St. Mike’s Pain Clinic, Toronto

[Ieva]

We had a great appointment with the Pain Clinic physicians yesterday. Malcolm received a thorough history and examination, to diagnose the pain Malcolm has been experiencing since his neobladder surgery and chemo, 2011.
They believe the source of the pain is permanent “disruption” to the somatic autonomic nervous system, located low in the pelvic cavity, just infant of the coccyx. We are waiting for an appointment for a nerve block. Keep you posted.

[auntybevy]

Sorry to hear that Malcolm is experiencing pain now since his neobladder surgery in 2011. Wishing him a speedy appointment and the treatment he needs to alleviate his pain.
All the best
Bev

[Jack Moon]

Hoping the docs can find a way to relieve the pain.
Please keep us posted,
Jack

[Ieva]

Thanks Jack and Aunt Bevy! Malcolm has had this pain since his surgery and augmented by the chemo. Just the “luck of the draw”. The pain medications have decreased the pain (taking them since 2012), but affect his quality of life. Hopefully, the nerve block will be the beginning to end Malcolm’s pain.

[Ieva]

Nerve block did not work. Doc said it may take several tries to “hit” the precise spot, even though the injection is done via X-ray. Next appt within a month.

[Rick B]

Best wishes Malcolm. Hoping and praying for the best outcome in that the Doc will find the precise spot at next appointment.

God Bless.

Rick

[Ieva]

Malcolm is now being scheduled for a superior hypogastric nerve block.

[marysue]

Best Wishes for Malcolm, Ieva! I sure hope that this works. What is it exactly?

[Ieva]

Thanks Marysue. My understanding is that the superior hypogastric nerve provides sensation to the perineal area. The hope is that by blocking its ability to provide sensation (like freezing), Malcolm’s pain should stop. This pain has been quite debilitating for him for these 5 years. It limits how often, and how far he can walk, as well as interfering with sleep.

[SJay]

An interesting read on dealing with chronic pain is in chapter 1 of Norman Doidge’s book “The Brain’s Way of Healing”. I’m not sure how valid all the ideas he presents are (he is fairly uncritical of alternative therapies, I’m much more sceptical) but if it sounds interesting you might want to discuss it with the professionals you are seeing. Hope it works out for you and your husband.

[Author]

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