Nerve Blocks - Are they worth it?

Hmmmmmm...I have been getting nerve blocks for quite a while now. I get them along with 200 units of botox. My doctor is a pain specialist who deals mostly with back and necks. He feels I have a serious injury from my past with all of my sports injuries. I did play very hard when I was young.

He has been doing nerve blocks between c2 and c4 every three months along with my botox. They are very, very painful and I get them without any anesthetic. OUCH

I'm not really sure if they help much. I wonder if I should ask him to hold off or not. I worry about the long-term effects of such a treatment. I'm not sure it is worth it if I don't see a huge difference.

The botox works very well, so I may just try to go with that. I'm kind of scared to stop though, fearing what could happen. I'm so happy in my new position, I'd really, really hate to mess it up.

Anyone else getting these?

Any suggestions about stopping or continuing?

If the Botox is working for you, I would stick with that. I have never heard of any long term problems from it.

I plan to continue the botox...it's the nerve blocks I'm considering quitting or at least putting on hold

I guess the question is why not do the Botox without the nerve blocks? Most people seem to do it that way. Not sure what they are adding now that botox is working for you.

Well....by working I mean that I get moderate relief from week three to eight after the injections. My migraines go from hell on earth to tolerable for about five weeks every three months.

Well, I got my injections yesterday.

I still got the nerve blocks.

There was one difference this time. The botox came in a 200 unit vial rather then two 100 units vials, so there was less to inject, which, one day later, I think may have decreased the pain a bit.

He also injected quite a lot of freezing, so it may be that as well.

At the moment I'm in a lot of pain.

I hope it works for you!

I've got my fingers crossed for you!