The Basics of Lumbar Sympathetic Blocks for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Lumbar sympathetic block is a procedure performed to relieve leg pain caused by complex regional pain syndromes (CRPS).
In the past this was called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
The syndrome may develop after an injury to a joint or a limb.
This injury may be a result of trauma or surgery and can be either a minor or major insult.
Previous names for complex regional pain syndrome include reflex sympathetic dystrophy and sympathetic mediated pain.
Usually a series of injections are needed to treat the problem.
Patients lie either on their side or stomach on a special table which allows x-rays to go through and show the patient's bony anatomy.
This real time x-ray machine is called fluoroscopy.
An intravenous IV line is started to administer medication to relax the patient.
A local anesthetic numbs the skin and all the tissue down to the sympathetic nerves.
The pain physician slides a needle through the numbed track.
A contrast solution is injected and the pain physician uses a fluoroscopy machine to determine the painful areas and confirm the appropriate location of the needle tip.
Next, a mixture of anesthetic, saline, and anti-inflammatory medications (steroid) is injected around the sympathetic nerves to block the painful signals from reaching the brain.
The legs may feel weak or numb for a few hours after the procedure.
Then pain from the legs should improve.
More blocks may be repeated, typically weekly, until the pain subsides.
Patients who are on blood thinning medications or who have an infection near the injection site should not receive the block.
The key with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is to break the cycle of pain.
In conjunction with other treatments such as physical therapy, pain medications, chiropractic treatment, and acupuncture, lumbar sympathetic blocks may offer substantial pain relief and lead to a remarkable recovery.
In the past this was called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
The syndrome may develop after an injury to a joint or a limb.
This injury may be a result of trauma or surgery and can be either a minor or major insult.
Previous names for complex regional pain syndrome include reflex sympathetic dystrophy and sympathetic mediated pain.
Usually a series of injections are needed to treat the problem.
Patients lie either on their side or stomach on a special table which allows x-rays to go through and show the patient's bony anatomy.
This real time x-ray machine is called fluoroscopy.
An intravenous IV line is started to administer medication to relax the patient.
A local anesthetic numbs the skin and all the tissue down to the sympathetic nerves.
The pain physician slides a needle through the numbed track.
A contrast solution is injected and the pain physician uses a fluoroscopy machine to determine the painful areas and confirm the appropriate location of the needle tip.
Next, a mixture of anesthetic, saline, and anti-inflammatory medications (steroid) is injected around the sympathetic nerves to block the painful signals from reaching the brain.
The legs may feel weak or numb for a few hours after the procedure.
Then pain from the legs should improve.
More blocks may be repeated, typically weekly, until the pain subsides.
Patients who are on blood thinning medications or who have an infection near the injection site should not receive the block.
The key with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is to break the cycle of pain.
In conjunction with other treatments such as physical therapy, pain medications, chiropractic treatment, and acupuncture, lumbar sympathetic blocks may offer substantial pain relief and lead to a remarkable recovery.