I had two weeks of relief and then the "flames of raging pain" surrounding the area of the injection.
I have an appointment with a pain management psychiatrist and will let everyone know how that goes.
Physical therapy told me I could improve because my pain is due to "tense muscles" and nothing more. (I cancelled the rest of the physical therapy with that clinic)
Here's hoping you find a bit of relief soon.

Tom,

I know just how you feel. I quit having the epidurals in my back and whatever they are called for my neck. All I know is that for days after having either one I was in 10 times more pain.

I have DDD in my C3 and C4 disc in neck, and lower back, can't quite remember which lumbar #'s are for my back though, it's been a long time since I was dx'd.

I remember though right after the first shot in my neck I was in tears and on the phone for days. The nurses treated me like crap. They acted like all I wanted was pain pills or something. I kept telling them NO I don't want drugs, I just want to feel better. I quit going to that pain specialist.

I found another pain specialist that gave me shots in my head to numb the nerve endings as the DDD in neck was causing pain off the 1-10 scale. If you've ever suffered from a migraine you know how bad that pain is, well these headaches I was getting was like a migraine being an annoying little headache, the pain I was now having was BAD, it HURT.

I finally quit getting the horrendous headaches so no more shots. I do take Baclofen, Gabapentin, and Tizanidine now for the pain. On good days it takes the pain down to a 3 or 4, not a day doesn't go by that I am not in some kind of pain from the neck.

Funny thing is though, the neck seemed to be getting worse the last month or so. And my back was off the charts, many days not even able to get out of bed, or if I did get out of bed I needed help walking and getting up and down the stairs. I went to the doctor last Monday and he ordered another MRI on both neck and back.

I talked to the nurse on Friday for test results. She said there is NOTHING wrong with my neck, the DDD is gone, and the same with my back. She said my back pain is from significant arthritis in lower back, hip, and tailbone area.

Okay I say, that answers the back pain issue but someone better be figuring something out for the neck because there is NO way it is better with the pain I am in still. I am having an increase in general pain from top of neck clear down my spine. Excruciating pain from the muscle spasms, they go from the middle of my neck down my spine almost to the hip area. I am seriously thinking they didn't get C3 and C4 area in the MRI picture.

If anyone has had an MRI on their neck lately you would know that they have a "mask" type thing they put over your head. I didn't think too much of it at the time but after talking to the nurse and thinking about that mask, if I am remembering correctly the back of this mask thing was on the C3-C4 area, I just don't think they got a good MRI of it.

The nurse was going to talk to doctor tomorrow and see what is going on.

Tom, have you been on any other kinds of meds or just had the epidurals? I literally feel your pain, even though it has been several years since I went through what you are going through the pain was so bad that to this day I can still "feel" it.

I wish you all the best.
Kimmers

Mideyebrow,

I had that experience as well. I was told the shots would last up to 3 months. However once they started working they barely last 2 or 3 weeks. At that point they can't give you another shot for several more weeks. That's when they put me on all kinds of muscle relaxants, anti-spasmatic meds, and pain killers. None of these meds work very well, on a good day they take the edge off the pain.

I can't have surgery on my neck as my DDD is too close to the brain stem being in C3 and C4. My back appears to have gotten better although after the MRI I just had last Wednesday it appears as though now I have to deal with arthritis in the hip, back, and tailbone areas. Oh goody...just what I need. On top of bipolar, narcolepsy, DDD in neck and now they tell me I have arthritis.

I too went to physical therapy. I was a bit on the lucky side. I will never forget the pain that caused. I was lucky because after my first session the therapist said they couldn't help me and referred me back to pain specialist. I say I'm lucky because at least they weren't like the therapist you got and said it was just tense muscles.

It has been very depressing, one would think I was in my 60's or something, but I am only 48 and am being told I may never work again due to narcolepsy and DDD.

Oh well, I guess that's life.

Hope you find some help and relief. Cuz this crap HURTS!

Kimmers

I am going to copy and pates something from another post on here now. Yep! I decided I would respond now. I actually had major neck surgery back in March of last year. OK. I did have to wear the brace for 12 straights weeks. Also, I did not have a bunch of pain during post-op recovery. Regardless, I went back to work and started having pain all over again. I had been walking normal again. That even started to change if the pain got bad enough.(sometimes) I worked as a custodian over 15 straights years. Yep! I went back to neurosurgeon complaining of pain some more. He was saying surgery was a success; therefore, I should be doing better.(like I was a couple of weeks before) I know I decided to back track and type a chapter, but I finally got put on 4 hour shifts.(as I was the only one not working full shifts ) OK. I was not hurting as much at times; therefore, the neurosurgeon finally had me on 6 hour shifts.(which had to get approved first) Yep! All the reaching, standing, and bending that I had to do was not helping any. I finally got back to 8 hours.(only to be sent back to 4 again) OK. I have not worked since right after Thanksgiving because I started to have some falls.(which supervisor had witnessed one)(though I never get hurt) (and came home in tears sometimes) Regardless, I did have an MRI the week of Christmas that was showing DDD at the L3,4&5. By the way, I actually walk with a cane sometimes.(because of my legs being weak sometimes and not doing right and because I still fall sometimes)(possibly) I can just do a little bit of activity and feel like taking a nap.(which I seem to do often) Oh, yeah! I was actually told chronic fatigue a while back. I deal with interstitial cystitis as well. I am waiting to hear back on SSD.(with DDD as the main reason) Also, I am waiting to hear back about retirement disability through the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia. Yep. Oh! I have been to 1 neurosurgeon, 2 neurologist, 1 pain clinic doctor, and 1 orthopedist in 2011 so far. They all agree on what is shown on all the X-rays and MRI's, but all except the orthopedist acted like I should not fall with DDD. (or as in something else) OK. I know I don't have seizures because I did have that test done. Oh! I did wear a heart monitor for 3 weeks as well.(all good) I did have to go to balance training because of inner ear problem on left side. Maybe I have typed enough by now. I did hear that I, at 44 years of age, was around the age where it may start with some people. (and 25 for you) Anyway, I will let that be all now. I will just add one more thing. OK. I am on retirement disability by now. Yep!

