spinal injections

[user 6393]

So who here has had needles full of steroids stuck in their back or neck and what were the results. I have so much arthritis in my back that surgery would be questionable and I would have to be off the Coumadin for to long. Not much use having the back fixed if I have another stroke. Only have to give up the Coumadin for 5 days for the injections.
Looking for information .

Norm has. His were ultrasound guided and intended to make his lumbar spine basically numb for a long period of time. The Doc just plain missed the sweet spot, otherwise he would have had success.

It didn't work, but the process was not painful, but Norm was apprehensive beforehand as it turns out, for no reason.

When they suggest that you stay close by the hospital for a day or so immediately after the injection, they mean it, because if they DO get it right, you will be basically paralyzed for a few hours.

I had a neighbour who was a faller and had broken his back severely. He eventually had a surgery which completely deadened everything from his shoulder blades to his hips. No touch sensation to his skin, nothing. He felt he had no more options, the meds made him too screwed up, and anything else did not touch the pain

 

[FJRay]

Just a follow up. The injections lasted about a month +-. It feels like the nerves had a nice vacation and now are back really kicking my ***. Went in for bone scans of the entire back today and get the results Thursday. The doctor thinks maybe they can target the real bad spots and go in and burn off some nerves to provide some pain relief. If no joy there I'm taking my portfolio of scans, xrays and MRI on the road and going doctor shopping. A friend told me once to keep changing doctors until one tells you what you want to here.

I've always been a bit skeptical of those that practice for a living.

 

[RossKean]

Sorry to hear that the procedure did not provide much in the way of long-term pain relief. Difficult to treat when there is an underlying physical cause but sometimes they manage to get it right. Best of luck!

 

[El Toro Joe]

Limit your search to the best neurosurgeons you can find. I really lucked out, and found a great one.

 

[jmdaniel]

I had nerve issues in my right leg. I could only ride my bike for about 30 minutes before the discomfort required a stop; not a good situation when getting ready to ride from AK to MT and back. Was prescribed three steroid shots in the lower spine to be spread over several weeks. I was told by folks who had similar treatments that it was quite painful. I had the first injection and it was right up there with having a cuticle trimmed during a manicure. Lest you think that perhaps my pain threshold is particularly high, you should know that the mere sight of a needle normally causes me to assume the fetal position and whimper like a baby. My problem cleared up after one shot and has remained so for eight years.
The real lesson to be drawn from this sage is that every situation and person is unique.

+1

I had all three of those shots you mention, except mine was three sessions, with 4 shots in each session. Pretty f'ing painful, and only worked for awhile. I have three herniated discs, can't get a doc to operate, so just deal with it.

Two funny things about the last series of shots:

• When the doc came in to start the process, the music playing in the room was "Jump Around", by the band House of Pain. I.****.you.not. We had a good laugh over that one.
• Remember I said it was 4 shots per session? The last session was actually 5, as the doc miscounted. He was the only one in the room that thought he had only given three when the last one rolled around...

 

[FJRay]

The doc got me started on Lyrica to see if it would help with pain. It's been about a week ramping up the dose and is seems to be helping. The last couple days I have been able to get some work done around the place. Maybe it will keep things under control while I'm looking for another option.

 

[dcarver]

We should form a club, Ray.

 

[user 6393]

Hot tub and vodka. JSNS

Seriously tho, I hope you find some helpful answers soon.

 

[n2osx]

The doc got me started on Lyrica to see if it would help with pain. It's been about a week ramping up the dose and is seems to be helping. The last couple days I have been able to get some work done around the place. Maybe it will keep things under control while I'm looking for another option.

I am glad it is working for you so far. They have talked about Lyrica for me as well. I haven't tried it yet. It is one of those things where I have tried so many meds that I don't know if I want to bother trying more. I am tired of popping these meds like Skittles, or in Carver's case, Viagra! But, maybe I should give it a try now that we know know it is starting to work on Apes you...

