Spinal injection

[Betsy50]

Hi everyone how are we all today ? Well I've now asked Painmanagement for a spinal injection physio just not helping and I cant cope with anymore piriformis and sciatica so speak to them in 2 weeks. I had one in 2014 but it wasnt very successful but that was then this is now. What is your thought on this ?

[Barbola]

Had bad, bad sciatica and nerve pain, walking a few steps hurt my legs. Had three steroid xray guided epidurals in one month, each two weeks apart. Just that one time. Right after physical therapy now for 7 years. Never needed steroids again. But now on bloodthinner, not allowed epidurals anyway. Has to go right to the nerve root (MRI shows the inflamed nerve). Hope you get relief from that pain!

[Betsy50 in reply to Barbola]

Hi Barbola thanks for replying. Yes I've had steroid guided injection on my shoulders and they worked brilliant never needed anymore. I've suffered sciatica since my operation in 1997 but sometimes the glare ups just get too much. I font want to up my meds as I gought hard to come off morphine after 6 years although I've had to go back on a patch this time but minimal amount with all the other meds. Had this episode nearly one year so I've just had enough need help with relief x

[strongmouse in reply to Betsy50]

Sounds like a hard decision to make for you. Hope that it works and gives you the relief you need.

[Hzhr7]

Had a steroid epidural a month ago & it's made my pain worse . It worked brilliantly for my friend but it seems that everyone is different. I'm struggling to sleep more than 2 hours at a time & my doctors won't prescribe patches or stronger opoids xx

[ashy67 in reply to Hzhr7]

i had spine inj--didnt work

[Betsy50]

Hi thanks for reply. Oh no that's not good. Why wont they give you stronger meds ? Hope the pain eases off for you it's not easy

[Nanny23]

Sometimes they work sometimes not. I have same issue and also with my back. Ive been told i need back surgery by 3 doctors. I sm afraid it will make me worse. I do physical therapy and get epidural shots.

[ashy67 in reply to Nanny23]

did it help?

[etheral]

If your physician recommends the injection, it would be worth a try. Ask if there are any alternatives. As far as opiods are concerned, this is a controversial subject that became much worse when large doses of oxycodone in the form of oxycontin were prescribed. In the US it is even possible to have your license pulled If the non-physician beaurocrat determines that you are prescribing excessive amounts. I believe that many people are suffering needlessly because of this. In any case it is difficult to abuse patches and hopefully you can get your doc to prescribe them if the injection does not work. Or ask to be referred to a pain clinic. Best etheral

[Madshopper1313 in reply to etheral]

You are spot on when you say many are suffering needlessly because of new regulations and rules. Patients like myself who would benefit from pain medication are just being judged and dismissed. It’s very sad that so many of us have to suffer.

[ashy67 in reply to etheral]

didnt work x

[KnittIngnannyJ]

Hi Betsy

Sorry you’re suffering with back pain. You have my sympathy as I have the same.

I’m sorry to tell you that I have had several injections under local anaesthetic and they weren’t effective. Hopefully it will be different for you.

[ashy67 in reply to KnittIngnannyJ]

didnt help for me

[thebeakdad]

Hi, I have been having caudal epidural injections for pain management for approx 5 years. For me they help and I get 4 months help. The problem is the waiting list means that I only get 1 a year.Hope it works for you this time.

[ashy67 in reply to thebeakdad]

didnt work x

[urodgers1968]

I had a steroid injection a couple of years ago, didn't work, they just gave up, been on codeine every since 😑 I'm still on waiting list to see a spine specialist, I was referred by my foot doctor though, not pain management, disgraceful

[ashy67 in reply to urodgers1968]

docs in eng shit had inj in spine didnt work x

[VS1955 in reply to ashy67]

Just because it didn't work doesn't mean docs in UK are sh*t. Everyone is different - for some it works, others it doesn't.

[ashy67 in reply to VS1955]

try living in blackpool-----

[ShelleyPa in reply to ashy67]

I had to go private for pain relief injections and spinal surgery and surgery has left me with a hell of a lot more pain and the injections did absolutely nothing. Doctors just don’t know what to do with us pain sufferers, I have actually been told that by a doctor. I’m looking into asking my doctor for fentanyl patches as I have seen they are available on NHS but I doubt very much I will get to try them. 😞

[ashy67 in reply to ShelleyPa]

vs1955 is deluded--see his reply to me docs are shit--had morphine-didnt help--now another doc prescribed painkillers--i knew they wouldnt work before i took them ---they dont work

[Madlegs1 in reply to ashy67]

You really do have an incredible attitude!🤷

[ashy67 in reply to ShelleyPa]

its scary that spinal surgery didnt work--the spine surgeons who told you to have surgery are supposed to be experts

[Betsy50 in reply to ashy67]

It was an emergency operation

[ashy67 in reply to Betsy50]

what happened to you?

[Betsy50 in reply to ashy67]

I fell off the works bus and battered my back of the sharp point on stairs that was years ago

[Betsy50 in reply to Betsy50]

The problem is I have too much scar tissue and they wont go near me unless it's an emergency again

[ashy67 in reply to Betsy50]

what did you do? fracture your spine?

