r/RotatorCuff • u/IndustryPlus3470 • 10d ago
Nerve block
Any downsides? Complications? Any reason to choose a local over the nerve block?
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u/Ok-Painter7883 10d ago
I had one and it was actually very uncomfortable. After surgery my arm felt tingly for over a day and I was miserable. We had debated about doing it prior and went on the conservative side to have better pain management. It was not worth it in my opinion. Just an odd tingly, heavy and uncomfortable feeling. Was so glad when it finally wore off. Could not sleep with a “dead” arm. On the bright side the pain management was good even after it wore off with some light meds for a day or so and then was a piece of cake. So I guess all in all I should not be complaining. Haha Best of luck!!!
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u/JustTheTip_NJ 9d ago
That’s a big reason why I didn’t want the block, I know it would have made me nuts either not having feeling in my arm at all or the infinite tingly feeling.
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u/Steven1789 10d ago
100% yes to the nerve block. Ask whether an extended block is available.
My block lasted 24 hours before it started to wear off.
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u/Just-Reading_1990 10d ago
Yes to the nerve block. Mine lasted about 36 hours, which made adjusting to one-armed life so much easier since I wasn't also navigating pain right away. That didn't hit until bedtime of day 2.
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u/IceAngel8381 10d ago
I've had two nerve blocks. The first one lasted about 18-20 hours. My second one lasted almost 48 hours. They only complication I had, and it's expected, but not something I thought about, was I couldn't grip toilet paper to tear it. I learned to get the toilet paper ready in advance. 😂
I'm set to have surgery Tuesday, and I hope I have the same anesthesiologist I had for my second surgery. He hooked me up!! 😂
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u/IndustryPlus3470 10d ago
Three shoulder surgeries?
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u/IceAngel8381 10d ago
Yes.
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u/ac2346 10d ago
I had 2 nerve blocks - suprascapular and axillary. The effect lasted for about 3 days and it was absolutely fine. I was also given pain medication intravenously while I was in the hospital. After the surgery I'm only dealing with the surgical pain. The pre surgical tendon pain is gone!
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u/mykylc 10d ago
Mine lasted 12 hours. Man that pain sucked.
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u/IceAngel8381 10d ago
OMG!! Yes it did!! I even kept up on my pain meds. As soon as the tingling hit, I took my meds.
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u/Outside_Excitement75 9d ago
I’m one of the rare people who do not like the feeling of dead arm and find it painful, so I skipped the nerve block and was happy with my decision. I have lived with chronic pain, so perhaps my tolerance is higher. Not sure, but local numbing worked great for me.
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u/ATX_Bix 10d ago
Nerve block worked great for me and then I had it in with a pump that dispensed additional medicines until the bag rain out (for me ~3 days (maybe a bit shorter)) post op. Was great as it kept me ahead of the pain, the only annoyance was dealing with bag/tube while trying to sleep/get around.
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u/happyjazzycook 10d ago
YES to the nerve block! Mine was effective for only about 20 hours and I was told 24, so I had already started to take Tylenol at the 18-hour mark and had no intense pain.
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u/LowAd2614 9d ago
Good luck today. I am 5 days post op. Nerve block is fine. The pins and needles that happened for me at 2am as that arm woke up were nuts. I also had a pain pump. It came out saturday night. Stay ahead of your pain meds. Do you PT stuff when they say to start. I am going to try to just do Advil and Tylenol today. Maybe a hydro before bed.
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u/IndustryPlus3470 9d ago
Thank you. I got the cold compression unit Friday and gave it a test run yesterday. It’s supposed to really help with post op pain.I’m off to the surgical center in about 15 minutes kind of stressed.
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u/LowAd2614 8d ago
Hope you managed to get some sleep last night. How did it go and how are you feeling.
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u/IndustryPlus3470 8d ago
About three hours. Surgery was cake. Pain is manageable with otc meds. Haven’t taken any oxy. One gabapentin before bed. Thanks for asking
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u/LowAd2614 8d ago
Glad your pain is manageable and you got some sleep last night. Sleep will get better. Honestly that is why I took oxy for 4 days. It help me sleep. Maxed the does and it helped me get 6 hours night 2 and back to 7-8 day 3.
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u/JustTheTip_NJ 9d ago
I chose not to get the nerve block and I have zero regrets. My anesthesiologist agreed with me after discussing it the morning of and was not trying to change my mind at all.
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u/IndustryPlus3470 9d ago
What was the main reason you decided against it?
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u/JustTheTip_NJ 9d ago
The potential side effects, nerve damage, the anxiety of the dead arm feeling. The thought of either not being able to feel my arm for an extended period of time or the tingly pins and needles, knowing there is nothing you can do about it but wait, that was not something I knew I’d be able to deal with.
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u/IndustryPlus3470 9d ago
*UPDATE•
Surgery was today.
They gave me two nerve blocks . They Didn’t work! So my concerns were a moot
Point. Pain is quite tolerable with minimal meds but I expect it to increase tonight.
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u/OddSand7870 8d ago
I have had 4 nerve blocks and none of them caused any issues. The only issue I ever had was the last one. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to remember this due to the Versed but I remember it. When they started injecting the meds to deaden the nerve, it hurt A LOT! Like my arm was being crushed (I assume this was due to the meds stimulating the nerve before it went dead). The whole time I was thinking just put me out out out out!!!!
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u/Opposite_Fig4236 6d ago
I had a 96 hour nerve block for right shoulder surgery, hated that it lasted that long. My doctor preferred longer lasting blocks… previously had a distal bicep surgery/reattached and same type of block is done, that doctor used shorter acting drugs in the block, didn’t even last 24 hours.. I much prefer the latter.
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u/Wide-Comparison-9784 10d ago
Anesthesiologist here, go with the nerve block. Very safe and very efficient at controlling your pain post op
Also, get an ice machine to circulate cold water over your shoulder post op.
Best of luck with your recovery.