Facet joint block C2-6

[Kokanee]

I recently had a joint block done on the facet joints C2-6 on my right side. This was for diagnostic purposes to confirm that the pain I'm experiencing is nerve related. Here's a summary of my experience;

- Procedure

The procedure was one of the most excruciating experiences of my life. I'm a soldier, I sort of pride myself on "defining my existence through suffering"; but man I would not wish this on my worst enemy. Started off alright, sterilizing the skin and then your standard "little pinch" for the numbing injection.

After that it was all downhill. I laid down on my left side with my left arm under my torso, which promptly fell asleep. That wasn't a big deal, but worth mentioning as maintaining your balance in that position is a little challenging. Next came the injections. To reach the facet joint nerve roots, my Dr was guided in while viewing a series of realtime xray images taken by a tech. It was an interesting sensation to say the least to feel the curved needle wiggling between my spinal segments (which are too close together due to improper disc height, hence the nerve problems).

Once he got the needle in position he injected the numbing agent and a steroid agent (don't know the name). Easily the worst pain I've ever dealt with, beats broken ribs hand down. After four of those injections I was in a pretty bad sweat, just drenched even thought the room had A/C. But once the injections were done I almost instantly had no pain whatsoever in my right arm.

- Recovery

Once the procedure was over, I was helped up and guided into a waiting room to put my shirt back on and give some info to a nurse. At this point I was very wobbly as my balance had been affected. A friend drove me home, by the time I made it there the numbing had worn off and the pain was back. I was told that it might take a few days for the steroid to kick in an relieve some of the pain, but that never happened.

So what this confirmed for me is that I do indeed have a problem with disc height causing nerve compression and pain, instead of it being all in my head like my old GP insisted.

[Cindylou]

Kokanee, sorry you experienced such a high level of pain during your facet block. Sometimes these diagnostic procedures just beat you up and spit you out. And then, like you are experiencing, you don't receive any results from a steroid, if one was given. But, I guess the silver lining here is that you are finding out your pain generators and that is huge. :thumpup: Good luck and good to hear from you.

[Katie]

Hi Kokanee, I'm glad you at least know where your pain is coming from. Did the surgeon offer any kind of treatment plan if this does not work? Was it done in your home town or here in Ottawa? Just curious as I could not get anyone to do testing on me like that, just for nerve damage.

This has really been dragging out for you, and I hope you get resolution soon. Feel free to PM if you'd like to discuss anything. I've had numerous steroid injections in my lumbar with no success, but I don't know if this is the same thing. Mine had the anesthetic to numb the area as well, then the steroid. It was a weird sensation, but not very painful. I'm so sorry that it causes such misery for you. My discogram in Quebec was excruciating as well...the anesthetic did not work at all.

[KBear]

Half the battle is finding out what is wrong with you (at least it was for me, took 2.5 yrs to get a dr to diagnose me correctly). Even though the relief did not last, I would still assume (obviously I'm not a dr and not qualified to give medical advice, just my opinions) that that is your pain generator. I never got relief from any of the injections and upon finding out what was wrong with me (ddd at l4/5), it made sense that it didn't work. My husband on the other hand had an injection for a disc herniation and walked out and felt like a new man. His relief lasted 6-9 months, then he had another injection and it worked again. That was in 3.5 yrs. ago and he has felt great since. With all they know about spines, there is still so much they don't know.