unguided nerve block? Please help me!

[Krisssy]

I am scheduled to have an unguided nerve block by a gynecologist who specializes in pelvic pain. I have been suffering for three years with cliteral/vaginal pain. arousal disorder, frequenn t urination and urgency and constipation. After doing extensive research, i believe this is a pudential nerve problem probably resulti ng from three abdominal surgeries. I am in a tremendous amount of pain at this point. I would like some feedback as to whether I should let this Dr. do a nerve block on Tues. (which would be unguided) or if I should hold off and let Dr. Potter do an MRI testig for pudental nerve problems and if the results are positive go to a PN specialist FOR GUIDED injections and possibly surgery.Thank you all in advance for any advice you can give me.Krisssy

[helenlegs 11]

Hi Krissey,
Everything I have read and understood so far indicates that an unguidedI block is either worse than useless or could possibly cause greater problems. However I read very recently that Dr Dr Bisschop does these blocks unguided but then he is very well practised . I would still want mine guided !
You do seem to have many classic PN symptoms. Is the block diagnostic or simply for pain relief btw?
Diagnostically if the block has no effect the physician may indicate than PN is not a problem for you when they have simply missed the target and you are back to square one.
Obviously I know nothing of the gynaecologist you are referring to, they may be excellent but you seem to have reservations already ? ? Whether or not you go for a Potter scan or not I would always want a guided block by a PN aware specialist.
Let us know what you decide and the outcome.
Take care,
Helen

[Krisssy]

The nerve block I am scheduled for is for pain relief. I want to go to one of the listed PN specialists for a guided nerve block and testing for PN. i can't decide which one would be best. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Meanwhile I have to decide if I should cancel the pain relief nerve block. The Dr. did spend almost 3 hours with me. Did anyone ever go to Dr. Robert Echenberg in Pa.? He is a pelvic pain specialist but not a PN specialist. Krisssy

[nyt]

If you are in alot of pain and feel you could use the nerve block then make sure you ask how many of these he has done. Some ob/gyn dr.'s routinely do pudendal blocks through the vagina for some deliveries and are quite good at them. You can still look through this forum at all the different pudendal dr.'s and decide which one you would like to see. Some of them have quite a long waiting time while others don't (2-10 months depending on PN dr.). There are varied experiences on this forum when it comes to pudendal nerve blocks even when guided. I have had about 8 of them done by Dr. Westesson in Rochester, NY. He does them CT guided and like most individuals I get a flare and then feel better but I have never been left with any new or worsening symptoms. There have been others on this forum who have had pudendal nerve blocks unguided and guided that have ended up worse. No one can guarantee that a pudendal block won't make your worse. However, I think all the dr.'s require it for diagnostic purposes.

You also might want to see if the dr. will order the MRI with Dr. Potter. It is well worth the travel and will give you valuable information.

[Krisssy]

Yes my Dr. is going to give me a prescriptipn for Dr. Potter. I live in NY which makes it easy. Then I intend to bring the results to Dr. Conway, Dr. Hibner and the Houston group before I make a decision. Three years of pain is enough!