Epidural shots for lower back pain

texassunflower · ‎06-15-2015

I see pain management for a bulging disc at L4-5 and a herniated disc at L5 -S1. The herniated disc has healed but the disc is compromised. I have Tramadol for pain and usually only take it once or twice a week. Last weekend, I tweaked my back and have had to take it daily. Sometimes I take more than once a day. I will need to get an appointment with pain management but I am pretty sure he will recommend an epidural for the burning pain at base of spine. I have avoided having one so far but I don't like taking all this pain medication. I know there are several people here with bad backs. I would like to know do the shots work and for how long? I am apprehensive about an epidural but really don't want to depend on pain medication to get through the day.

zitawins · ‎02-28-2017

@texassunflower I feel your pain (no pun intended). I have spinal stenosis, which means I don't have much cartilage between discs so naturally there's a lot ot pain at times. I have had a couple of epidurals, but have not found them effective. The pain lessens for maybe a week, but you may be different. What I will say is these are not to be done lightly. A wrong injection spot can result in paralysis, so be sure your doctor is skilled and experienced in giving these.

I manage without drugs, but with the help of PT exercises and CBD oil. My best wishes go to you. I know that intractable pain can be a terrible thing day in and day out.

Keep your spirits high!

GAQShopr53 · ‎07-27-2015

@texassunflower wish I could help you with information on epidural shots for the back as I have only had them during childbirth. My visit to pain management resulted in steroid shots that did not last or help manage the pain. I have tried physical therapy and now considering holistic alternatives.

I have been prescribed some of the pain meds you listed but opted to not take them because of the potential side effects. I am sure someone on this forum will be able to give you some inside advice. I hope that whatever procedure you choose will give you the needed pain relief!

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

I've never taken Tramadol so I don't know what the side effects are, I do know that my back pain was so severe at one time that there is no way that I would only take it once or twice a week and choose to suffer. The only way I would have done that is if there were side effects that were worse than the pain. I have a script for Gabapentin for my back pain, I can only take it at night because it puts makes me very drowsy. But I can get a good night's sleep when my back or any other body part is in pain. As for the pain injections, I did get the epidural steroid injections every 3 months for two years and I got very good results. I went 8-9 weeks without any pain but I could only get the injection every three month and effects began to wear off quicker over time. I was fortunate because the sterioid injections don't work for many patients. The injections are definitey worth a try. You can Google the procedure but it's quick and easy and best of all, the pain is gone immediately. I had mine in the interventional radiology department; you get on the table, they give you a numbing agent in your back. They inject with xray guidance and and you're done. The whole thing took about 30 minutes. Interestingly, my back pain got better after I had my knee replacement surgery. My surgeon said that happened because my gait issues with the bad knee were putting pressure on the nerves of my spine. When I began walking normally, the pressure on the spinal nerves was reduced. I still get back pain but I take Extra Strength Tylenol during the day and Gabapentin at night. Fingers crossed, the injections will give you the relief you need.

PamfromCT · ‎05-22-2014

I am taking CBD oil for back pain, and it has been helping quite a bit. I had a bad reaction from an epidural injection years ago, and one expert told me “there is no way you should ever get another needle in your back.” May I recommend a roll-on called “Pain Bloc 24 hours.” It contains Capsaicin, an ingredient very helpful in pain relief. The only caveat is that it might sting for a short while, and you must wash your hands afterward. It would sting your eyes if you rubbed them without thorough washing anytime you touched the area. But you may likely find the results are well worth the precautions you should take.

alicedee · ‎07-25-2010

Tramadol did nothing for my back pain...Vicodin was the only thing that helped, and it made me so sleepy I only took it in the evening. The pain management clinic at the hospital had me go through a series of 6 epidural steroid shots...one every two months. I only got about 2-3 weeks relief out of each until the 6th shot....,for some reason that one “took” and I’ve been relatively pain-free since then.

Once I wasn’t in horrible pain all the time I was able to be more active. I lost 50 pounds and retired from my desk job....being overweight and sitting all day was tough on my back. I’m able to do anything I want now, and go to the gym most days.

Good luck....back pain is really difficult to deal with. You try to keep living your life, but it’s darned hard when it constantly feels like a knife in your back.

GenXmuse · ‎05-15-2016

I never found tramadol very effective for pain. I’ve had several epidural blocks for back pain with steroid shots and it helped for awhile. It does wear off but it might take the edge off the pain and in some cases extinguish it for awhile.

Drlinda · ‎03-21-2010

DH gave up on pain management and had the spinal fusion surgery. He has been pain free ever since. He would do it again in a heartbeat to be rid of the pain permanently.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@texassunflower. I'm an expert on supposed cures for lower back pain. I've been treated by 3 pain management specialists. I hurt as much today as I did the day I saw the first. One summer I went every two weeks and had epidurals in different locations on different sides trying to find the "sweet spot" that would give me reflief. He finally gave up and said there was nothing more he could do. I've also had radio ablation and every other treatment that might possibly help.

I've taken all sorts of drugs including Vicodin and Methadone. I tried Tramadol but it made me nauseated and so dizzy that I fell. Nothing has helped much.

Long story short, my back only hurts when I stand and walk, usually within 3-4 minutes, so I try to stay off my feet as much as possible. I've seen 4 neurosurgeons over the years, and all have said surgery wouldn't help my condition. Too bad because my back has greatly affected my quality of life. I've learned to live with it but I'm not having much fun.

As I told you previously, we have a lot in common. Too bad we don't live closer as I have a feeling we'd be great friends.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment