Community Chat

[Shorty2U]

Well I guess I am up the creek without a paddle. (Forgive me for my rant)

I have undergone epidural steroid shots in my lumbar spine for 11 years because I have bulges, stenosis, arthritis, nerve damage. I have been through it all (and nothing else worked). But THEY used to work and kept me mobile with just spaces in between them where I suffered until the next injection but had meds to keep me OK till the next one. But not anymore :-(

AND all those years of epidurals have destroyed my hip which has osteo. Osteoarthritis is a side affect of the steroid epidurals. I DID sign a paper before getting every injection so the doctors covered their rears of course. And without them Id have been bed ridden so I guess I have no regrets because for 11 years I had some sort of life after shots.

Anyway, every morning when I get up to come downstairs I pray going down all 17 steps that I will not fall. The pain is excruciating in my hip. I have pain meds, script IB and muscle relaxants. They DO take the edge off for a few hours once I get downstairs and take them then they wear off and I cant move.

So now my next step is seeing a new Neurosurgeon about my back (again), and then an orthopedic Dr for my hip.

They the doctors have DENIED the epidural shots caused this but of course they did because its on the paper I signed for 11 years and also its on the right side and down the leg. (the hip damage and nerve damage) and thats the side the steroids were shot in (middle to right side).

Lastly, they tried to give me strong doses of long lasting meds where as they would last 24 hours, AND I would still also take my current pain med in between. I gave the strong dosed medicine back which I now regret because I am suffering more. So I guess I am going to have to ask for them again. The reason I had given them back is, I have a friend who has a bad back and she ended up in the hospital because of mixtures of the wrong drugs together. She almost died! Thank GOD she is alive to tell about it.

So I hate pills, but Im going to have no choice. Im up the creek w out a paddle. And I pray I dont need a hip replacement. I have 2 relatives (that were older than me) who died after hip surgery when they developed clots.

I guess Im just venting so thanks for reading. And also, IF anyone has been through this Id like to know what helped you if anything? I know one of you posted last week about their back issues but I havent heard anyone mention back AND hip issues to my knowledge.

PS I do have an amazing support system as in my wonderful and amazing husband and my children and grandchildren. My grandchildren have been a BLESSING helping me this summer 3X a week. I am to watch them (2 are teens and 1 is younger) but they ARE helping me. Without all of them I wouldnt be here.

Have a nice day and cherish your health and be thankful for it.