Epidural cortisone injection

[Libluce8]

Hi - I'm due to have an epidural cortisone injection next week due to chronic back pain (spondylithesis and degeneration of spine) - but I'm now having serious doubts given the odds of it working, side effects etc - any advice out there?

[Bananas5]

Yes here ready willing and able! What would you like yo know?

Where have you got the info about side effects etc from? Anesthetist? Friends?

Let me know what I can do and see what's what

Pat x

[Libluce8]

I got the info from the pre op nurse and my own GP - any advice?

[Bananas5 in reply to Libluce8]

Like any spinal procedure there are risks. Carried out by qualified specalist these are minimal, The nurse was only pointing out these risks so you can make an informed decision with such info.

David has his first 20 years ago, very successfu too, and since then has had many. Usually every 4 - 6 months. Doctors don't like doing them too often as they can stop working due to the scaring but as this is your first that will be a way off.

He has had one or 2 lless good than others but on the whole he gets several months of relative pain free. Never completely pain free.

My advice? Go for it! Remember though you will probably still need top up ,eds.

Hope this helps. Let us know

Pat x

[couns50]

Hi having worked in this area and also having had many of these injections myself, one thing I can say in all certainty is that every individual is different as such for some these injections provide at best 6 months or longer relief and others none at all, or even 2-3 weeks or couple of months. Building hopes up on taking pain away completely is an unrealistic way to think and sets the individual up for disappointment. In my case these injections lasted 2 days and that was it, bearing in mind what you have to go through, for me not worth the extra pain. I hope that helps.

[Boozybird]

I would definitely give it a go. I had a course of three done over 18 month period and whilst they didn't stop the pain there was an upside which was that they made my back stable so that I very rarely now get acute episodes. I'm very grateful for that! I believe it worked because when discs 'die' you can get nerve in growth which creates noxious stimulae which in turn can cause acute pain on top of chronic pain. Anyway, what have you got to lose?

[Copper283]

Hi I had 4 injections into the lumbar area of my spine a year after surgery to help with my pain and say I'm dirty to say that this is a most unpleasant procedure but it had no lasting beneficial effects for me but each individual is different. Hope things work out for you

[Libluce8]

Thank you for your responses - I have today cancelled the injection. Why? I have a number of issues following a RTA - my back was aggregated after an epidural last year to replace my knee (both knees replaced now), I have to take Naproxen for pain in my hand, arm and shoulder so may as well continue. Decision not taken lightly, I discussed with my GP and have weighed up the benefits against both the risks and chance of success. My husband has also got RA and at the moment is having a bad flare plus my dad is having stents put in his heart next week so timing not right. I've got enough going on and to add the injection to the mix I feel is one step too far. I will visit it again in next few months as I realise something needs doing but for the short term I will live with the pain and issues it is causing. X

[josie46]

I would not have this done as i had this done two years ago in the top of my spine and since then i have been getting severe spams in my head and neck and before this i never had any problems, also it did not give me any pain relief but now i suffer with severe spams in face and neck and throughout body.

[louiseamos]

Hi..Libluce8... Join club hunny.. But won't give me the injections till had my other MRI..I too have all these props in my back!!now in fingers elbows..hips?? Can't go toilet.. And cracking..up.. Had my 9 the MRI scan yester day..???why?? They don't seem to knew what to do..I've solisis too??from my scan in July??? No ones said if need to do any thing ..was never mentioned on any other scan...I can't stand injections to start with..I've had the blocker one..but they gave me strong happy pills??? Did nowt.... Feel for youxxxxbut everyone's different..said thing they can't do bog all really for osteoarthritis..I too have chronic pain..only sleep with dizapam!! My sciatica is coming back.....arrrrr..hope you do what you think is best for you

[trudyl65 in reply to louiseamos]

hiya louiseamos ,, guess not been on for a while cos was trying to cope having had the epidural injection and pain went through then was manageable ,, my brother died btw 4th july i went back work 11th july after being off work since end nov 2013 things not been to bad ,had facet joint injections 15th oct ,,,was ok ish until 23rd oct by by 4th november was goin work in pain ,, went docs afternoon gave me examination ie then she touch my buttock screamed in agony told me muscle spasms in back .. put me on 2mg diazepam 3 times a day ,,, went work on friday was in pain ,, by saturday couldnt hardly walk , tried but got worse wanted to walk it off,, by sunday worse ended up goin a an e kept me overnight had mri mon morn found another prolaped disc L5 S1 so spent 4 days in hosp change med so on oramorph ,, zomorph 30mg every 12 hours easing a bit but pain ther as soon as walk pains there walk shop just 5 mins back in agony see my consultant 11th dec xxx

[louiseamos in reply to trudyl65]

Hi trudy165.... Hi hun....orrr huggs.. Lots huggs... That L5 s 1 is what I had.. Like you did go....I turned down my opertion...things been real bad..I've had bowel props.. Waiting to see a another!!! Rumotoligist..?sick of them!!!my gp thinks this disc like yours courses s many props...?so nice to near from you.. I didn't knew DDD was osteoarthritis!!!!! I am paying private to see someone with these crazy simptons..? Dizzyness. Crawling..going not nuts.. Really.....been told by Newcastle my arthritis is bad at bottom and causes discs to excursion!!! Which what we have....causing sciatica... Very painfull..?I don't love off sofa!!!!!! I am sooo sorry for your losexxxxxx()()()() huggs!!!! Keep in touch.. I've been very I'll...had xxxx loads of bloods done .seeing a gp that knees about m.e fribo etc...which can be brought on by pain...lose of family,,members...they asked me to get that injection... But toosore .......iI am on morpie...preapentin.. Dizapam.. Dreading mine... sciatica comeimg back...its still there on my scan had few month ago..think cauaeing my bowel props..my joints hurt too..fingers can't movexxxxxkeep me in touch..my miss t chat with you..has we had lot in comon..was it your brother..with drink??????...horrible xxxx

[2014keffi]

Guess you must take the best of two evils. Some and only some people suffer couple of days bad heads. But I'm sure in the end you will benefit. Good luck.

[Mckinney]

Hi, I had epidural injections for my back pain, they worked the first 2 times but the 3rd epidural did nothing for me. I still suffer from the pain. I have degeneres disc disease, in my lower back and I have the same in my neck. Ive had surgery on my neck, put two pins in my neck, my back barely hurts now, but my hands are killing mme with numbess. I have Dr. appoint. Tuesday. Lord please help them out, and please allow them to give me some sort of pain reliever. i hope you get better, Good luck.....

[Libluce8]

Thank you for responding, I really hope you get some relief soon. After taking much advice I did not go for the injection. Sadly I have also had to stop all ant inflammatories as they were poisoning my system and I've ended up with a form of inflammatory colitis, which they say has been brought on either by the Naproxen or the proton blockers I was taking (all prescribed). I tried a Butrans patch and despite it being up to 10mcg it is having little effect on the pain. I have lost over 4 stone in weight, I had some weight to lose but not this much. Again my back pain is no better for the weight loss. So all in all a mess and like you am desperate to get some long lasting, safe pain relief so at least I can function and get around. X