain Relief

Conservative treatment options include taking over the counter analgesics such as: Tylenol, Motrin, Aleve, and Aspirin.

When over the counter medications don’t work your doctor may prescribe prescription medications such as: Voltran, Tramadol, Ultram, Flexeril, Robaxin, Baclofen, Skelaxin, or narcotics.

Topical pain relievers are a new forms of treatments that doctors are prescribing for fibromyalgia, and Lidoderm is one example. Many people prefer NSAIDS patches as they do not cause stomach problems that some of the pill NSAIDS do with long term use. Over the counter topical pain relievers can be found on drug store shelves that can include Ben Gay, Icey Hot, Well Patch with Capsaicen, but the one that works the best for many is Joint-Ritis Arthritis Pain Relieving Patch, Triple Action, Extra Strength that contains Lanolin, Glucosamine & Chondroitin

Spinal Injections or Spinal Nerve Blocks

After a full work up by your doctor he or she may come to the conclusion that nerve blocks or injections are necessary to treat your back pain. As fibromyalgia and myofascial pain quite frequently involves tender points. If your doctor determines after your work up that your sever back pain is a result of structural problems; compression fractures, spondylosis, herniated disc, disc disease, then your doctor may choose for you to have either a spinal block, facet joint block, or a paravertebral block.

Types of Blocks:

Spinal Injections: Spinal injections are often used to reduce or eliminate lower back or radiating leg pain.

Peripheral Nerve Blocks: This block numb the nerves outside of your spinal cord. This is beneficial as these nerves can often times become irritated.

Tell Me More About Nerve Blocks

Well, a nerve block or nerve root block is a procedure where an injection is given into a specific area or areas in your back. The nerve block works by preventing pain signal from traveling to your brain. The purpose of treating a person with a nerve block is to prevent or stop the brain from receiving pain signals, and the sensation of pain.

Nerve blocks can be a tremendous benefit as they provide immediate pain relief, stop the nerves from triggering a pain response, and can relieve inflammation.
Long term benefits of nerve block in fibromyalgia patients can include: reduced joint pain, increased range of motion, a reduction in muscle pain, and the reduction or elimination of pain.

Following the Nerve Block Procedure

You should have immediate pain relief, with a slight numbness in your legs, groin or feet. You should not drive or do any activities until the numbness subsides.
Are There Nerve Block Side Effects?
They are rare, but can include: Rash around site, tenderness around injection site, numbness, loss of sensation, nausea, vomiting, nerve damage, and infection.

Nerve blocks will not cure your fibromyalgia, nerve blocks are band aid therapy for nerve pain. They can provide temporary relief of joint pain, muscle pain and nerve pain. They typically last for a few months depending on the medications used, and you are limited on how many injections you can have in a specific time frame.
Nerve blocks should be used in conjunction to other important therapies such as: daily exercises, daily stretching, physical therapy is ordered, healthy diet, and fibromyalgia medications.

Treating fibromyalgia is never easy, but it can be done. Stay strong, keep an open mind, and know that you are not alone!