Has anyone had to have epidural steroid injection for back pain? Need advice!
Just wondering if anyone has had an epidural steroid injection for low back pain? I had a back injury as a child which being overweight has not helped, as well as narrowing of the spinal canal due to aging-I'm 45- and my dr, who I trust very much, is advising to have the injection. The pain I have is intense from my low back to my feet and I'm living on advil. Hard to bend over or stand for a long time, but, of course, I can't just sit around all day, because I homeschool two boys and would just gain even more weight if I didn't move around some! I really have a big fear about this injection, because when my first was born, I had to have a c-section and the epidural got pushed too far, making it a spinal which then went up and I nearly died from suffocation. Second c-section, they would only do general anesthesia. Soooooo, I'm kinda scared to have an injection in my spinal area again and would love to hear from anyone who knows anyone who's had this done successfully.
I haven't had the injection, but do have a history of lower back pain (two bulging discs in my lower back and degenerative disc disease). Have you gotten a second opinion? If you are scared of the injection, a second opinion could not hurt. If the second opinion is also for the injection then you could go into the procedure with a little bit more peace of mind
BTW with the bulging discs in my back, laying down is the worst thing I can do. Getting up and walking around helps keep the core muscles in shape which in turn helps the muscles to support the weight that my discs cannot support. Also losing weight helped TREMENDOUSLY. I know this isn't the same problem you have, but just thought I would share!
I had one last year.Two herniated discs.The relief for me was immediate and I have not had a relapse.I didn't even mind the injection,god know the pain I had been suffering was far worse.
I had a series of three last year and they helped dramatically.
I have two areas of severe stenosis and two herniated discs and was having trouble walking and driving, let alone exercising (quite necessary for weight maintenance!). So I didn't really have a choice.
Let me reassure you that the injections are nothing - not at all painful. No anesthesia or even Tylenol was necessary during or after. There isn't anything to be nervous about, really! I was back in the gym the next day doing the elliptical and lifting weights (I would have gone the same day but the doctor said no ).
My husband (who is obese) inherited a degenerative joint and bone condition he inherited from his mother. His mother is at a pretty healthy weight (she would like to lose about 15 lbs). The doctors have told my husband that losing weight might slow the progression of the disease, but won't stop it. Both my husband and his mother have had dozens of spinal injections of several types. The ones my husband had most recently involved feeding a flexible needle up the length of the spine and injecting the drug at different points along the spine. He had to have his without the normal anasthetic, because it is almost impossible to give him an IV. The first time he had it done, I drove home, but with later shots he was able to drive home.
Because his is a degenerative condition, the shots were more effective when he first started having them. Since the shots he was getting can only be given 4 to 6 shots in a year, he stopped having them done when the shot started wearing off faster.
I had it done in November. I have four degenerative lumbar discs, with leg numbness and sometimes shooting pain down my left leg. My shot worked fabulous for the numbness/pain from hip to mid thigh. They said they didn't give me enough and wanted to schedule another shot before the end of the year but we ran out of time.
Now I have different insurance, I'm out of the muscle relaxer the previous doctor had prescribed, and frankly I'm ready to scream. That shot improved things so much as soon as I can get the new doctors up to speed I hope, I HOPE to get another stronger epidural!
Thanks for the input. I think I will ask another dr I know what his opinion is-he's also familiar with my back issues. I'm glad to hear good endings! Hugs to you all!
Again, I say thanks to everyone who replied when I first asked about epidural injections. After getting a second opinion, I went ahead and scheduled the injection, but with still some reservations. Even as I was being prepped for the injection after talking at length with the anesthesiologist about my history, I was thinking I should just back out, as I have learned that Murphy's Law applies to me regarding medical procedures. Well, apparently the initial location they chose for the injection was "too tight" which they only found out while I was screaming in pain (a first for me! and I went 3 hours after my first c-section with no pain relief, due to a pharmacy mix-up!) when they stuck the needle in a nerve bundle and my leg felt as if I'd been electrocuted, then started burning like being on fire. Of course, then my bp went sky-high and nausea hit, so they pulled out the needle so I could lay down. After I was ok to sit up again, they did the injection in the next lumbar space higher hoping the meds would drop to where they were needed. That was 11 days ago and my leg & hip still hurt, with numbness, tingling, and hot and cold spots below the knee. Now, the dr that did it thinks maybe it should never have been done, as I probably need surgery. Like that's ever going to happen! Just needed to get this out-it's been a couple rough weeks-we also had to take our youngest to the ER a couple days later-thought it was appendicitis, but found out it was mesenteric adenitis, which is often mistaken for appendicitis, even to the point of surgery, but a cat scan identified it. Thank goodness! Our medical bills are going to put us in the poorhouse...........Lost 2 more pounds though!! Something good comes from everything.
I see that you already went though with this. But my best friend has actually been getting these for about 6 months due to some crushed discs from an old car accident. However due to weight gain associated with the steroids, she's coming off the shots. She was put under IV sedation each time she did it (once a month) and would have this terrible swelling that looked like a hump on her upper back. She went from 125 to 152 in just a few months, she's so miserable about it. She needed more pain meds for the actual injection site than she needed for the back pain itself!
I hope they find something else to help your friend. I can't imagine going through that for six months. It's terrible to be on steroids for that long too. She'll be in my thoughts and prayers.
When it rains, it pours, my dear. I'm so sorry to hear it didn't go well for you, I hope they get everything figured out soon. Please do keep us updated and let us know you're alright!
Renni, I am so sorry you had such a bad experience! My injection I was laying face down, and they used some kind of x-ray to make sure the needle was in the proper place. They even gave me a copy of the x-ray showing the needle in place. Not exactly a great "gift", but whatever!
I had to switch medical plans and all my doctors on 1/1 because, frankly, the old plan was just TOOOOO expensive to stay on. The new "spine specialist" is Chinese and frankly, a bit more into a mix of "classic" and "alternative" treatments. She says shots are a last course of action after everything else has failed. So for me it's a 180 degree change in treatment theories. She put me on Effexor, technically that's for depression but she uses it because it increases the seratonin and something else in the brain, helps with pain management. Then it's vitamins up the wazoo. Seriously, I picked up 4 last night at Costco, $76. I still have to get one other! I'm to drop the Naproxin (the pain med) as soon as possible. And naturally, as if this never occured to me, exercise regularly to build muscle tone and lose weight. It's still way too soon to know if this treatment is going to work or not. But if it does work and it lasts longer than the shot did, I'm all for it. Maybe it would help if you got some second or third opinions, checked out some less invasive options. Nothing to lose, right?
Kappy, thanks for the concern and info. I agree that anything that can be done naturally is best. I had been treating this back condition with chiropractic for about 15 years, with quite a bit of success, until I had a couple falls on ice and also injured my knee-no kneeling, so too much bending from the waist. I probably don't do the exercises as much as I should. I am also researching vitamins, especially D3. Never heard of using antidepressants, but can't do that as I'm one of those who become suicidal when taking them, like they say on the commercials.
I am starting to feel some lessening of actual pain in my leg the last couple days. Still numbness and tingling, but have been able to drastically decrease the amount of advil I had been taking! Saw my dr yesterday and his advice is now to wait another 30 - 60 days and keep eating healthy to keep losing weight. If pain returns, he might recommend another injection, but will send me to a different anesthesiologist to have it done! (Even though the anesthesiologist used a fluoroscope to guide the needle, they still had problems, which gave me big problems! Now, their opinion is that they want to do surgery to fix my back right. Not in this lifetime!)
Thanks, again, and best wishes with your treatment!
Has anyone had to have epidural steroid injection for back pain? Need advice!
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