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| I have been out of work since right after Christmas with back problems. I've been to doctors (osteopath and neuro surgeon) hospital ER's, had an MRI and am finishing my 3rd week of physical therapy, and its now been suggested by my physical therapist that I think about having an epidural injection of steroids along a nerve root in my low back, as well as in the SI joint of my left hip. (I still have to see the neuro again before I decide).
Have any of you had any epidural injections and if so, what do you think of having it done? Side effects?
This sounds like it could be either a one time thing, or a life long process depending on how it works for me.  |
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| Jack, the funny thing about a back problem is knowing exactly what is wrong. I started having back problems in 1989. I went to MD's, emergency rooms, clinics and chiropractors. All gave me different answers as to what is causing the pain. A few years ago, I got fed up with all the unknowns and had an MRI. I ended up having a bulging disc. L5 S1 to be exact. The MD suggested surgery. The chiropractor suggested continual adjustments. Well to make a long story short, I went with the adjustments. However, I did take the advice of the Save a Back program I was offered at work. Which included back exercises to strengthen the back muscles which were weak and the cause of the majority of my problems. The exercises are easy and effective. I use to have my back go out a couple times a year. Now since the exercises and adjustments, my back only gives me problems once every other year. Andf that is probably attributed to me not doing my exercises. I see a chiropractor about a dozen times a year. I've never had nor heard of epidural injections. First make sure you know what the problem stems from. Get a second opinion. Then go from there. The most important part is finding out exactly what is wrong with your back. Don't take one persons advice. Get the facts! Good Luck! |
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Location: Manitowoc, WI | Sorry Jack! The last post was mine. Forgot to log in. |
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| I had my L4/L5 - L5/S1 operated on 3 years ago. The course of action was physical therapy, oral steroids, epidural steroid injection, surgery (double laminectomy) . You have to exhaust all your options for relieving pressure on your sciatic nerve before finally going through with the surgery.
The epidural injection is not fun. When that steroid hits your nerve every limb in you body will go ice cold. Very strange feeling. I know alot of people who have gone thorough that course of treatment. I have yet to meet (myself included) anyone who was cured by it.
Three years later my back feels good, still have occasional slight nerve irritation, but since there is no lamina to pin the nerve against, you know it is happening but it's not painful like before. The key after surgery is to do your core muscle exercises EVERY DAY.
Good luck, I would not wish the pain of sciatica on anyone. |
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| Jack,
I know very little about back treatments... But, a former Special Forces guy who is a good friend of mine has/had severe back problems (bad landings, etc. as well as a couple of bullet wounds bnear the spine). He finally ended up at the Mayo clinic and happily they got it right... What a difference the right diagnosis and the right treatment made in his life.
Perhaps you might want to look into a referral.
My thoughts and prayers are with you; and keep me posted... us "old guys" spend half our days discussing what works poorly or not at all... my list of meds is pretty extensive. |
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Posts: 701
Location: upper michigan | I was fotunate to have a good chiropracter who knew he had done everything he could to help me. He was the one that ordered my MRI and it was him that forwarded the images to the back surgeon. I had a hurniated disk cant remember wich one. But I have permanent nerve damage part of my left leg is still numb 4 years after surgery. But my back problems are almost non existent today and I would do it again tomorow if I had another hurniated disk. My brother also suffered from the same back problems I did and I was able to talk him into seeing the surgeon and he had his surgery and today the only thing he can say is why did I wait so long. We both had our surgery at the Aurora bay care in Green bay and I highly recomend them. |
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| Jack,
First off... I feel you pain. 12 years ago I had a growth inside my lower spine that made getting dressed impossible, and walking broke me down in tears. For 6 months I saw several doctors and got a different answer from each one. After seeing me lying on the floor working on my back, my boss took me to see his friend @ Appleton Medical Center. After an instant MRI, the blockage was discovered and surgery was immediately scheduled for the next day. I can see why people get addicted to drugs because the stuff they gave me put me in a state of relaxation I have never experienced. After 5 1/2 hours under the knife, I was finally relieved of the pain. It took me almost a year to recover, but I have never looked back. Severe lower back pain should not be treated by a Chiropractor... insist that your MD get you an MRI and then get a second opinion from the best neuro surgeon you can find. And make dam sure you understand what area they specialize in. Out of the 5 Doctors I saw, I got 5 different answers. I thank God every day that my boss had the right connections. After surgery, my Doc told me that if they had not operated on me, I would not be walking today.
Good Luck in your search and keep looking until you get the answer you trust. Ask for referrals.
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| Jack,
Six years ago I had the same problem. Bulging disk in my lower back causing shooting pain down my leg. I had the epidural injection into the disk that was giving me the problems. The actual procedure was a piece of cake. I got off the table and for the first time in a year and a half with no pain in my back and leg whatsoever. Being pain free only lasted for about a hour. My injection only reassured me that the pain was caused by that particular disk that the injection was given in.
I never had to have surgery. I credit chiropactic care and exercise to my recovery. Hang in there, it will work out in the end what ever your decision is.
Jeff |
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| I have a bulging disk in my neck (C5 and C6) and have had since last fall 3 epidural injections in my neck to cure the aching and sharp pains down my right arm/shoulder aned neck. These pains have been happening for ever a year now, and have seen a neurosurgeon who reccommended the shots before optioning for surgery. My last series of shots gave me apprx. 5-6 months of pure relief.
