Wellness

[Katcat1]

On Friday early afternoon I had my epidural.  They offer an IV tranqulizer but I did not take it.  The Dr. gives you a local injection to numb the area and the numbness is immediate which surprised me.  I like this Dr. because he tells you what he is doing.  Then he told me he is inserting the epidural needle.  I did not feel anything and then he said you may feel pressure in your legs down to your feet.  I only felt it in one leg (my good one).  Someone must drive you and take you home.  I ended up treating my girlfriend (she is my BFF from childhood) to carry out at Portillo's and I ate lunch at home and then took a nap.  When I woke up, I was pain free.  However, I started feeling a little pain later but post op papers said the 2nd day could be painful but then it will get better.  It's over in less than 5 minutes.  So if you are contemplating an epidural it's a piece of cake and nothing to be afraid or nervous about.  I haven't walked normal in quite a few years because of a synovial cyst in my spine pressing on a nerve.  I do have a bulging disc but it was not causing all my pain.

[Goldengate8361]

@Katcat1 so glad you are better! You are one brave woman....I am usually petrified of things like that. You are very kind to share your experience with ever. Take care!

[Katcat1]

@Goldengate8361   Thank you.  It was very nice of you to say that.  Believe me, I am not Ms. Brave but you feel a pinch and the numb medicine is immediate and I mean you are really,really numb.  I think the name of the procedure is more scary that the actual procedure.  Have a great weekend.  I am up because I took that nap earlier but I will get my 7 hours starting shortly.

[KCDiva]

@Katcat1 I have had 3 of them and they are amazing. They relieve pain like magic for me. It does sound frightening but compared to the pain I had I was all in for it. They don't hurt at all. Hope you feel better. 

[fancy pantsy]

thanks for sharing that ordeal because i am certain it will be helpful for someone in your situation!  since you've been unable to walk normally for so long, this sounds like it will provide you wonderful solution ... keep us posted! 

[BunSnoop]

@Katcat1 , glad you're doing well.

I've had two lumbar epidural injections. I asked my doctor how long do they last?  He said from "not at all to a lifetime" as it varies.    So far, it's been 30 years for me, and they're still working.  I had sciatica so bad at the time and so far, it's never came back.  Wishing you well.

[alicedee]

I had 6 in a one-year period....every other month, to try to relieve severe lower back pain.  I would get a couple weeks of relief, then the pain was back.  It was quite debilitating.  I ended up retiring earlier than I had planned because I just couldn't sit at a desk all day anymore.

Finally...the 6th epidural "took".....don't know what was different, but I have been pain free since then.  It's been maybe 6 years.

I wish you continued relief, @Katcat1 .

[Latonya]

I'm glad you had a good experience.  I know many who achieve positive (though temporary) results with these injections.  I must be the only one they've never worked for.  I've had 4.  The injections made my pain worse.  The 3rd one gave me slight relief (I had the IV that time also) but the 4th one escalated the pain like the other 2 did. 

Chronic pain is dibilitating.  Wishing all of you who deal with it, well.  

[Kachina624]

@Latonya    No, you are not the only one.  I went to a pain MGMT specialist one summer every two weeks and had an epidural while he tried to find the "sweet spot" that would give me relief.  I lost count of the number I had until he gave up.  I never got even 5 minutes of relief.

[Goodie2shoes]

best wishes for a speedy recovery