Community Chat

[hckynut]

On 4/21/2014 moonstone dunes said:

Hi Lotus, I have the same Dx, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease. It got worse 5 years ago. I went to a neurosurgeon. First he had me do PT but it didn't help[ so I went for a series of cortisone shots - they like to do a series of 3. I had an MD, an Anesthesiogist he was excellent. He used some type of imaging thing and it was painless. I had three shots spaced over 6 weeks. I had no side effects but did have to lie face down after each shot for at least 4 hours, so I had them in the afternoon.

I overdid some exercising because my back was happy after it but all the activity rendered the shots useless. Pace your activities because you will feel better...just take it easy because the shots are treatment not a cure.

I will tell you something I told a real old friend of mine that didn't like to see doctors. He was oft injured from playing goalie in my adult ice hockey league games. A lot of times he would say to me "it feels a lot better so I am ready to go". My reply:

"You can break a leg and they can give you painkillers so it feels better, but your leg is still broken". The same is true of any pain relief med or surgery or procedure. Sure a person feels better as time passes by and because of the pain relief. But relief from pain never means a person is "ready to resume" their former activity safely.

Ever hear of "secondary injuries"? That is yet another result of someone that has something injured and expects another part of the body to carry the load of that injured part. Many times the "secondary injury" ends up being much worse that the injury that started this kinda domino effect.

Just sayin'

[hckynut]

On 4/21/2014 sfnative said:

I had one and did not have a positive outcome. However, 4 months later I had an MRI and THEN we found out why. My L5-S1 was so bad, nothing but surgery was going to make it better.

Please know that I have 3 friends who had successful epidurals. Had great pain relief that lasted from 3-4 months. So happy for them, as they were all in need of something to work for them. I only know of one other person in my little world who did not have a positive result and his low back case turned out to be as complex as mine, so in the end, no surprise there.

I had no side effects whatsoever and neither did my friends.

Wishing you well in your quest to decrease your levels of pain.

Hi sfnative,

I can't imagine any doctor that specializes in the spine doing anything without first having an MRI done. As I have said here many times, 2 of my hockey players are Ortho doctors with 1 of them a Spinal Specialist.

Ain't no way either of them would start any invasive procedure, which a Caudal Block or Epidural certainly would be. I had a ruptured my L-5/S-1 decades ago and they did a Myelogram before they would even consider any other invasive procedure.

Hopefully your surgery turned out as good as mine.

[birddrops]

On 4/21/2014 hckynut said:

On 4/21/2014 sfnative said:

I had one and did not have a positive outcome. However, 4 months later I had an MRI and THEN we found out why. My L5-S1 was so bad, nothing but surgery was going to make it better.

Please know that I have 3 friends who had successful epidurals. Had great pain relief that lasted from 3-4 months. So happy for them, as they were all in need of something to work for them. I only know of one other person in my little world who did not have a positive result and his low back case turned out to be as complex as mine, so in the end, no surprise there.

I had no side effects whatsoever and neither did my friends.

Wishing you well in your quest to decrease your levels of pain.

Hi sfnative,

I can't imagine any doctor that specializes in the spine doing anything without first having an MRI done. As I have said here many times, 2 of my hockey players are Ortho doctors with 1 of them a Spinal Specialist.

Ain't no way either of them would start any invasive procedure, which a Caudal Block or Epidural certainly would be. I had a ruptured my L-5/S-1 decades ago and they did a Myelogram before they would even consider any other invasive procedure.

Hopefully your surgery turned out as good as mine.

.

[sophiamarie]

On 4/21/2014 hckynut said:

Some of us had reasons we could not and cannot take pain pills and I am one of them. Partially because of some health issues, but mostly because I do not like how they effect the thing that sits on top of my shoulders. I would rather put up with some pain than that option.

As I said, I have had numerous injections in many parts of my body including my lower spine/upper spine/shoulder and elbow, and they were all done by doctors that "did not hit a nerve" because they knew what they were doing. Sure some of them were not as comfortable as taking a nice warm shower, but none of them were "legs flying off the table" either.

Can't clump everyone into the same box or maybe basket. Some have reasons for not taking certain pills and I have several of them.

Maybe if you took a pill or two, you might be able to identify that thing that sits on top of your shoulders......

BTW - there's "pain" and then there's "PAIN"....

[lulu2]

About 7 years ago I had a series of 3. They gave me little relief so I chose not to continue with them.

