mjulianne77Due to degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, 2 bulging discs, and anulas disc tear, and severe back pain, my doctors felt like a spinal epidural, in which they injected steroids into my impaired discs, could help me. I had one last September, with moderate pain relief. But I had one about two weeks ago, and it is hardly working at all. Any suggestions?
Has anyone had an spinal epidural to control back pain?
- Posted:
- 20 Aug 2012 by mjulianne77
- Topics:
- pain, back pain, prednisone, scoliosis, doctor
Details:
Responses (11)
Anonymous 20 Aug 2012
Hello mjulianne77, & welcome to the site. I feel for you as I have about the same problems with the lower part of my spine also. The injection is for inflammation, & isn't a cure for buldging discs, scoliosis or an anulas tear. It just a doctors way of hoping it might help as others with your same problem may not suffer pain much at all. Everyone is different, so different results for each one. I am not a doctor, so I can't tell you what's next, but I personally would have a neruosurgeon give you a consult to see if there may be a surgical fix for you or not. You may be facing a lot of physical therapy, suggestions of more of these shots or even surgery if your pain is great. Unfortunately the pain specialists seem to be getting away from using opiate drugs to control chronic pain. You may well qualify, but may have to change doctors if they do not prescribe any such pain meds for your discomfort. Here's wishing you the best, & hoping you recover much better...
bumblebee9020 Aug 2012
Dear mjulianne77,
I agree with Mary. I too have Digenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Stenosis, alot of nerve damage, Bulging discs pressing against nerves, and issues with the sacroiliac joint. I don't think I spelled that last one right at all. But I have had many, and sorry to say they didn't help much. My dr. wants to give me another one. and I said I didn't think so right now. Now this is my own personal experience. I have heard others say it helps. I think it's a case by case deal. I wish you the very best. Just educate youself about it, like writing into here was a great idea. I hope yo get many answer's. Take care, and best wishes. Ruthie
HeadStarter20 Aug 2012
Hi mjulianne - Unfortunately, that is how it goes sometimes. I have had many, many of those over the past 3-4 years. They don't always work but when they do... it is heaven! Have you talked with your PM doc about a neurospinal stimulator to block pain signals to the brain??? I have one of those implanted and attached to my spine... the battery pack in implanted in my buttocks. I have had EXCELLENT results from this and can sleep through the night, finally. I got mine a year ago this month. It is worth investigating. Pain pills alone do not work... PT is helpful and so is aquatherapy or water walking in a warm pool and "hanging" in the pool... it decompresses the spine. Also for me, nerve blocks work better...
Just some thoughts here for you...
Mary
bloggermom20 Aug 2012
Hi Julianne,
I have had several steroidal spinal injections for my chronic back pain. They don't work, in my opinion. But I had to give it a try. I've also had 6 nerves burned (Medial Branch Nerve Ablation) and that did nothing. I have a good pain management specialist and he works with me in determining which pain meds are effective and which are not. I hope you will find something that works to give you at least temporary relief during each day. This is a hard thing for us to endure. You have to stay proactive and keep asking the questions. Blessings upon you.
bumblebee90
21 Aug 2012
Hey bloggermom, I haven't talked to you in a while. How are you??? My pain doctor wants me to have the same thing you're describing, but he calls it Radiofrequency Ablation. Don't have a clue if I spelled that right. I have a few bad issues with my back, but one of the things that is causing the worse pain is a bulging disc that is pressing against some nerves. He wants to go in and burn the nerves. You say that didn't work for you. I am leary to have this done. Before I read your comment about it. He has me on the right pain medicine to kill most of my pain, but I'm afraid any day he will lower it or want me to get off of it if I don't do these other things, like spinal epidurals that I have had many of and have not worked. And the nerve burning. He wants to make money doing these other things, and I don't want them done if they don't work. Is you're doctor pushy like that? Your friend, Ruthie
bloggermom
21 Aug 2012
Hey Ruthie, glad to hear from you. It's true that these guys make their real money using invasive procedures like steroidal injections and the ablation thing you spelled so well. And some people get between 3-6 months of relief from it. My doctor is not pushy but I can tell this is what he enjoys doing: the procedures versus just listening to me whine and then prescribing more meds. I chose to do the radiofrequency ablation because there was a chance. I read everything I could find on it and decided I wanted to try it in the hopes that maybe I would be one of the lucky ones. I was so enthusiastic. The procedure was quite painful for me, despite local anesthesia. They do "test" procedures using short-acting pain injections first. Then two weeks later they do the other side, if it's indicated, and finally the real deal. I believe the doctor makes at least $2000 per procedure, but I could be wrong. And nothing was successful in my case, as you already know.
Oldbookman20 Aug 2012
I cracked a vertebra 8-10 years ago but it healed fine. Then I fell on my butt very badly 4 years ago & slowly developed intolerable lower back pain. I had the epidural steroid shot & the pain disappeared completely & immediately. This lasted for 3+ terrific years until a month ago when the pain returned as before, so I had another shot by the same doctor, but nothing happened. I waited patiently for almost another month & now the pain is almost entirely gone. Even riding in my car on bumpy city streets has not brought the pain back, but I am still apprehensive that it'll return. I know 1 guy who has been getting this shot every 2 years for a long time now, but you don't want to get it done to close together as my doctor says it'll turn that area into mush. Yikes!