Carl

 

[user 6393]

One of my bosses has psoriatic arthritis and takes Lyrica. It helps her, but she finds it somewhat makes her dopey. When her arthritis flares, she takes the full dose until the pain abates, then clips her dose after a couple weeks to only what she needs. When the weather is favorable she can go down to every other day and be comfrotable

 

[FJRay]

One of my bosses has psoriatic arthritis and takes Lyrica. It helps her, but she finds it somewhat makes her dopey. When her arthritis flares, she takes the full dose until the pain abates, then clips her dose after a couple weeks to only what she needs. When the weather is favorable she can go down to every other day and be comfrotable

There are those that think I've been a bit off for many years so the difference shouldn't surprise anyone. Lyrica comes with the usual laundry list of side effects but my research shows that it's pretty well tolerated by most users.

I like the Vodka and hot tub idea but I don't have the hot tub and the world is better off with me sober. JSNS

 

[Bounce]

I feel for you guys and hope you find real relief quickly.

I have flair ups with my fusion but not to these levels. When it was new it was a different story and I remember those days of pain meds and stupor. Now my knee (osteoarthritis) and heel (plantars fasciitis - like the worst stone bruise you've ever had that won't go away) are more painful. Hydrocodone gives me headaches even in low doses after taking it for a while post-fusion. They switched me out to Tramadol but it makes me hyper and will keep me awake all night if I don't need it until after 11am. Long term booze as a solution wouldn't work for me either and would be WAY down the list of options (it doesn't stop the pain, it simply knocks me out and makes me even less productive and hung over).

I'd much rather live in a state that doesn't force me to take opiods but the laws are what they are for now. Regardless of the remedy, riding or driving under any of the options is a non-starter, so that leaves us with not riding or riding in pain.

Getting old ain't for wimps.

 

[jmdaniel]

Good luck with that. I had a 'scrip, and took one, on two separate occasions. The first was to help with the pain, the second was to figure if the total fog thrown on me the first time was for real.

I can see why people get addicted to these kinds of drugs...

ETA: Trying to use this forum on an iPhone sucks... This reply was to FJRay's comment.

 

[FJRay]

Good luck with that. I had a 'scrip, and took one, on two separate occasions. The first was to help with the pain, the second was to figure if the total fog thrown on me the first time was for real.I can see why people get addicted to these kinds of drugs...

ETA: Trying to use this forum on an iPhone sucks... This reply was to FJRay's comment.

It's not for everybody and if I get any of the weird side effects I'll drop it in a heartbeat. I tried Gabapentin and it just made me stupid and I couldn't focus.

Here in Oregon the canibis laws are friendly and I have a number of growers as customers. You can't legally buy or sell it but you can give it away and use it. It really does help with the pain but I won't work on customers bikes stoned so I wait till the tools are put away. I just put up with pain for riding and not riding isn't an option.

 

[user 6393]

gabapentin......

you definitely need a new Doc, aka fresh perspective

ok then, hot tub and grandma's special brownies!

 

[Niehart]

ok then, hot tub and grandma's special brownies!

I'm thinking Barb and a hot tub would fix my back.

JSNS!

 

[Panman]

ok then, hot tub and grandma's special brownies!

I'm thinking Barb and a hot tub would fix my back.

JSNS!

If you remember right that guy of hers is twice your size and a lot dam younger. But your right, might be worth it!

 

[n2osx]

ok then, hot tub and grandma's special brownies!

I'm thinking Barb and a hot tub would fix my back.

JSNS!

If you remember right that guy of hers is twice your size and a lot dam younger. But your right, might be worth it!

Dave is harmless. He would get in the hot tub and not remember what he got in for.

Gabapentin helps my neck and shoulders from hurting too much and causing migrains. I am on kind of a high dose though. Ray, you and have talked about it before, but it is really strange that it has those side effects on you. I don't notice any side effects at all. I do tell people that try it for the first time that the first pill will make you feel off. But after that first one, people normally don't notice anything.

 

[user 6393]

ok then, hot tub and grandma's special brownies!

I'm thinking Barb and a hot tub would fix my back.

JSNS!

If you remember right that guy of hers is twice your size and a lot dam younger. But your right, might be worth it!

 

[FJRay]

Went in for another load of steriods in my neck today. Figured I would take advantage of being off the rat poison fo a colonoscopy. Maybe the steroids will work better on round two. Colonoscopy not so good, need more surgery. No cancer but have another growth. The golden years on Medicare suck.