Transforaminal spinal pain injection

[Krawlins]

Hi all, have you had one of these? What can you tell me about it? I've been offered one by orthopaedics but pain management advised against it and I didn't ask why. I've got a bulging disc and deterioration at L3 4 and 5, I've had so many injections and I'm usually in severe pain after as if it triggers inflammation or something, they've had a cancellation for Monday

[Bananas5]

As these procedures are carried out by pain clinic consultants I am not sure why orthopedics have got involved.

My own feelings are listen to pain clinic...try and ring today to find out what they say.

x

[Krawlins in reply to Bananas5]

I'm under both clinics and was due to have TLIF fusion but they decided to do this first? Is it diagnostic maybe, already had nerve block, only ever get few days relief but usually severe pain first few days

[Bananas5 in reply to Krawlins]

There are so many different types...would need to check which are diagnostic. Don't think this one is.

Certainly they will try as many as they can before fusion... that is another debatable topic.

Pain consultants who are qualified anesthetists do work with orthopedic surgeons when needed but...my advice is still to ring the clinic. They should have told you why without you asking.

Sorry previous blocks haven't worked. My husband has had many over 35 years. Only 3 haven't worked. The one that helps him most is facet joints which is due to have next week. He has ankylosing spondylosis and cervical spondylitis....very few vertebrae left in the middle of his spine.

x

[Krawlins in reply to Bananas5]

Thanks Bananas5, sorry to hear about your husband suffering, glad to hear most injections helped. Mine all seem to cause me flares of pain in tissue, muscle, bone, joints, they say I’m over sensitive to pain, CRPS has been mentioned and when I asked a GP could it be FM he answered ‘probably’. It’s been since 2012 when I couldn’t move due to a slipped/bulging disc L5 S1 had to have emergency discectomy and decompression so I could walk again, by time surgeon got back from holiday and I was admitted via A&E he cancelled his Monday morning clinic due to the seriousness, I could not wee and I could not move, morphine slightly took edge off, I was pretty good for a year but now I’m full of inflammatory pain in hips, pelvis, lower back, feet and hands, it’s a misery, I cried when I couldn’t do my Christmas tree this year, it caused agony, I do have DDD and facet joint arthritis and now a kidney stone. Today I declined the injection as I was offered a cancellation on Monday, been waiting since July but don’t have any annual leave left and cannot take sick leave as threat of losing my job 😔

[becky3344]

Hi Krawlins.

I'm sorry to hear your in so much pain, and have gone through so much already.

I can't help you with you question unfortunately, i'm a newbie on here. I just wanted to say hi. Are they able to help you in any other way do you know?

[Krawlins in reply to becky3344]

Thank you Becky and welcome to the forum x

[becky3344 in reply to Krawlins]

Thank you Krawlins. I hope you get some valuable replies to help your question.

[Emma2017]

Hi Krawlins, I have had a few transformational injections. It just means X-Ray guided by injecting dye so they can see where they are going and get as close as possible to deliver the pain medication. I presume in your case to your L3/L4 disc. I had them a bit lower but they did nothing for me. However they may well help you as it’s different for everybody. It is odd that the pain clinic is having a different stance on it and I would question why.

[Krawlins in reply to Emma2017]

Thank you for your feedback Emma, I think it’s because every time I am interfered with I end up suffering more pain.

Also I have had that done by pain management before radio frequency epidural nerve block and as you say it didn’t even help, made me worse for couple of weeks!

[Emma2017]

If it made things worse before I would question why they want to do it again. My case is different to yours and I ended up having 3 mcrodiscectomies. Again this might not help in your case. Definitely ask them why before going ahead, it’s your body the end of the day.

[lurky52]

I'd listen to pain clinic. I've got bad lower back problems caused by a failed fusion in 2002. Sitting at desk job really messed my back up and after 4 or 5 sets of injections the last being Aug 2018 I've been signed off pain clinic due to the fact that I have 80 to 90% reduced nerve pain from my sacrum up. It was like fireworks going off in my back but colours were pain. Now need to be referred to ortho's due left-sided pain all down pelvis to toes. Sorry off subject but pain clinic is best bet.

[Krawlins in reply to lurky52]

Ooh sorry to hear that lurky52, I shall take the injection but think very long and hard before a fusion if still offered. Yes my lower back so bad at work, they’ve given me a standing desk but standing no better than sitting, very difficult to walk when I leave work, I still have bulging disc and severe narrowing etc etc, I take painkillers but not any have helped. I was wondering about these spinal implants and if they might help, I do so worry about the future. I now have a kidney stone for all I know may have had it years, wonder if some of my pain coming from that as well, waiting for urgent referral for that as well.

Cancelled my pain management appt as came up same day we were due to complete and move, buyer then pulled out after 4 months and my next appointment isn’t till June!! I was absolutely gutted as you can imagine.

Do you agree your nerve pain has reduced? Let us k know what orthopaedics day x

[lurky52 in reply to Krawlins]

My fusion went wrong due to the metal support frame they put in. It started 9 weeks after the operation. My back would make horrible crunching noises which I felt and heard but it took 2 1/2 years before my surgeon would listen. It was the physio that made him listen and then agree to open up my op site and find that the metal work was really loose and moving around all the time so I have nerve damage to my left leg. You need to call your consultants secretary and say your getting worse and your job is at risk. You have to push for what you need. You sound like your under a lot of stress with your house move and your back and work. My marriage ended when I had the op, he had been cheating for a year and moved into spare room for 18 months due to awful house situation and I then had to get a job as I have 2 kids. I then struggled with my job till I had to take ill health retirement. Finally sold marital home and got flat for me and son, daughter got her own place and her partner moved in. I have spent the last 41/2 years numb mentally so don't end up like me, fight for what you need. I'm now 53 over weight and single and will be for the rest of my life as I have no social life. So please fight and push for what you need mentally and physically. I'm routing for you. 🙂

[Krawlins]

Oh bless you lurky52 what an awful time you’ve had of it. Hope at least you feel a bit better now the support frame has been sorted but sounds like you’ve permanent nerve damage you now have to contend with. I hope you are feeling happier now you and your son have made it on your own and your daughter is settled as well. Please don’t write yourself off, you never know what the future holds for you, you’re still only young at 53, I’m now 58 and I’m routing for you too! Best wishes xx