to sedate… or not to sedate (that is the question)

[endotheline]

Hi there!!

I’m booked in for some lumbar spine injections very soon and they’ve just asked if I’d like sedation. I’ve really got no idea on the pain level or what to expect. Has anyone had similar before and can comment on pros and cons of sedation? I’m a bit scared to be honest.

The exact procedures are L2-5 medial branch blocks, left sacroiliac joint inj and left glut max inj… with depomedrone.

Can anyone tell me what it’s like?

[Aurorasparkle]

hi I have six injections every three months without sedation,

Never been offered sedation, it is quite painful but depends on your pain tolerance.

I also get lots of lidocaine which helps a lot with injections.

So I’m afraid I can’t really advise about sedation .

I’m very grateful I’m getting these injections.

[Chillichicken]

I have had the injections for my back,which didn’t work .

Personally I didn’t feel any pain when having them ,so personally I wouldn’t be sedated .

[KnittIngnannyJ]

hi I’ve had several spinal injections. The first time was under general anaesthetic. After that I had them under local anaesthetic and it’s no problem. Just a sharp sting when the anaesthetic goes in, like any other injection. After that it’s painless. Don’t worry it will be fine.

[AML80]

I don' mind injections but the Dr. who does the injections likes us to be sedated because he says our bodies move involuntarily.

[kev60]

Hi, I had a lumber puncture for testing spinal fluid (diagnosed FND) . You will have local to dull the local area for the needle and should take about 20 minutes not sure if that’s the case for just injections. My procedure lasted an hour as I had a junior doctor doing it and she couldn’t get in between the vertebrae five times she scraped the bone that was a weird sensation finally a senior doctor stabbed me once extracted the fluid and it was done then they dropped the sample so lost half on the way to the lab lol. I was not sedated but I am ok with needles (just not so many lol) , I would ask the person doing it how many times they have done it. Good luck. Kevin

[Southerngirl2787]

Sedation! I had two nerves hit...never again! I have a shallow response to lidocaine, surgeon found that out during kyphoplasty.