United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I have seen information about brachial plexus blocks (injections). Has anyone pursued this and if so, was it successful in relieving the pain?
Does this happen to you.......
Some days are awful and some days are ok. I still experience pain on the good days but it's not the constant spasms (my arm and hand being smashed in a vise every 30 sec.) that occur on the bad days. It's like it will not leave you alone. Naturally, the bad days ordinarily coincide with stressfull days at work but sometimes I have a really bad day for no apparent reason. What is the deal? Then once in awhile, I'll have a good day where the majority of the day I will just have painless electrical shots and a tolerable # of major spasms? Crazy!!

Hi Sela;

A brachial plexus pain block is used to help with the pain following an operation on the arm. It is used on patients who have a complete, undamaged brachial plexus, so, no use to someone like us who have nerve damage; it wouldn't help the pain. I believe that the drs. are reluctant to use this type of pain relief, because it can temporarily paralyse a functioning arm.

There are quite a few useful bits of info. about pain on the Oxford Pain Internet site; the link is;

http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/painpag/

..well worth a look..I have contacted these people in the past, and the section on Neuropathic pain is more relevant to bpi. All the other sections are interesting tho..but as usual, reading or talking about pain seems to bring it on..! has anyone else found that happens to them??

see ya later...Liz x

I had an injection into my brachial plexus and the results were really bad! No one should inject into a damaged bp and that is my opinion. I posted a while back because someone else was asking about injections. If you need more information please write me.
Mindy

Hi. . . I too had a pain block injection (stellate ganglion?) but I am afraid it made no difference what so eer. I subsequently went on to have DREZ lesion surgery last October for the unremitting pain spasms which you describe so well. This is by no means an easy route but has been quite successfuland life has become a godd deal more bearable. If you would lie any info on the surgery please feel free to email.