Spinal injections for pain

Mr. Ed

Mr. Ed

Be what you is not what you what you ain’t
Location
Central NY
Yesterday I had lower lumbar steroid injection for pain. Not a very comfortable method for decreasing pain.
 

I've had those several times over the years. My experience has always been that once the numbing has worn off after the cortisone injection, the pain is worse than before for about a week.. then it gradually gets better ...for about 18 months
 
How are you feeling Ed? That shot worked for me. Will be getting one for left knee soon. My knees are going, but not taking me with them!
 

I've had those shots many times over the years....they last
for maybe 6 months, then back to the pain....just a few years
ago my pain doc said I cannot get anymore of them because
there is so much deterioration in my low spine it would do
no good....so I'm stuck with the pain....good luck...
 
The first time I thought it was a miracle, pain free for the first time in years. It lasted for a good 24 hours until the numbing agent wore off (sigh). Second shot I got nothing out of, third shot hurt so badly my bowels almost let loose, but that was because of where the doctor placed the needle. In the end I didn't get the relief I hoped for, but you may get better results.

Hope it works for you, good luck!
 
hawkdon said:
I've had those shots many times over the years....they last
for maybe 6 months, then back to the pain....just a few years
ago my pain doc said I cannot get anymore of them because
there is so much deterioration in my low spine it would do
no good....so I'm stuck with the pain....good luck...
Click to expand...
Hawky that's what my doctor told me after my last one ... said more injections will be of no use....
 
They seemed to me to be stalling tactics the insurance companies insist on before they'll pay for surgery. None helped me, I always wound up with surgeries, and those helped quite a lot.
 
Mr. Ed said:
cannot determine if the shots were helpful,
Click to expand...
Give it a week, more or less. For some people, it works immediately, for others it takes a little while. But it usually does work.

The CDC recommends getting no more than 3 or 4 of these injections per a year, depending on what chemicals your doc uses, the dosage, and the location of the injection, so your insurance won't cover more than that.
 
Forget the shots. I had several myself and they lasted only a short while. Boston Scientific has an instrument out called a Spinal Cord Stimulator. You wear it on the outside of your back for a week and if it takes away the pain, the surgeon implants it. If it doesn't, he disconnects the leads and goes back to the shots.

I was in a terrific accident about 8 years ago now and couldn't get any relief from pills or injections, but this stimulator really does take away the pain. If nothing else, just ask you doctor about it. The success rate is about 90%. You get a week to try it at N/C, except for the surgery to connect the leads to the nerves. It's true name is the Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator. If you want true relief, you should give it a go.

Spinal Cord Stimulator
 
I also fell and injured my back. My first treatment was an epidural, which gave me short term relief. Then, the surgeon tried facet injections and I got the same results. We talked about a spinal stimulator and the surgeon at Walter Reed told me that most any medications, including pills and injections will not cure the pain. They are meant to control the pain during pain management procedures. I have decided to give the spinal stimulator a try in July after the surgeon returns from his 2-month long vacation in Europe.

I will let you know how this works out after the week long trial. The surgeon told me if anyone wants to be a life-long addict, there are pills that are available that can keep pain at bay, but it would be a combination or a cocktail of drugs that may have negative effects, especially on vital organs and would probably shorten a person’s life.
 

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