C.E.20 Aug 2012
Unfortunately, I had an epidural which caused me to double over in pain on the table, and my upper blood pressure went to 209. It provided me no pain relief at all. Also, after about 6 months, pain returned to the injection area (this is not uncommon) which stayed with me for a couple of months.
I also tried a Litacaine i.v. for possible pain relief, but this also had no affect.
Best wishes in finding something that will help you. Chris
HeadStarter
22 Aug 2012
Hello C.E. - Sounds like they really hit the nerve on that one. And, getting the medication in the right area is key, too. But sometimes they can not get it into the right area. Sometimes it takes a few weeks for the medication to get to maximum benefit, too. Just saying. And, it matters that you take care NOT to do any bending, twisting, lifting and so on for about a week afterwards. I am sorry that one didn't work for you and that you had one of those painful ones.
Mary
C.E.
22 Aug 2012
Thank you, and I hope you will be feeling much better soon!
Anonymous 21 Aug 2012
Hi mjulianne, and welcome. This is a controversial subject. My husband had a herniated disk in his neck, and had very good results with the epidural, BUT, it is NOT a cure. Now his neck is worse, the epidural's are not helping, and after having about 30 of them through the years (they give three a 'session'/year), they are starting to break down all the tissue in his back, and bones. They are injecting steroids into the epidural space. It can help pain, and if it does help for a long time, GREAT!! Just be careful, because pain management doctors are afraid to prescribe meds for pain, they will try anything even DANGEROUS cocktails, or epidurals to control the pain. My husband cannot have another epidural, and it has done more harm now than the help he received over the years. Neither will the PM doctor prescribe him any more pain meds. They just send him back for more epidurals which he rightfully refuses. Just my thoughts on the subject.
Best of luck to you!!
mjulianne77
21 Aug 2012
My word!! Thank you ALL for your very helpful suggestions and advice. I am so grateful that you all took the time to respond to my question. Thank you SO very much for your kindness, support, help, and empathy! I feel truly blessed to have found this site. I don't feel alone anymore. I know, just as you all do, that support, compassion, and genuine empathy go such a long way in how we deal with our pain and illnesses.
God bless you all, and I hope to help any of you just as you have helped me.
THANK YOU!!
With deep gratitude,
Julianne
Anonymous 21 Aug 2012
You are very welcome! We are a great support site, & hope you join us as a permanent member. Your own experiences can help others as well. Here's hoping you get to feeling better, & you pain subsides. Let us know what you decide & if it helps, as that info will help others in your same condition...
ElizaJane2321 Aug 2012
Hi - I have many similar problems as you and started out in pain management with the epidural steroid injections. They didn't help me at all, but it seemed to be something I had to try before they proceeded to something that does: rhizotemy's, or radial frequency ablation - having specific nerves burned in a procedure. These have helped a lot! I had a Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted last Dec and it is helping some too. You might want to consider it - there is a trial first, so you'll know if it helps before you have the surgery. Best wishes - ElizaJane
bnagoh22 Aug 2012
I have had nine epidurals over a period of 5 years with the first three being the best and the last series of three not doing much at all. I had these injections over a period of the last seven years. I went from there to this thing called radio frequency thermocoagulation which the first session I did without going under and I wish I had and the last where they mercifully put me under. Those were not as long lasting and as strong a relief of pain as I thought they would be. The best pain relief I get is from my pain meds opana er. Good Luck.
ps by the way I have similar conditions and I do hope you find a combination that will be effective for you.
Anonymous mjulianne77
22 Aug 2012
Again, THANK YOU ALL so much for your great suggestions and empathetic support. I have decided that I am not going to have this procedure again. I had it done last September, and I had pain relief in 3 days!
However, within this procedure, I am still in a lot of pain, and it's been over 3 weeks since I had it done! My "gut-reaction" is that my doctors have missed something further. In fact, 4 days after this procedure, I pulled a muscle in the very base of my spine ( just by getting out of the bath tub!). The anesthetist who did my procedure told me that it "wasn't a big deal", even though he didn't even order a simple x-ray to look!
Anonymous 22 Aug 2012
Hey Julianne, it sounds as if you also need an MRI. You DO need another doctor. I don't know how old you are, but PM docs hesitate to help someone who is in their 20's, and even early 30's. Just a heads up if you are that young. Also, if Amrix helped you so much, it is just a long acting formulation of a generic medication called cyclobenzaprine, or Flexeril the brand name. What they did was when they realized their patent was running out, they redevised a way to form a new patent on the SAME medication. Flexeril can be sedating, which taking Amrix at night avoids, but Amrix is NOT as strong as the cyclobenzaprine four times a day. So, if you can get through the tiredness, or perhaps it doesn't even make you tired, that is a very inexpensive way to go. I hope that this helps you!! Let us know how you fare, we really do care!
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I should have added that I have had several of those injections, & they never helped, but instead I now have an aracnoid cyst in the spinal canal from having too many injections in too short of a time. Ive always been told, if 3 doesn't help then stop... Mary