[Lotus]

Thanks again for the replies.

My lower back pain and outer hip pain was/is bad (for me)....and I think I have a pretty good tolerance for pain. I got sick of tolerating it though. I could not walk far w/o having to rest due to the pain in my lower back. I relied on a shopping cart (whether I needed it or not) when I would go to any store that provided them. Holding on took some pressure off of my back.

Saturday I went for a walk and had very little pain....and I went again today. My hips bothered me today, but the back seemed "ok".....not great but OK. And right now I'll take "ok"....LOL

[Abby Grace]

Lotus,

I'm always afraid of pain pills & becoming addicted. Chronic pain is a nasty beast. I've had several of these injections, although none in the last year, but would definitely have them again if needed. I have a MRI/tests/diagnosis, and a DR that I trust.

I'd like to mention that I was given a choice to be sedated, or not, so I choose not to be sedated. There is a definite "pinch/sting/pressure", and you will feel the "medicine going in", you must remain still. My only side effect was being a bit 'hyper" for about twenty four hours. I discussed with my DR, and he said some people have this reaction.

Good luck Lotus, in your search for pain relief.

[bikerbabe]

On 4/21/2014 sophiamarie said:

On 4/21/2014 hckynut said:

Some of us had reasons we could not and cannot take pain pills and I am one of them. Partially because of some health issues, but mostly because I do not like how they effect the thing that sits on top of my shoulders. I would rather put up with some pain than that option.

As I said, I have had numerous injections in many parts of my body including my lower spine/upper spine/shoulder and elbow, and they were all done by doctors that "did not hit a nerve" because they knew what they were doing. Sure some of them were not as comfortable as taking a nice warm shower, but none of them were "legs flying off the table" either.

Can't clump everyone into the same box or maybe basket. Some have reasons for not taking certain pills and I have several of them.

Maybe if you took a pill or two, you might be able to identify that thing that sits on top of your shoulders......

BTW - there's "pain" and then there's "PAIN"....

Sophia many heavy duty pain meds like morphine have neurological side effects and make you fuzzy brained. Also pain meds alone are not enough if the damage is bad enough.

[sophiamarie]

On 4/21/2014 bikerbabe said:

Sophia many heavy duty pain meds like morphine have neurological side effects and make you fuzzy brained. Also pain meds alone are not enough if the damage is bad enough.

I'm certainly not advocating morphine and I am well aware of neurological side effects of certain narcotics. But, pain pills are prescribed for a reason for some people and those who go to Pain Management Clinics are going for a reason. I would guess they are in chronic pain. As you can see, most of these posters are getting shots and I'm not seeing anyone saying "it's a miracle".... - If they can get some relief with a pain pill, then I am all for it. Nobody should have to suffer with chronic pain if they can help it. JMO - I also know these doctors are in the business of alleviating pain, either with shots and/or pills. That's why they are called "Pain Management".....

[birddrops]

On 4/21/2014 hckynut said:

On 4/20/2014 sophiamarie said:

So, nobody takes pain pills - just shots w/o being sedated. Legs flying off the table when he hits a nerve????? Really????? And you still go back to him????

Some of us had reasons we could not and cannot take pain pills and I am one of them. Partially because of some health issues, but mostly because I do not like how they effect the thing that sits on top of my shoulders. I would rather put up with some pain than that option.

As I said, I have had numerous injections in many parts of my body including my lower spine/upper spine/shoulder and elbow, and they were all done by doctors that "did not hit a nerve" because they knew what they were doing. Sure some of them were not as comfortable as taking a nice warm shower, but none of them were "legs flying off the table" either.

Can't clump everyone into the same box or maybe basket. Some have reasons for not taking certain pills and I have several of them.

Excuse me John, I will assure you that my doctor knows exactly what he is doing. He is an anesthesiologist and is rated one of the top doctors in the United States. My procedures are done under flouroscope and the medication is injected straight into the nerve on either side of the spine.

Perhaps I was exaggerating with the "legs flying off the table" remark. When the needle goes into the nerve my leg jerks up. It can be somewhat uncomfortable and since he does it twice he prefers me to be lightly sedated since I have reached for my back one or two times and as you know it is a sterile field and he does not want my hand back there.

That was a very rude remark regarding my comment and my doctor and I shouldn't have to be writing this now. Say what you want about me but leave my doctor out of it.