Yesterday I got an injection of ropivacaine and clonidine between the L2 and L3 vertebrae on the right side only. It definitely worked.

In preparation for the block, I stopped taking doxazosin the day prior, in order to induce more symptoms on the day of the block than I normally experience. Indeed, the morning of the block I obviously had the core symptoms: hard flaccid penis, raised testicles, no morning wood, etc.

Immediately after the block, I noticed a pleasant, warm flushing feeling all down my right leg and my crotch. This is the telltale sign that a sympathetic block is working, apparently. Anyway, I immediately went home to evaluate. Here are the results:

• Normal flaccid penis
• No raised testicles
• Normal erection and perfect erogenous sensation when masturbating
• No premature ejaculation, with more semen and less seminal fluid upon ejaculation
• I went on a long run (5 miles) with absolutely zero problems. No testicular retraction. Perfectly comfortable.
• Normally when I squat down and stand up really fast, my right testicle will pull up an abnormal amount, much more than the left one (because my inciting injury occurred on the right side). This was completely absent after the block. Like, completely gone.
• I did some cocaine in the evening and found no worsening of symptoms, which is usually the case when I take any form of stimulant.
• No worsening of symptoms from defecating
• No difficulty urinating

It definitely works, guys.

2024-03-29 EDIT: Just wanted to add some details provided by my doctor. Apparently the injection was straight on at L2, not L2/L3.

Here are my doctor's notes detailing the procedure:

PROCEDURE: Right Lumbar Sympathetic Block
DOS: 02/16/24
PRE- PROCEDURE DIAGNOSIS: Pelvic Pain, CRPS I
IDENTIFICATION: The patient is a 28 y.o. adult with a diagnosis as listed above. Written informed consent was obtained prior to the procedure. All questions were answered to the patient's satisfaction in a thorough discussion of the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the above-named procedure. A universal time-out procedure was performed prior to initiation of the procedure.
ANESTHESIA: Local anesthesia
PROCEDURE IN DETAIL: The patient was then brought into the procedure room and placed prone on the fluoroscopy table. Standard monitors were placed and vital signs were observed through the procedure. The area of the lumbar spine was prepped with chlorhexidine and draped in a sterile manner. The L2 vertebral body was identified and an oblique view to the right was obtained such that the lateral aspect of the L2 transverse process on the right was overlying the lateral margin of the vertebral body, and a window was created that was bordered by this transverse process, the vertebral body and the iliac crest. There was significant cranio-caudal tilt in order to visualize this window. The skin and subcutaneous tissues overlying the targeted point were anesthetized with bicarbonated 1% lidocaine using a 27-gauge 1.25-inch spinal needle. We then used a 22-gauge 7-inch spinal needle with a curved tip to advance in a coaxial fashion until well seated. Then we used lateral fluoroscopy to advance the needle past the posterior elements and foraminal depth. We contacted bone on the lateral edge of the vertebral body and sequentially advanced turning the tip laterally and then medially, to allow advancement while hugging the L2 vertebral body, until it was approximately 1 to 2 mm anterior to the anterior border of the L2 vertebral body. At this point we confirmed negative aspiration and injected .5 ml of contrast, which showed appropriate cephalocaudal spread confined to the retroperitoneal plane. At this point we again confirmed negative aspiration and 10 ml of injectate was injected incrementally, which included 0.5 mL 100 mcg/mL clonidine 9.5 mL 0.5% ropivacaine. The needle was restyletted and removed with the tip intact. Hemostasis was easily achieved.
DISPOSITION: The patient tolerated the procedure well without apparent complication. There were no paresthesias during the procedure. The remaining volume of Omnipaque was discarded.The patient was able to exit the clinic in the same fashion in which they had entered, without any new neurologic deficits and with acceptable pain control. Discharge instructions were given by the clinic staff. This procedure was not a worker's compensation case.

This is my spine. The line is the injection needle. The dark stuff coming out of it is the medication (ropivacaine & clonidine).