I just came back from physical therapy. By the way, I was in enough pain before. It was not as bad as I am now experiencing. (which I have had this level of pain before) OK. It is actually hurting my shoulders to be typing now. That just sucks. Oh! My legs feel like I must be having muscle fatigue in them.(which I have had previously) What a bummer! Besides, I went to physical therapy several times last year, but I was still working then. (and not using cane) Maybe I will just understand I am a screwed up individual. (been feeling screwed up) OK. There are people in the world in worst shape.(no kidding) Of course, the fact that I do know that does not make me feel any better right now. I would like to be able to do more than I will do the reast of the day, but I will do good to avoid having a cow at all. I can tell it has started raining by now. The weather must not be helping any. (only 61 where as it was 68 degrees earlier) OK. I will have to stop typing before I do have a cow now. Yep!

I had a set of injections in March. Worked so well I felt almost normal with the help of much of my medication. Still I was able to go without some & go longer without others. I felt great. So I ordered the operative report to see just what was so special about this set. It lasted approx 8 weeks on most areas & other areas I still have relief.

My PM thinks it was doing the bi-lateral on the nerve block not the actual epidural injections. So went through it again the other day only I think the girls prepping me may have got it backward & did the bilateral on the epidural injections & not the nerve block, Have to wait for the report. The key was the nerve block & most of all injecting both sides which had never been done before.
This was on my cervical.

As far as falling Tom I have take a couple falls myself, one down my stairs. I have DDD at the same location as you & out of the blue I'd just take tumble. Usually something catches me before I fall such as the wall or chairs but it has happened to me & I do believe its due to the DDD.

My surgeon said the same thing, surgery a success you should feel peachy. Well that was not the case,in fact I did not have nerve pain till after my fusion & the idiot said the dics around were going & almost did another level. Yet states I should feel just fine.
I believe some surgeons worry more about their success rate then the patient. My husband called around looking for better insurance & at the time no company would touch us because I had spinal surgery. What does that tell you? They seem to know something no one is telling us. One company stated you have to go 5yrs with no surgery & another person called for the same reason & said she was told 8yrs so who knows.

Back to the injections I think there are a lot of factors involved. Such as who is doing them, where it is done & so on. I had them on & off for 4 yrs or so & this one came the closet to relieving most of my pain. I'm still sore from the one I had the other day but if it would give me the relief of the set in march I'd be one happy camper.
I wish you the best Tom & hope you find something that gives you relief.
Sammy

I am not having a good day at all. I don't like to miss church, but I have had to do that once again. Degenerative disc disease really sucks. Yep! I woke up with my back hurting out the ying-yang. OK. It still hurts now. My left leg has been bothering me some, too. I have not tried taking a shower so far. I do have a shower stool that I can sit on. That will be used in a little bit as I do want a shower. Why me? I know I walk with a cane often. It is not used upstairs in the apartment as much. I can get by. I actually used it in the apartment some today. OK. I went down in the bathroom as my kness just went forward again. I am not enjoying life a good deal right now. I did take some Aleve Liguid Gel so far. The psychiatrist has got me back on Cymbalta as well. I had been on it because of depression a while back. (and off of it a while)He said he was not sure I am needing it for that, but he wanted to see if it would help with some of the pain.(which I was not aware it was used in that way) OK. I have had some better days since then. (a few) Anyway, I am trying not to have a cow at all. Yep!

I always get pericet for after those injection. The first few days are hell. But you should get some relief, ( hopefully) did they not give you anything for pain and tell you to lay low and ice?

I hope you can get some relief, Maybe see a pain Dr

I actually left physical therapy 1 hour ago. OK. I waited a few extra minutes because of my legs hurting. Oh! They still hurt now. I have gone down to the floor of my apartment more than once because of it. What a bummer! In fact, typing is kind of making me notice I have giot a tad of shoulder pain as well. I mostly did exercises dealing with the legs. Of course, the ball catch exercise may have put more pain on my shoulders. Of course, I never walk in the building pain free as I have become a chronic pain person by now. I won't be worth much the rest of the day. What a shame! Oh, well!

My current doctor does not believe in these injections. First of all, doctors are performing these injections more frequently than they should. Go to: http://www.osc-mn.com/injections.htm
It is recommended no more than 3 per YEAR! I've heard of people getting them monthly or every 2 weeks. This is crazy!
Do your research before you subject yourself from possible irreversible harm. There is evidence that they actually cause more harm than good, and some literature suggests that they do nothing for back problems. Be safe.