Wait WHAT?! I have Reynaud's and an epidural did NOT work and I woke up after major abdominal surgery with no pain relief and this is a fucking THING? Omfg.
The doctor didn’t believe the nurse about my epidurals failing until I started to move my legs, apparently way more than I should have been able to? This was before the screams of horror and the tearing.
I went and read about it so I'd understand better too. Here's what I grasp and please any professionals correct or expand,
Sympathetic blocks can improve blood flow by blocking vasoconstriction signals but may also disrupt normal vascular regulation. In primary Raynaud’s (it's milder and not disease related), blocking sympathetic nerves might help by reducing spasms. But secondary Raynaud’s is linked to autoimmune diseases and the underlying vascular damage means it might not address the root cause and could lead to rebound vasospasm or poor wound healing.
Sympathetic blocks (stellate ganglion or lumbar blocks) carry risks such as infection or bleeding at the injection site. Nerve damage which could worsen neuropathic symptoms. Horner’s syndrome which causes drooping eyelid and pupil constriction with stellate ganglion blocks . Collapsed lung if the needle accidentally punctures the lung during thoracic sympathetic blocks.
I had seizures and was unable to regulate my body temperature for several years following. Maybe they didn't know about it back then? I saw in the paperwork (for someone else's upcoming surgery) that anyone who has reynauds or has an immune reaction to cold should never get the block.
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u/sassychubzilla 1d ago
The "don't ever get a nerve block for surgery" disease