Chronic Pain Support Group

Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...

2,902 Members
21,876 Posts
0 Online
Brain & Nervous System
/ Chronic Pain Support Group

Spinal Injections

tmichelle68
tmichelle68
Woke up early this morning in pain again. Had my first round of Spinal Injections yesterday. Thought they where supposed to help. Maybe I'm just to impatient. Maybe I'm just looking for a quick fix and there isn't one. What I will do is give these Injections a couple of more days and see what happens then. I go for my next one on this Friday coming up and then the last one on the following Friday, The Doctor says that if these Injections don't work then I can consider a Procedure called Medtronic. If there is someone who has gone through this or is going through this then if you will please offer me some insight or information on these two Procedures I will be grateful. Thank you. I just don't want to hurt anymore and I know that you can relate.
Aronia
Aronia
Medtronic is a company that provides equipment. Are they talking about a spinal cord stumulator?
I am so sorry the injection is not helping so far.. If your tissues and nerve are very swollen and irritated, the injection will actually make it feel worse temporarily for a few days.
Hope you will be feeling better soon xo
Try an ice pack to the area and see if it helps.
sptrout
sptrout
Aronia is correct; Medtronic is a medical equipment provider and make spinal cord stimulators and if I remember correctly, implanted pain (opiate) pumps.

A couple years ago I visited their website to investigate their stimulator and pain pump. They had two excellent videos that explained the issues involved with getting a stimulator or pump. The videos were surprisingly not gun-ho pro-stimulator or pump. Actually, after watching their videos, they convinced me that stimulators, or a pump, were not products for me. However, a few weeks ago I stopped by their site again and did not find these videos, but I may have missed them since I did not look very hard.
billwfriend
billwfriend
hugs and hope this too shall pass....hugs
enigmaticloner
enigmaticloner
I haven't tried spinal injections at all but I've heard mixed opinions on them. I've heard that they can work anywhere from a few weeks to a year or two, and I was looking for something that would help for a longer period of time than that if possible.
oldcper
oldcper
It seems to be about 50/50 as to whether they work for folks or not. They always seem to hurt more for a few days. And I've not met too many people that get any kind of real relief for any length of time from them.

Hopefully they'll work for you.
Aronia
Aronia
Your best bet is physical therapy in conjunction with injections. There are only certain kinds of physical therapists that can work magic with serious illnesses.
My friend has a slipped epiphysis and they put her back together, avoiding the surgery. You must find someone like that.
Regular PT places just exercise you and may not incorporate wholistic medicine into the regimen.
Certain exercise regimens and diet can actually heal your back vs just offering a temporary pain relief.
I would still try the shots, but revisit therapy.
Ask around in your area.
cinben
cinben
Im scheduled for epidural for my herniated disc in a couple of days ,I have to admit ,Im nervous-Im praying that it helps me
Jonsparky
Jonsparky
Michelle, the way these injections work, they have a numbing effect for the first few hours, then you are relying on the steroids to reduce inflamation long term. The numbing agent is kind of a test to see if they hit the area that it is needed. So the bottom line it can take a couple of days fro the next phase of the relief to kick in. I have had ten shots now, including the denervation of my SIJ's, i am starting on round two, they lasted about 4 months. I can feel my SIJ start to liven up again, I wish that would stay asleep!
cinben- it is not to bad, as long as the doctor doesn't nick the nerve! That can be a real shocker... Only had that happen with my first epidural, it is especially difficult with my OA filling the epidural holes, crowding out the poor nerve root!
Getingstronger
Getingstronger
I am new here and so sorry for all the pain and discomfort for everyone on this forum.

I had 3 spinal injections about 11 years ago. I am one of the lucky ones, I guess. I had the injections about 2 months apart; well, the last one did the trick. I have been mostly pain free for the past 11 years, at least in my lower spine.

Now I am having an MRI on Friday to determine if I have arthritis in my neck and shoulder. I have been in pain since last winter. My doctor said depending on what the MRI shows, I will now get injections in that area. Yikes!!
miniver
miniver
Hi Michelle...

I've had a BUNCH of epidural injections... both cervical and lumbar... My first round of three lumbar injections was in 1995 or 1996 and, after the initial increase of pain from the extra pressure of the volume of steroids, I wound up with about 15 to 18 months of pain relief...

Since then I've had a few dozen epidurals and the last one lasted about three or four weeks... More damage and more pain over the last 20 years or so kind of lead to diminishing returns... I hope your injections work out well for you... :)

Peace,
Dave
Posts You May Be Interested In