Epidural Steroid injection

[Fulltime]

I have had two epidural steroid injections. Make sure you tell them to put an IV in with Meds to help relax you and help with any pain prior to procedure. I was fine on my second one.

Good Luck.

[Barbola]

Xray guided lumbar spine epidurals dont hurt much, they want u to feel where the leg gets heavy so they know they hit the right nerve root

[Imthedoctor in reply to Barbola]

Thanks, that's reassuring

[Imthedoctor]

Thanks

My consultant said they would anesthesise the area first, so that should be ok

[Imthedoctor]

Did your pain go immediately or did it take time? Also how long were you better after the injection?

[Barbola in reply to Imthedoctor]

I am totally pain free after seven month.....but it took three epidurals, each two weeks apart. The sciatica did not go away totally for a few weeks and i was told to do physical therapy and stretch exercises regularly in addition and now i can walk again.....hours....where i walked 5 minutes and had to sit down for pain. Have seriously degenerated lumbar spine. Nerv was so inflamed i was in emergency room screaming, morphine did not help. Took oxycodone for the next few days. Now, no pills whatever. Have 50 mg Tramadol stashed away if pain ever strikes again but the epidurals were a must have for the nerve inflammation to heal. Ans twice daily at home stretching exercises on floor plus 3x week phys therapy with tens and massage and core strenghtening. Good luck, it will work if you follow up with phys therapy!

[Imthedoctor in reply to Barbola]

I've already started physiotherapy, and my consultant told me to continue after the injection too...can't wait to be pain free...like you I can't walk or stand for more than a few minutes whereas previously I could walk miles and miles. Thanks for the heads up.

[Barbola in reply to Imthedoctor]

You will succeed.....it takes some time but every day, i walked my dog a few feet further till leg pain hit and one day, no more pain. My pain Dr. advice was the minute it hurts to walk, stop. Its not like muscle pain! Patience, and doing ur stretches on floor...phys therapy people will give u the right stretches to do....im 82 and got functional without sitting taking pills. And move around as much as poss.....no long sitting allowed.....i did gel icepack on my back in morning in the beginning, helps the overnite swelling......best of health and no more pain to u. Hang in there!

[Barbola in reply to Imthedoctor]

And, i sleep with a hard pillow between my thights on my side. It helps enormously even tho my mattress is not the best!

[Imthedoctor in reply to Barbola]

Thanks so much... wishing you good health!

[Emma2017]

I have had quite a few X-ray guided steroid injections. They always give me a sedative via a cannula which can be topped up if necessary. But those injections are not too painful. They only helped me for a very limited time but usually straight away. Worth having because if the relief helps, especially if it helps for a long time, it’s a relative easy and painless procedure.

[Imthedoctor in reply to Emma2017]

Thanks

I just want to be pain fee and get on with my life