Epidaural injection for sciatica , how long to work ?
Hiya ..I received an epidaural injection for sciatica caused by a bulging disc 2 weeks ago and have noticed slight results. How long can these injections take to work i have heard between instant and 8 weeks ? But I have also heard they are only active for 6 weeks ? Thank you
Hi there P12, the first one of those I had was for an extrusion. If they are going to work they will know after 4 weeks. I went back after 6 weeks and it had only helped maybe 5%. I had an op after that. However if it’s not too bad a bulge then they might try another injection first.
I have noticed some relief just hoping it gets even better so still have a little time . Thank you for the reply 
I will get the microdiscectemy if I have no further improvements i think
Just think carefully about a microdiscectomy. I had no choice due to CE. I ended up having 3 and then a fusion plus a laminectomy higher up. I still suffer from leg pain and my facet joints have deteriorated. It does not always go like that of course but equally a microdiscectomy is not always the end cure people hope it is. So if you can get away with some injections and physio therapy and I can recommend a good Alexander technique teacher for one to one, then fully explore that first. An op really should be your last option. Take care.
Sorry for interrupting but I have degeneration of the facet joint, on the right it is just crumbling. Earlier on this year I had injections which didn't work. My consultant has asked me to try again . This will be in the next few weeks. Have you had an op for this? I have that much pain all over 24/7 that if I can just get rid of pain on one part of my body it will feel like a miracle!! Hope you don't read this until later because at least I know you will have slept!! How are you feeling at the moment?
Love and hugs Lynne xxxx ❤️💜
Not sure who you are directing this at Lynne. Have had 5 ops and now suffer degeneration of the facet joints and still have nerve pain in my leg. I am due for 8 facet joint injections and nerve block next week. If the facet ones help I will get another denervation, have had those before and they did help me. Have you had those at all. Pain is just horrible but I am trying whatever I can do especially away from convential meds as all the drugs I take every day can’t be a good thing. I dont think an operation for the facet joints alone exists. My ops were all disc related.
Hi
Mine are steroid injections, just hope they work this time 🤞🤞🤞🤞your injections work . What is denervation? Xxxx❤️💜
The facet injections in my case are the fore runners basically for the denervation. If the facet injections reduce the pain, even if only temporarily, you can be a candidate for a denervation. A denervation is where they burn the nerve ends thus stopping pain signals. Nerves do grow very slowly back (takes 1 to 2 years) but it might not hurt again especially if you managed to get into a good regime. My nerve block is a steroid injection together with an anaesthetic (considered more a risk due to covid atm hence I have to self isolate a week before and after and comprehensibly social distance a extra week either end too 😯).
Hi
Thank you. Yes, I will ask about denervation, thank you for explaining it to me . I have a local anaesthetic and then the steroid injection. I have to self isolate for 2 weeks before, they haven't told me about after but I assume I will have to .
Enjoy the rest of your evening. Lynne 💜❤️
Hi P12,
In my experience with Epid. shots, they have never worked for my back and leg pain issues (Sciatica). Some people say it takes a couple of days to kick in and that it could be worse for the first day or two. I am not convinced these shots do any good for most people, and this treatment is not approved in some countries (like Australia) for back/leg pain because of the off-label use of the steriod type drugs and the very low efficacy for such an off label application (i.e., to treat back, neck and leg pain). I hear that it may be better for neck issues than lower back and sciatica. I am sorry but I think physical therapy, daily stretching, proper diet (anti-inflammatory foods), hot/cold presses, massage, perhaps accupuncture/pressure and good ole walking and proper rest/breathing may be your best bet. Oh, and if you are overweight, get you weight down to your optimum level. good luck!
thanks for reply . They have deffo helped slightly but not 100% im hoping to see some more improvements the i will try the microdiscectemy
i had this in 2017 i swear its worked from then until now i was bedbound wheelchair bound and housebound i was in a bad way i got that done and now iam in full time employment working 40 a week walking job. it changed my life . now this month pain is back and iam worse than last time in 2017 iam waiting for an emergancy appointment and iam going to have that until pandemic is over and i can have ifuse surgery but trust me that injection is the best thing you could ever get for back pain but ask for epidural and nerve block i promise you it will change your life
can work straight away or 8 weeks mine is serious and mine worked in seconds that was in 2017 but need it again now in 2020 so having that while i wait for my ifuse surgey but that injection was the best thing i ever did amazing stuff
Hi P12 I also had an injection about two weeks ago and still in agonising pain. They said it could work straight away, take two weeks or not work at all. I thought it worked a bit but the pain came back. I’m currently taking naproxen and co-codamol. My surgeon doesn’t like me taking the co-codamol and wants me to take amitriptyline but I have avoided it so far as the side effects sound awful. I’m seeing him again tomorrow to see what we can do next. I find if I take two 30/500 co-codamol in the morning I can get up and get moving. I hope you find some more relief. Would love to know how you are doing now and any further treatment 💜
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