I went to my PMS (Pain Management Specialist) yesterday (May 1st) and he’s decided that the next step for me will be to freeze the nerves located at/between my 11 and 12 ribs (I could be wrong about the location, terminology, etc.). He said my nerves weren’t responding to the steroids he injected in them (nerve block) but, because the nerves responded to the anesthesia, freezing them should work. This cryogenic process does not “kill” the nerve, but freezes it for a long period of time (after which it wakes up?).
More importantly, I was taking Elavil for insomnia for about 4 weeks, during which time my overall attitude and outlook on life was becoming progressively “dimmer,” (see the post below). I read a CBS News article today that stated the FDA wants to label various antidepressants because they can increase suicidal behavior. I couldn’t agree more, as I experienced this first hand. I’ve never considered suicide, but I was definitely becoming clinically depressed!
Amen to the whole antidepressant experience. I lapsed into a pretty profound depression several months ago and thought I needed meds, but they simply made things worse. I had reached the point of contemplating suicide (now knowing it isn’t unusual for someone with chronic pain and illness), but the meds made me not only more suicidal, but downright aggresive and violent toward others. To think they are prescribing that stuff for people with sleeping disorders is just terrifying!
Sorry to hear your efforts haven’t been paying off. I like the sound of the freezing idea. It isn’t permanent and that way you can get a feel for what other adverse effects may occur should you decide to kill off the nerve. I wish you well with this!
Thank you very much!