Epidural Injections

I have suffered from multple herniated disks for over 15 yrs. I tried the spinal injections with steroids (they never put me under, just numbed the area) thee seperate times and they did offer some relief. What really did the trick for me though was finding a good chiropractor. After the first couple weeks I can now go just once a month or even every other and remain pain free.

I haven't had it myself, but two good friends in college (both athletes) had these injections. They each ended up needing surgery to repair the disc, but the injections were helpful short term. The surgery had a LONG recovery and neither one was really ever able to play again afterward. I imagine if you're not trying to play football or basketball, the "shots" might be all you ever need.

Good luck with this.

T.

My mom had severe back pain from a herniated disk and she had an epidural injection. She did not have to be put under for it and I think they just numbed the area. She only had to have the injection once and the pain never came back. It really worked well for her and she did not have any issues.

Not sure why you would need "put under" for the injection-it's the same thing done when ladies are in labor. Might be just a little different spot, but not much. It will be very helpful for your pain relief and may last an extended period of time-months or a year? The injected solution is a combination of steroids (anti-inflammatory to soothe the nerve and decrease swelling and so pain) and topical anesthetic (lidocaine, bupivacaine, novacaine-numbs the nerve and so decreases pain short-term). Do not stress, it will be helpful and will not slow you down for more than the day of the injection. Keep us posted on your progress.

My husband had back surgery in November 2008 for a herniated disc and then they discovered spinal stenosis and he had 2 rounds of steroidal epidural shots in October 2009 and November 2009. He was NOT put under for those and they definitely gave him some relief ... but he's feeling as though he could probably use another shot now. Apparently by shooting the steroids directly into the problem area they get almost immediate results.

Good luck with your decision.

What type of injections are you having? Interlaminar Epidurals or Translaminar Epidurals? You typically do not get put under general anesthesia for epidurals unless you are resistant to sedation. (I cannot be sedated, they can use the maximum ammount of Versed and Fentanyl and it has no affect on me. I have to be put under general anesthesia.) Versed and Fentanyl are what they use for what is called conscious sedation for these procedures. What will happen is you will get an IV placed in the room where you get ready for the surgery... they go over your medical history , then go into the procedure room. You will lie on the bed belly down, some doctors have beds with a hole for your face to go into, so you are looking at the floor and some have you on a regular procedure bed with your head tilted to the side on a pillow. They will put the sedation medication into your IV and the procedure will begin. It is a live x-ray guided procedure. This is so they can see exactly where the needle is going to place the medication in the proper place. After the procedure you will go into the recovery room for about an hour to an hour and a half. When you get home you will be directed to ice the area 20 min on 20 min off for the first 48 hours and heat and ice alternate after that. You will want to relax, laying in bed for the first day or 2. I always say I feel like I got hit with a baseball bat. The 3rd day you start feeling a lot better. Most people get great relief with in a week or two. My mother in-law and my father both get epidural injections and it relieves their pain any where from 3 months to 6 months. I have had 3 rounds of each type of epidural and have not had any relief at all.

I have Lumbar Disc Protrusions, Extruded Discs and one Sequestrated disc. This cause severe sciatica in both my right and left legs. Some times it gets so bad I loose a leg all togeather, by that I mean I cant feel the leg for a period of time. Other times its just a foot or even toes, I get shooting pains and aching pains down my legs. Sometimes I get the tingles. It is getting to the point that I have a hard time standing or sitting for extended periods of time, because it feels like I have ice picks sticking into my hips.

The last resort is surgery. I am trying to avoid the surgery my doctors recommend. All surgeries can have serious complications. I have had several surgeries throughout my life. 4 on my knees alone. I never really considered the complications that could occur. Last year after my hysterectomy I had very severe complications. 4 days after coming home from the hospital I suffered Massive Bi-Lateral Pulmonary Embolisms. (Lots of blood clots in my lungs, they stopped counting at 8) By every medical standard I should have died that night; April 20th 2009. I was 28 years old! I am a mother to 4 beautiful children, ages 8, two 6 year olds and a 2 year old. So as you can imagine I am very afraid to ever have surgery again.

I currently take a variety of medications to get me through the day. 40 mg flexeril a day (20 morning and 20 night) two 5/500mg vicoden 3x's a day or two 5/325 percocet for pain depending on my pain level during the day. The first number refers to the amount of narcotic; the second number refers to the amount of Tylenol. So if you ever are prescribed one of these pain medications do not take any additional Tylenol products. Then I take 7mg of Valium nightly. Valium can be used for many different reasons, in my case it is used as an additional pain reliever and muscle relaxer, for me it has a sedating affect to help me sleep, pain free. On the nights that I am in too much pain to move/walk or function normally I also have Oxycodone to add to the mix. This is an opioid analgesic medication that is time released; it is also used for pain relief. This is my last resort of the really bad days. For an anti-inflammatory I take 800mg Motrin 2x's a day.

Here is a website to help you understand more about back pain and the causes:
http://backpaininfo.com/backDiscHerniations.html

I hope your recovery is quick and the information I have provided helps you to understand the process of what can happen with chronic back pain.

One of the teachers in my building has had this done in the past. I don't know a thing about it, but she says that it does help... Good luck.

I have heard of steroid injections which is used to help relieve the pain. My mom had same problem. The doc told her steroid injections can help relieve pain but not a cure. The pain can come back. She finally underwent surgery for her slipped disc.I hope it works out for you and helps manage your pain.There can be side effects with steroid injections, that's why we didn't opt for it ( dont remember what though)... do discuss with your doctor about it.

Does the epidural decrease swelling? Or just the pain?
I never heard of that for bulged/herniated disks.

It is rubbing on your nerve, because the disk is swelled and rubbing on it... or the alignment of it is then rubbing on the nerves.
Not sure if an epidural then helps or resolves that problem?

My husband had a bulging disk... but then in his case, he opted for surgery.
Each case is different.
Maybe the epidural is less invasive. I don't know.

maybe get a 2nd opinion.. from a Specialist, Orthopedic Doc. Not a pain mgmt. Doc. A pain management Doc has a different approach, pain control. Versus an Orthopedic/Back Doctor looks at it differently.

Maybe also get referred to a Physical Therapist, so you can strengthen your back muscles...

I would get a 2nd opinion.

All the best,
Susan