Anyone Had the Injections Posted: 12-03-07 16:26pm
I had my first outta a series of 3 spinal
injections thursday and I do'nt feel any
different so far . The Doc. who did it
said give it 4-7 days but i'm not sure it
did anything. Just wondering if anyone has
had good results with this procedure?
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RichT
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Injections Posted: 12-03-07 19:20pm
Hello Jaggr,
The "success" of an epidural injection
depends on several factors in my
opinion/experience.
It depends on what is causing the pain.
It depends on what is injected and most
importantly it depends on the
expertise/precision of the person giving
the injection, and of course on the
patient.
In January and again in February of "07 I
had epidural injections of Kenalog (a
corticosteroid) by two different PAs
(physician's assistants). The results
from the first injection were almost
immediate. Within 24 hr I felt like I was
10 years younger. The "effect" lasted not
much more than 2 weeks. Then in February
I had a 2nd injection by another PA.
Positive results for not much more than a
week.
I then had some discussions with my pain
management doctor. He said that the
previous injections I had most likely were
not "delivered" to the specific spot they
needed to be. He encouraged me to try
again and said that HE and HE alone gives
the injections to his patients. He
carefully reviewed the MRIs and then used
a fluoroscope to help him guide the needle
to the exact place it needed to go. To
the very spot of the inflamation causing
the back pain. In the latter part of
April he gave me an injection of lidocaine
(to kill the pain the of the injection),
and Kenalog (a corticosteroid). By that
evening my wife could tell that I was
walking straighter. In about a week the
pain in my leg was gone. In about a month
the tingling sensation in my lower leg was
gone. Today I still do not have any pain
in my leg or that tingling sensation.
A few weeks ago my PM doc gave me a second
Kenalog injection for the lower back pain
that I was having. Within about a day the
pain was less and is still less than it
was.
So have been my experience.
I'm convinced that there are several
factors involved as to whether an
injection is "successful" or not. Without
a doubt (in my opinion) the skill of the
doctor giving you the injection plays a
most important part as to whether the
injection is a success or not.
Be aware that the rule of thumb is ONLY
three injections within a year.
May I ask for what specifically are you
having the injections for? That will help
to better understand the time frame in
which you should notice an effect.
I wish you the best.
RichT
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jinnymc
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 16
Hi Can You Please Tell Me Posted: 12-03-07 19:43pm
hi i had an operation on my back this year
it was an emergency op has my doctor
decied i just had a bad back 9 weeks later
i was still in the worst pain id ever had
and had lost the control of my bowls and
bladder it was horrible i couldnt even
walk anyhow 7 months on had the op im
still in so much pain and still on
morphine i was with my surgeon last monday
who says theres nothing more apart from
the pain clinic and some injections im
scared to death of needles will you please
be honest with me and tell me if it really
hurts haveing these injections i had
morphine injections in my back when i went
away before the operation that was when it
started getting really bad while i was on
holiday and it just got worse any info
would be great im just sickof being in
this pain and want to get my life back to
normal
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RichT
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Posted: 12-03-07 21:47pm
Hello Jinnymc,
It hurt to read your post. I know I can't
even comprehend the pain you are going
through. At the same time I'm very
concerned that you are on morphine which
is so very addictive.
Have you been to other neurosurgeons/spine
surgeons to get their opinion? If not, I
would highly recommend that you do so.
Considering the pain you are in, an
epidural injection will be a piece of
cake.
There was but a very little pain on my
first injection. And that only lasted but
for a few seconds. The injection was to
the bulging disc between L3/L4 if I recall
correctly.
For my 2nd injection my PM doc inserted
the needle through/near my tail bone.
Sounds bad and I thought it would be, but
it wasn't. I barely felt a thing.
Again, get a 2nd and 3rd opinion. You
really need to have the thoughts of other
spine doctors.
Stay in touch.
RichT
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lonestarguy
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Re: Anyone Had the Injections Posted: 12-03-07 22:11pm
jaggr12
wrote:
I had my first outta a
series of 3 spinal injections thursday and
I do'nt feel any different so far . The
Doc. who did it said give it 4-7 days but
i'm not sure it did anything. Just
wondering if anyone has had good results
with this
procedure?
After many injections after seven years of
back pain, I have had success about half
the time. The doctor is correct, it does
take up to three weeks to work sometimes,
but they can last over six months if
successful.
Facet injections later on with pain meds
included did a better job than the
cortisone injections, but I don't know if
your back problems include facets or nerve
pain.
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jinnymc
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 16
Thank You Posted: 12-04-07 20:55pm
hi i know im in a lot of pain but just the
thought of a needle really makes me feel
ill yes im that scared of them its even
that bad i have in in my med records how
scared i am of them i surpose most people
have something in life there scared of it
is the worse fear i have and i know its
stupid but i cant help it im hopeing they
could give me something to sleep before
they do it when they took me down for my
operation they gave me tablets to relax me
i surpose at that point though i was that
bad i didnt care what they did to me
jinny {england manchester}
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lonestarguy
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Face Your Fear Posted: 12-05-07 12:54pm
Jinny--I wish you all the luck as you face
your fear of needles headon. I also have
that fear, although it has been controlled
after my many injections over the years.
I'm assuming you are young and I'm
definitely old, so you are not required to
listen to my advice. I've had probably ten
or more of the back injections (cortisone,
pain meds, etc.) and my advice is ask for
something that will relax you or even put
you under. Have you ever had nitric oxide
at the dentist? Something like that. Call
the pain clinic ahead of time and ask for
a relaxer as powerful as they can give and
reiterate your fear of needles.
The tablets you took prior to your op was
just to keep you from climbing the walls
thinking about what you were going to have
done to your body. You were very relaxed
by the time you got the real anesthesia.
Why do you think it only takes a second or
two counting backwards from 100 before you
are out in the operating theatre?
When I do have the injections, I try to
concentrate on something else. In my case,
I recite poetry back to myself until I get
drowsy. "Kubla Khan" by Coleridge is a
favorite of mine.
So, now you have some stitiches and I'm
assuming you don't want any more and that
you hope the injections give you relief. I
hope so, too, but remember, they are only
temporary and may not work at all. So,
don't get your hopes so high that you are
crushed if the worst happens.
You can write to me with a pm whenever you
want and I'll try to answer your
questions. Best of luck with everything.
