anyone been numbed by Antolak block? (versus houston or LA)

[pianogal]

I don't know if ultrasound is a step backwards in the evolution of injections or not, but I saw a youtube video showing what they see etc and how it can go other places by accident. Of course, this happens with CT guided blocks too. Happened to me twice. I couldn't walk after the injections for prob 15 min. No big deal to worry about, just a minor snafoo. But wonder if ultrasound is really all that great from watching this video, versus fluoroscopy or CT guidance. I don't know which is better actually. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlJp9IXLMyI

[Violet M]

PG, I'm sorry, I am sitting here laughing at the music on the video. It is too funny -- especially at the end!

The interesting thing is, the injection was given at the ischial spine instead of over by the ST/SS ligament where the PN runs and I think where it talks about there not being a pop isn't he saying the person giving the injection should feel the pop of the ligament with the needle before giving the injection so they know they are in the right spot?

Dr. Sheldon Jordan has been using ultrasound successfully for years and you would think there have been some technological advances since then. But I can see what you are saying about it being very difficult to visualize accurately what you are doing -- you would have to have a trained eye.

[pianogal]

yes! the music is hilarious!
I wonder if the blocks given in houston and with filler do ischial spine and if perhaps that's why I got full numbing of my entire pelvis whereas antolak's hardly numbed a thing. I should call and find out.

[Violet M]

It used to be that Houston did the ischial spine for some of the blocks and alcock's canal for some of the blocks but they use CT scan every time. Maybe Celeste can tell us if that's still true. Filler uses open MRI and from what I've read, gives the block where he thinks you need it -- including piriformis area. Antolak, does ischial spine with fluoroscopy and alcock's with CT scan.

I wonder if it's a difference in amount of medication used if your entire pelvis was numb with Houston/Filler but not Antolak, and also, what the diagnostic benefit is if more areas are numb than just the distribution area of the PN? I've read that Hibner's team uses enough medication to get the ischial spine and alcock's area all in one injection.