Now, I am having the same pain again, and it is severly limiting, sometimes I cannot even sleep or lay down, much less do some other things....I am getting a fourth injection next month, and hope to be pain free for at least 6 months. Surgery is just a little too sever of a thought for me at this time, but it may be right for you. I was told that if I opted for the surgery, they fuse together the two vertibrae (sp?) in my neck to make one, and the nerve that is being pinched by the disk/spurs will no longer be causing me the pain in my arm and shoulder, but, he warned me that movement may be limited in my neck, say from side to side, and I may not like that. So, he reccommended the shots first to see if they work for me. 6 months of pain free for apprx $500.00 out of pocket is OK for me right now, but if I have to continue this for my lifetime...!!!! we are talking serious $$....it is a tough decision.
For me, and this time in my life, I cannot be "down" for months recovering after surgery in my neck...so I am trying the shots. They seem to work for a while...it varies from person to person, I think. My Dr. told me that sometimes the epidurals can keep the pain away for years on some people.....didnt for me though! Good luck! Even typing on my computer or driving my truck makes my neck and arm hurt...it is NOT fun by any means. And, any surgery has it's risks. Good luck, and I wish you the best. When you find your answer, let me know!
Dave |
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Location: Campbellsport WI | Jack, I had surgery on my lower back Sept. of 05. L5 S1 to be exact. I went to a chiropractor for 6 months with no success then decided to get an MRI. Sure enough I had a bulged disc which was hitting my nerve that sent severe pain down my left leg.
My opinion is there is no chiropractor out there that is going to fix a bulged disc. I had three injections in my lower back. The first one hurt like hell and I wanted to get off the table and punch the doctor. The last two I had them sedate me and didn't feel anything.
The pain went away for about a month and then was back. They wanted me to do all this physical therapy crap, so I tried it and didn't work.
Long story short, I had the surgery, was a one hour procedure, didn't have to stay overnight or anything but I was looped up pretty good.
Was sore for a while but I was bowhunting by early October, probably shouldn't have but didn't hurt anything.
It's now about a year and a half later and I feel great. I would do the surgery in a heartbeat if it happened again. I did have residual pain for a while but the doctor told me I would because my nerve had to heal.
Ultimately it is up to you but I would maybe try the shots and if they don't work get sliced and move on with your life.
Good luck |
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Location: Colgate, WI | Dave,
Your doctor will give you more then three shots? They only told me I could have three. I have the same problem as you. I have had it for over two years. I was scheduled for surgery before they found another problem in my spine. All I know is I lost 60% of my strength in my left arm and 40% in my right. It will not get better with the shots, it will just give you a short fix. My biggest fear was being in a tourney and catching one more bad wave and then having my body collapse because the disc crushed the nerve.
I hope you have great luck with your problem, but don't wait to long. |
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| My neck problems continue. WHen I stated that my Neuro Surgeon allowed 4 shots, I was counting 3 that I had ealier (two in July/August 06) and one in Jan 07, and now my fourth in March 07. They say they will allow 3 a year, so, technically, I only had two in 06 and will have had two in 07 next month. They will likely not allow me more than 3 this calendar year which sucks, since I have had these two so early in the year.....what happens if I need more later in the year??!!
I am expecting him to suggest the sugury, which fuses together my C5 and C6 vertebrae in my neck...to eliminate my shoulder/neck and arm pain. This pain is caused by the nerve being pinched by a bulging disc in-between these two vertebrae. Today, I could not look down without shooting pain down my neck and arm...this is really an aggravating and painful thing to deal with, and very very frustrating. People do not understand about my pain, and tell me I have muscle spasms etc...do therapy...masssage.....actually, I HAVE done physical thera[y and spent a thousand dollars doing it...for nothing (how is a masage and therapy going to repair a bulging and hernated disc?)..but I did it anyway 'cause the dr. told me to...then I did the MRI...then the steriod injections began...this last one did not do a thing at all to relieve my pain...I am really disappointed. I now take a muscle relaxer and a pain reliever to help me through the days, but I do not want to be on these as they make me REALLY sleepy and drowsy.
I do not know what else to share with you except that I hope that your Dr. knows what you need and that you have insurance! Bless you and take care. I feel for you. (How amd I going to fish this spring and summer???!!!! I am a right-hander!!!! I couldnt cast a lure left-handed if I tried! UUUUUUUUHGGGGGGGHH! |
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Location: Colgate, WI | Dave,
Hang in there! I truely feel your massive pain because I live it everyday. There are no drugs that help me. My surgeon told me I will probably lose all the strength and feeling I already lost for good. I hope I can still fish, I know my days of tourney fishing might be done for a while. You don't want it going bilateral like mine did, then you get all the pain and numbness in both arms.
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Location: Jackson, Wisconsin 53037 | Dave and Stinger. I know how you both feel. Stinger Dave is right, you can only get 3 shots a year. I did it for 5 years, before I finally had my spinal fusion back in Oct. They fused L4, L5, S1. If you would have asked me a month ago about the surgery, I was saying I wish I wouldn't have had it done. Now I am glad. Right now I have muscle spasms all the time, but the pain in the spine is gone and the numbness is gone. The doct. told me the best I would ever be is 80% better, the worst I would be is 50% better. Back in Oct. I was to the point where 50% was going to be okay for me. I am always going to have pain, but it's not as bad as it was. I feel for you both,Nobody knows how back and neck pain, with the numbness feels, until you go through it yourself. I put off surgery for almost 10 years.
Good luck to you both, |
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