[Betsy50 in reply to ashy67]

I burst l5 disc

[ashy67 in reply to ShelleyPa]

if i had strongest painkiller in existance-i know it wont work-nothing will work x

[VS1955]

I had one and got 2 weeks relief. I'm now waiting for Fusion surgery. Did you get any relief the last time you had injection?

[ashy67 in reply to VS1955]

i didnt x

[Betsy50 in reply to VS1955]

Hi no I only got about 2 weeks relief same as you but I need something done I'm already back on morphine patch all g with alot of other meds gabapentin duloxitine etc

[Emma2017]

Hi there, have had a few spinal injection. They never did too much for me. Had also 2 denervations which did help a bit better. Ended up with ops in the end and a fusion which finally solved it. I would ask for a denervation first though as that is sometimes all that's needed. Only go for an op as a last resort.

[Betsy50 in reply to Emma2017]

Hi emma2017 thanks for replying what is denervations?

[Madlegs1 in reply to Betsy50]

Yes, perhaps someone could lay out all the different options?

Ablation, nerve block, cortico steroid etc.

I haven't a clue of the difference!😭

[Emma2017 in reply to Betsy50]

Sorry only saw this now. I had 2 denervations. It is to stop the nerve signal to the facet joints. it helped me more than the injections. Also called radio frequency I believe.

[MalcolmCClark]

HiInjections don't work for everyone so spinal decompression may be an option.

Speak to your spinal surgeon or pain specialist to discuss the options

[auntysue]

Mmm I had 1 many years ago, and it was an agonising experience, BUT it worked for over a year. I would now have it done again, but the resources aren't here anymore, so I would take advantage of it. Xx

[Kemptville]

I had a spinal injection of local anaesthetic and corticosteroid for lumbar pain and it didn't work. This was followed by decompression surgery which seemed fine for about 4 weeks and then the pain returned as bad as it had ever been. Eventually had another op where a piece of disc lodged under L3 nerve was removed. Since then the acute pain has gone and am hoping to make a complete recovery. Spinal injections work for some but by no means all patients. The only problem with the NHS at the moment is the delay in getting treatment.Hope you find the answer.

[Betsy50]

Hi everyone no it didnt help last time got about 2 weeks relief but I'm at desperate stages now I really appreciate all the feed back k

[Micro]

Hi. Betsy50, I’ve had Radio Frequency spine injections quite a few times. Varying success .

Summary is that I started by having seven or eight [I have more detail but not handy ] places in my lumbar back which felt like very very bad toothache in each place.

Over years docs have tried variations of RF placings and the treatment gradually reduced the number of places which felt unbearable. I kept diagrams I drew to assess the ‘before and after ‘ pain to compare.

I was left with the worst joint source of the pain. It affected my walking but there is no line of pain down either leg as there was when my husband was diagnosed with sciatica, yet some docs insist my pain is sciatica. Ie the musco skeletal team in Yorkshire. [Confusing.]

The pain Doc [hospital] who did the RF Oct 2022 told me there was a joint he could not reach cos of scoliosis [ developed mostly the last few years.] Oct 2023 he treated me again., only a few weeks back. Judging by the needle marks he has tried a different approach. I forgot to ask exactly what he called it all, [silly, I know.so right now it’s a wait and see time. There was an initial improvement then varying degrees of pain after, some better, some as bad as usual.

I’m hoping for an improvement as time goes on cos that has happened after some previous treatments with R F, in the past.

Since Oct 2023 treatment, I’ve had a few days of lower pain, then back to normal level [ TOO MUCH] then after 12 days came 2 amazing days of far less pain than normal, [it was great,]. I forgot to pace myselfand actually managed to stay at the dining table chatting as people tend to……then, a really really bad day.

I know the treatment might improve pain as it has over time before, or, maybe it won’t.

No doc told me about RF treatment, I found it online, was discouraged from trying it by my G P surgery but was, am, desperate.

Steroid injections had been tried before R L and made no difference to my back BUT did help with shoulder trouble diagnosed as a BURSA last year.

Hope you can unravel my note and find something which helps.

[Cat49]

Interested in replies to this as have sciatic pain in buttock too and due to have ortho surgeon consult Dec NHS.

[Kimm4]

There are many types of nerve blocks/injections and also ketamine or lidocaine infusions which may help. Be prepared when you go to pain management to let them know the type of pain you have eg burning etc. Bring them as much info as you can so they can prescribe the best course of action. Good luck.

[Betsy50 in reply to Kimm4]

Hi thanks for the replies. Yes but the problem for me is they wont go back onto operate ad there is way too much scar tissue only operate if it's an emergency like last time it's a vicious circle getting so tired with it all tbh. Thanks for the good luck wishes you take care

[AML80]

When they do work the nerves take several years to grow back.

[Betsy50 in reply to AML80]

Hi thanks for the reply. I need relief been nearly one year now had enough so see what Painmanagement consultant has to say on tuesday. Hope you are well today