spinal injections

[n2osx]

Ray, I feel your pain! You know I wish that I was just saying that. I have had pain just about my whole life. First being born with Cleidocranial dysostosis, leaving me with no collar bones, a spine at strait as a question mark that not only curves sideways, but also bends to almost an inch from my sternum, then a sharp bend in my neck that then leaves my spine attaching to my head backwards from everyone else. I also grew up on a farm riding almost anything that really didn't want to be ridden (unlike Barry, I would ride on top and not behind...), After that I spent many years in heavy construction and body & paint. At the end of that, was my motorcycle accident that broke my pelvis and my back.

Dr.s say they won't do surgery on me because the chances are about 75% + greater that I will be much more worse off after surgery. I have tried almost everything including lots of injections into the spine from my lower back all the way up to the base of my skull. For me, none of them worked. However, I have known many many friends that have had 1 or 2 injections over long periods and have been able to lead much better lives because of it.

I say try it.

Carl

 

[Bounce]

They thought I had carpal tunnel. All the basic tests confirmed it. Even the one that sends lightning bolts up and down your arm. A neurologist ordered an MRI and found the source of the problem was that I had 2 vertebrae collapsing down and compressing the nerves that exit between them (c5, c6, c7).

A fusion later and the feeling in my hand returned and it's desire to curl up into a claw went away. 17 months later I finished the 2003 IBR on my 2003 FJR.

I now use a cart to haul PCs and monitors instead of tossing them onto my shoulder but that's a fare enough trade.

You can see the blocks of donor bone they hammered into the notches they carved in my verts.

My other recommendation: Don't go to chyros since they have only one tool in their bag of tricks. Find a DO. They have bone crushing AND medical training to help you.

 

[FJRay]

I don't have enough left for a chiropractor to work with and only found one that didn't try to over do it and cause more problems. I'm sure there are good ones but it's like trying to find an honest politician that rides an FJR.

The injections are the least invasive and require the least amount of time off the Coumadin so I think it's a reasonable starting point and won't cost me the riding season. If required we may explore other options in the off season.

 

[rogdeb]

Gawd !! Lots here just falling apart huh!

Had 3 cortizone shots in my back in the early nineties. Didn't work

. The after effects of the shots were just as painful as the back pain. More cortizone was offered at a later date and I declined. I live with a blown disc (now healed but scar tissue) and desiccated discs by constant work on core strength.

But ... cortizone shots to my feet, elbows, knees and shoulders worked very well, thankfully.

My previous occupations, the cause of most of it. Sports, the rest.

Really hope it works out for you Ray. Constant back troubles are a bitch.

 

[red2kcbr]

Degenerative disc disease was my diagnosis, L5 I think. Pain in lower back and loss of feeling down the left leg. Surgeon said (of course he did) surgery was required, or try an epidural shot of cortisone. An anesthesist doc with years of experience free-handed the shot, fixed me up. Been 10 years or so now, starting to get some issues again. She has since retired, so I'll have to find someone else for a repeat. Still looking, but I'll find one.

 

[SacramentoMike]

I don't have enough left for a chiropractor to work with and only found one that didn't try to over do it and cause more problems. I'm sure there are good ones but it's like trying to find an honest politician that rides an FJR.

All the politicians who ride FJRs are honest, I bet.

 

[mcatrophy]

Wifey's just had a steroid injection in her knee. She was having severe arthritic pain - when She complains about her pain, you know it's severe (she complains about all sorts of other stuff, almost always my fault, but that's another story).

Anyway, from fearing having to have a new knee (to join her two bionic hips) to almost total relief within a day, an amazing outcome.

Definitely worth a shot. (Or however many shots the practioner suggests.)

 

[yanktar]

Wow! We are ALL a buncha old farts!

Just yesterday my 86 year old MIL had the epidural and steroid injections for stenosis. Quite quickly that and a new med has really given the old dear relief-she was in horrible agony. They will have to repeat it but it was a godsend for her.

 

[FJRay]

I just got off the phone with the scheduling folks and they are going to do 9 epidural injections over about a two week period starting the 15th. Two in my lower back and seven in my neck. Along with all that I have to get off the blood thinners and give myself shots to bridge things until they are done practicing. What fun.

Fingers crossed for a good result.

 

[Pterodactyl]

Best of luck.

 

[El Toro Joe]

Good luck...hoping for good results.

 

[LKLD]

My wife had severe sciatica pain, for over a year (a few years ago). For most of that year, she laid down on the couch. We did nothing together. She went to different doctors, who would give her prescriptions for pain, but no fix. Her state of mind started to deteriorate into deep depression.

Injections helped at first, sometimes lasting a couple of months, but the pain and numbness would return. Then the injections would only last a few days. No doctors would give her a definitive answer, a solution to her problem. Hell, one idiot doctor said it was in her head!

She only wanted to know if it could be fixed, and if not, she would learn to live with it.

A customer of hers heard her story, and recommended a neurosurgeon that she had positive results with. She went and saw him, and he told her, after looking at her mri's, that she was a perfect candidate for surgery. A bulging disc pressing into her sciatic nerve.

A 1 1/2" incision in her lower back, to shave off part of the disc and a bit of dremmeling of the vertebrae on either side was what she had done. It took another 6 weeks, but the pain and numbness went away.

Just last October, she rode her FZ6R 2,300 miles. We have 2 more trips planned for this year. The surgery was a godsend. She has her life back, and more importantly, her sanity.

I know surgery, especially back surgery, comes with horror stories. We heard them all. She didn't care, as she desperately wanted her life back. She took the chance....and won.

I hope that you can find the solution as she did. This not only effects you, but also your loved ones. Believe me....I know first hand.

All the best,

Rob

 

[Yosemiterich]

Good luck, will be sending prayers.

In summer of 2000 I was hit head on,on a oneway road, shattering my lower spine I feel your pain, I've had several injections and my spine is fused from L3-L5, still have issues at times but for the most part I'm good to go

Pain is just God's way of letting you know your still alive

 

[FJRay]

Unfortunately surgery isn't a good option because of the large amount of arthritis in my back. They may be able to do some clean up but hopefully the injections will do the trick for now. We'll see how it works for this season and take another look in the fall. Right now it's time to ride.

 

[n2osx]

Ray, are you coming into Portland for the injections?

 

[FJRay]

Ray, are you coming into Portland for the injections?

No, I'm not dealing with the VA on this one. All they want to do is tell me it can't be done and have me live on narcotics. I tried being a junkie in the 60's and didn't like it then so no use doing it again.

I got a Medicare supplement and am going to ride the **** out of it.

 

[n2osx]

I was hoping that was the case. I got to the point that the narcotics were not helping with pain anymore, so I took myself off of them. At least you are not having to run all the way up here for each round.

 

[FJRay]

I was hoping that was the case. I got to the point that the narcotics were not helping with pain anymore, so I took myself off of them. At least you are not having to run all the way up here for each round.

Yeah, that 400 mile round trip to the VA gets real old real fast. I've been happy with the VA system but it is such a mess with BS and funding that if you are not service connected it's a real battle to get anywhere.

Getting off the narcotics is a great thing. Mother natures version works just fine for me.

 

[rogdeb]

Good luck...hoping for good results.

+ 2

 

[FJRay]

First round of injections starts in the morning. Hope to feel better soon.