Comments on: Epidural Steroid Injection

By: velia

velia — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:49:14 +0000

I had one shot given to me about 4 weeks ago the pain was very mild,went home relax for maybe 1 hour or so went to work the following day, with no pain for only a week, know i need to go back for 2 more shots hope the pain disappears for a while, the problem that i encountered was that i had problems with digestion (constipation ) very bad, i am about to go see my general provider for a strong medication….

By: suzanne thompson

suzanne thompson — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:42:52 +0000

I am scheduled for 3rd series of “transforminal epidurals”,the 1st set-3 epidural shots in a row for lower,L-3,L-4,L-5/s-1,I was lightly sedated the 1st time,approx 10 mos. ago,the results were less pain but not what I hoped for-NO pain,2nd procedure was appeox. 3 mos. ago. This time I was sedated w/I.V. verced and had 4 shots,compared to giving birth-I’d rather have a baby!I am receiving some relief from the series of shots but not enough to have any pain-free life.I had thought the shots would I really hoped I’d be able to live w/o pain meds-I’LL ENDURE THIS 3RD SET ON jAN.10-12 AND AT least lower the meds for a couple of weeks! Just to wake-up with NO pain,forgot what that is it’s been so long!(have degen. disc in lower back from l-2 dwn to s-1,bone spurs in upper and lower back,ostioarthritis in back,hands n knees,had biggest spur on thumb surgically removed March,2011-great results from that,now if the rest could only be that simple!

By: Linda G

Linda G — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:41:24 +0000

Marie, I felt like i was reading my own story. It has been 72 hrs since my second injection and i feel terrible. I too cannot drive or sit. It makes it impossible to work or get ready for Christmas ( 3 kids) I had microdysectomy surgery for l5 s1 12/23/10. It was successful for 8 months and then reherniated. This makes my second Christmas dealing with this. I am considering a second opinion for my condition. I refuse to believe i have to live with this. I am 42 years young!!!

By: Henry

Henry — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:28:36 +0000

I have had four sciatic flare-ups in the last four decades. Each time I thought the pain would be stuck with me for the rest of my life. Each time I went to extremes trying to find a cure. The dumbest think was a chiropracter…wow was that dumb. I had the forture of being a swimming pool physical thereapist for several years where I met the top people in the field of backs. Here are some tips. Be carful stretching hamstrings, it is what often startes the flare-up. Often deep, deep sleep helps. Several valium with lunesta is not dangerous but allows the muscles to relax. I finnaly made it to the top back dorctor in the country, Barth Greene. He is the professor emeratis for the profession. When I finally got to see him he put me on celebrex similar to ibuprophen), told me that when the inflamation disapeared the pain would disapear, and when the pain disapeared the foot drop paralyisis would also disapear. He was right, the rest were wrong. Most backs will heal on their own give time, so don’t over treat. I have no back pain now.

By: Lynda

Lynda — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:20:29 +0000

Had 1st , was fine after 3-4 days. 98% pain free. 2nd one done 5 weeks ago . Have been in pain since thanks to a headache that is worse than the back pain was caused by a puncture to the spinal fluid sac. A blood patch was performed that did no good at all.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:04:39 +0000

I have been getting epidural injections in my lower back for 12 years. I have been told be every Dr. I’ve had that I should only have 3-4 a year. I have only been totally sedated once. Most of the time the sedation is just to relax you. They numb the site of the injection, so the initial needle insertion does not hurt. You may feel pressure, though. When they inject the medicine, it brings my pain to the high level that brings me in for these shots. The pain is only while the medicine is being injected. (My Dr. will inject some, stop, inject more, stop, then finish.) The pain subsides to a dull pain after the injection. Although, sometimes the pain gets worse one day before it gets better, the end result is usually a big reduction in pain. I get a weekly massage for my condition and my masseuse cannot believe how well my body responds.
I am not sure of the long term effects of this procedure, but the relief I get is well worth it. I would not have the amount of pain relief with out these injections. (I do yoga, walk, take medication, use ice alot, get massages and see a chiropractor. None of these things gives me the 1-3 month relief I get from these epidurals)
I have had side effects: a horrible headache, facial flushing and insomnia, but these side effects only happened to me twice in 12 years.
If you are in a high level of pain, I would recommend trying the injection. If your pain level is not high, I recommend trying other options.

By: Marie

Marie — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:24:35 +0000

Matt –
I had an epidural one week ago and am experiencing the same. I have been in bed for over a week and can only lay on my stomach for relief. Can’t sit, stand, drive! It is the worst tearful pain I have ever experienced. Worse than giving births to three children. According to my doctor, the epidural relieved the L4 bulding disk inflamation where the epidural was injected but it just made the nerves from my other 2 buldging disks more irritated. I am on lots of pain medication and 14 day steroid pack which I am still waiting for them to kick in. My doctor says rest, taking pain medication will help the pain subside and eventually building up the muscles in my core area. All I can say, I am desperately waiting for the pain to go away. I have a family and a job that I am not able to take care of and it is Christmas time! My doctor does not recommend me to get another epidural (and at this point, I definitely do not want one) and he did an MRI today which does not warrant surgery so I am not sure what my options are. I know our experience is not the norm but it really stinks!

By: Barb

Barb — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 06:38:21 +0000

Please, PLEASE, PLEASE read about adhesive arachnoiditis before doing epidural steroid injections. Your pain is nothing now compared to what it could be. A progressive disease of your spinal canal.

By: kariemah

kariemah — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 06:40:33 +0000

I’m on face book please try to link up with me .just got intro face book hope to chat to people who suffer from LPHS I’M in South Africa

By: Deanna

Deanna — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:20:58 +0000

And I was not sedated, by my choice. They numbed the area which feels warm with a slight burning sensation followed by the injection. Just think of the person or place that brings you to an inner peace.