Stopped caudal epidural injections: Hi everyone... - Pain Concern

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Stopped caudal epidural injections

linzi74 profile image
25 Replies

Hi everyone

I have been having caudal epidural injections in my lower back for 9 yrs they have been a life saver...so imagine my reaction to be told I am no longer going to get them and they are stopping them asap. After trying my best to get this changed...No luck now I am left in agony PAIN is just horrendous and not controlled by meds??? Anyone else facing or faced this?

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linzi74 profile image
linzi74
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25 Replies
Bananas5 profile image
Bananas5

Any reason given for stopping these injections?

x

linzi74 profile image
linzi74 in reply toBananas5

It's a money issue they have been stopped due to funding it's not just me it's everyone. I went to the pain clinic and was told straight forward no injections will be given anymore they have been decommissioned like a business!!!! so cold, Thank u for reply x

Bananas5 profile image
Bananas5 in reply tolinzi74

We used to live in Scotland where similar happened even though our NHS was devolved. We thought it was cost at first but turned out it was lack of theatres.

Our pain consultant, an anaesthetist as they all are, could only have access to a theatre one day a week. What had been 6 months between procedures ran to 18 months plus plus.

Worth writing to CEO of your local NHS. (Always start at the top) ask what is planned as an alternative

x

Painny profile image
Painny in reply toBananas5

I am the opposite, they offered it to me for my spine but I told them I do not want it. My Physician told me rather feeding your body with injections, I should do physio...🌹🌻🥀

in reply toPainny

Good for you! I'm sorry, but if physio can control the pain, it isn't as bad as you think it is.

Bananas5 profile image
Bananas5 in reply toPainny

Well good for you if physio works. For many it doesn't and no one likes pumping their body full of chemicals....even the natural ones. It isn't a choice of shall I shan't I.

linzi74 profile image
linzi74 in reply toPainny

Listen if physio helped don't you think ALL of us here would be using that route but for us the only solution we have found to our chronic pain is an injection. It is not a road anyone goes down lightly and without caution to when you are in pain and the pain is controlling your life it is without doubt a LIFELINE.

in reply tolinzi74

That isn't the case according to my pain specialist.

He told me to go back to my GP and be re-referred to musculoskeletal triage, who would decide if I still benefited from the nerve block I have had for 7 years, they would then re-refer me to him. What a waste of NHS money!

Painny profile image
Painny in reply to

Well...I did 3 different course of physios but the pain is reduced marginally and would recur, equally injections works for some but not all, the injection wears off after awhile ...hope you find what works for you 🌺🌸

in reply toPainny

I would much rather have 5/6 months relatively pain free than have it "marginally reduced". I have cervical spondylitis, osteoarthritis, and bulging discs in my spine, on top of the spondylitis, I had debilitating migraine, which would floor me for up to 48 hours. I have had an occipital nerve block for 7 years now and as much as they're uncomfortable to receive and for about a week after the area on my neck is painful, they work.

I have had various physiotherapy sessions in the 40 years that I have had spinal problems and nothing worked, if anything it exacerbated it. As you say, what works for some, doesn't work for all. But for you to say that your doctor told you rather than feeding your body with injections, to do physiotherapy, I would be questioning that doctor's qualifications. Unless you have actually tried a course or two of them and found they didn't work, you can't pass judgement on those of us who do and for whom they do work.

linzi74 profile image
linzi74 in reply to

I know what you mean Jayne these injections work but no after one or two after continual use and you see the benefits and they are life changing. I have almost the same issues as you and I haven't had an injection for over a year now and it really is bloody horrible trying to cope and manage this pain and not many people understand and just think you have a bit of backache!! If any other route worked then I would be the first to try anything BUT alas as we know we only get to the point of injection when we have tried just about everything else. Take care

in reply tolinzi74

Spot on! Go to your GP and ask to be referred back to have them again. Pain drags you down doesn't it? It's YOUR body, YOUR choice. My friends mum had them for osteoporosis and was told that she had to expect to be told that she could only have one lot due to government changes in who could have them. People of working age were allowed them because it meant that they could stay in work, but anyone who had no chance of being in work or was over retirement age has basically been written off! Yet another nail in the coffin of the disabled by the Tories.

Hi

That's just awful. I'm due a steroid injection next week in my facet joint, I have confirmed it today, is this the same one you were having. My thoughts are with you. Love and hugs Lynne xxxx

linzi74 profile image
linzi74 in reply to

Hi thankyou for your support love means alot xxx

in reply tolinzi74

You are very welcome. We all need someone to help us . I'm lucky to have a great support network and everyone here. You are all so kind, caring and compassionate. Love and hugs Lynne xxxx

in reply to

Be prepared to be told the same!

in reply to

Thank you, will do xxxx

Yes I was told the same for my occipital nerve block. But, my pain specialist told me to go back to my GP and ask to be re-referred to the Musculoskeletal triage, if they thought that I was still benefiting from the injections, they would re-refer me to pain management. What a waste of NHS money eh? Of course I need them! Like you, without them, I am in agony, get debilitating migraines and life is hard.

Oiroiroir profile image
Oiroiroir

I too am in the same boat. I have DDD and the epidural is the only bit of pain relief I get for a period of time to be able to have a little quality of life opposed to none at all. This makes all the difference to me mentally, I get to re-charge my battery so to speak. The same happened with me, I was referred to pain management only to be told within 2 minutes that what I had come for I would never get. When I asked what the alternative is I was told Yoga. Does she not think if it was as easy as that I would be doing it! I have no idea what to do now.

Yoga!! I can't even get down on the floor never mind get up😅

These injections are supposed to be on going , u hope they are, that's what they have out in their letter anyway. Please take care of yourself Lynne

Emma2017 profile image
Emma2017

It’s a money issue. They are slowly selling of the NHS as we speak. We still need sold of services but now they cost lots of money. To save money now, so the most essential services are still available, they stop non essential services as they see it (so pain is not life threatening). We just have to hope that not all pain injections will be become a thing of the past. Hopefully it’s just temporarily until some more money might become available for our healthcare.

linzi74 profile image
linzi74

I was told to try talking to a psychologist ! Yeah this would be an excellent exchange for 9 years of pain injections! I know exactly where everyone is coming from who are being treated like this and I think it is disgusting. To give hope and then be told it's over just like that without any due care to how people are going to cope without.

Flossy61 profile image
Flossy61

Oh word !! I'm so sorry to hear this . None of us want pain meds/ ops ,weve tried everything else and sadly meds and ops are all that is left to help us try and have a normal life..to take it away just like that is ,I would think ,a breach of human rights,as they are then causing us pain ..well I think it is..would they stop pain relief for pregnant woman or anything else ? Love and hugs to all to whom this has happened

linzi74 profile image
linzi74

Flossy that is exactly what I thought I have tried to look into this further but don't know where to start , I mean you wouldn't leave an animal in pain because it would be deemed cruel but it's ok to leave people in excruciating pain.

That's awful I feel for you. I have regular injections in my knee's and I've now been too I'm only aloud 3 a year..I'm taking solpadol and amitryptylin but still in pain

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