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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> Sphenopalatine Block
        
(Message started by: ruskus on Jul 22^nd, 2003, 11:06am)

Title: Sphenopalatine Block
Post by ruskus on Jul 22^nd, 2003, 11:06am

Hi. I'm new to the site but have had episodes every 4 or 5 years. As I've been taking too much Imitrex this time, my doctor wants to try a sphenopalatine block. All I know is that she uses a q-tip up the nose with Pontacaine (from the Lidocaine family) to numb the gaglion nerves. Anyone with more info or experience with this? Thanks.

Russ

Title: Re: Sphenopalatine Block
Post by cathy on Jul 22^nd, 2003, 1:00pm

Hi Russ and welcome to the board, sorry your a sufferer, I don't know anything about this med...but bumping it up in the hope that others may...PF vibes to you.

Cathy :)

Title: Re: Sphenopalatine Block
Post by oringkid on Jul 22^nd, 2003, 1:07pm

Sounds a lot like lidocaine up the nose... which has been tried. I think however that any "caine" type of anesthetic that will be applied with a q-tip would only afford short term relief.

But, hey, might help some. Question though... is this something you will have the doc do or will you be able to do it? Cuz if you are like me... you can get up to 8 attacks per day.... will you have to go the doc each time you get attacked? Or will the doc show you how to do it?..... OR.... does the doc think that one application will PREVENT your attacks? (Hope I'm wrong, but I think that would be highly unlikely)

Sherry

Title: Re: Sphenopalatine Block
Post by don on Jul 22^nd, 2003, 1:11pm

Just curious.

Does the Doc think the caine is more affective than trex?

Does he think a sufferer will be more conservative with it's use because it is more affective?

Is he using this therapy in combination with the trex?

I'm not knockin the treatment, it might help, but.............

If it were me I would jam pack my nostrils with the stuff and duct tape my nose closed.

Title: Re: Sphenopalatine Block
Post by Ted on Jul 22^nd, 2003, 1:15pm

Hey Ruskus. I had it done twice. The first time I was in a very long heavy cycle and a few days before the block my light cycle began. However, my light cycle lasted 2-3 months after having it done, which is incredibly long for me. That could be a coincidence or it could have been the procedure. However, I had it done a second time a while later and there was no difference in anything so it definitely had no effect that time.
What I will tell you is that I had it done at Brigham Woman's Hopital at their pain mgmnt center in Boston and I was told by the neuro that liquid cocaine has the best chance of working over any of the lidocaines.

Title: Re: Sphenopalatine Block
Post by Ted on Jul 22^nd, 2003, 1:19pm

Hey Don, it's a procedure you have done to try and break a cycle or at the very least, diminish it some. It's not used as an abortive though so any of the abortives (I think) should e fine to use after it.
Oh yeah. And Rusk? I remember reading up on it before having it done and the research points to it not helping most clusterheads. But it has no side effects and it's worth a shot in case you're one of the small percentage of us it would help.

Title: Re: Sphenopalatine Block
Post by oringkid on Jul 22^nd, 2003, 1:21pm

So Ted, is it a topical anesthetic? Wouldn't that wear off fairly quickly?

Sherry

Title: Re: Sphenopalatine Block
Post by Ted on Jul 22^nd, 2003, 1:28pm

WHat they do is take a large q-tip that's got the cotton soaked in liquid coke. They slowly slide it deep inside you... sorry. Mind wandering... inside your nose until it reaches the very back of your face and let it sit on the sphenoplatine ganglion for about 15 minutes. The idea, from what I was told at least, is to numb it for (I forget exactly how many hours/day it remains numb) a while and hopefully it resets your system. Kind of like the shroom analogy, but with fewer success rates.

Title: Re: Sphenopalatine Block
Post by ozzman on Jul 22^nd, 2003, 1:29pm

I mentioned the lidocaine treatment to my Doc, and he said that it actually doesn't work very well, but he said if I wanted to try it at home next time I could do it myself. I said how? He took one long gigantic q-tip and push it in. When I thought he couldn't possibly push it any further... he kept going. It felt like he was going to hit tear gland!!

Well one day, I had run out of Imitrex and drove home from work in the middle of a major Kipper (not fun, but that is a differnt tread). In the meantime my wife went to get some Trex samples from the Doc. Not knowing what else to do, I said the hell with it! I took some baby Orajel and put on a Q-tip AAAAALLLLL the waaaaaay in!. It didn't do squat! I kept banging my head until my wifey got home. I did smell like Cherry Orajel all afternoon ;D

Ozzy

Title: Re: Sphenopalatine Block
Post by ruskus on Jul 22^nd, 2003, 1:34pm

My doctor wants to try and cut back on the amount of Imitrex I am using per day, everyday and hopes that the block might help to end my current episode. She said it won't hurt to try. We'll see what happens.

Russ

Title: Re: Sphenopalatine Block
Post by ruskus on Jul 22^nd, 2003, 1:38pm

Found some info on this:

The sphenopalatine ganglion may be blocked topically by using a cottontipped applicator soaked in lidocaine, bupicavine or cocaine. The applicator is passed through the nares along the middle turbnate until it comes in contact wit the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. This is level with the zygomatic arch. The applicator is left in place for about 30-45 minutes to obtain a block with local anesthetic.

This treatment modality has provided pain relief in-patients when conventional pharmacologic therapy has been ineffective. Current literature shows relief of 30 to 100% and lasting for 6 to 34 months. Additionally, there are case reports of trigeminal neuralgia, herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and patients suffering form intractable pain from cancer of the tongue and floor of the mouth that have received pain relief. RFTC of the SPG is a valuable technique in treating the above conditions.

Title: Re: Sphenopalatine Block
Post by CJohnson on Jul 22^nd, 2003, 3:08pm

Go for it. Let us know how it goes.

PFDANs
-Curtis