I had three epidural injections in my back by my sciatic nerve, each injection 2 weeks from the last one. The only pain relief I had was for less than one week! Now I've been paying back the hospital the $1,000 it cost me (with insurance)!! The pain dr. assured me it would get rid of the pain, but it certainly did not! In fact, I would say my pain has gotten worse since having had the injections 6 months ago.

I have heard that these injections do help some people, but it seems to me that more times than not they fail in relieving pain. Now I am on Lyrica which does eliminate some, but not all, of my pain. A moist heating pad placed where I hurt most or a hot bath are my 2 best treatments! Or going into a heated pool or walking.

Good luck in your decision, and by all means, make sure you go for a second opinion!

I had good luck with my first round of epidural steroid injections. The relief lasted a good year. Then I tried it again and got no relief. It was a real bummer, especially since I was unable to sleep at night. Finally, the pain clinic did some type of epidural where I was taken into surgery and the steroid was injected in a way that it was released gradually. This worked for two years. Now I have the pain back, but not as severe. Plus, I don't want any more steroids due to osteoporosis. I'm not sure what the answer is for you, but talk to your doctor, be honest and see if there is anything else that can be done. Living in pain IS a pain. I'm sorry you are going through this. peace and love ... Kyle Anne

I've had several of these, with some success each time. The actual injection is sometimes done under fluoroscopy (a kind of x-ray), so the doc can see exactly where the injection is going. Sometimes this isn't neccessary. I had one that was very painful (probably because I was so tender already), but usually they numb you up first and the actual injection just feels like pressure.

The benefits don't last forever, but it might help you get through a rough time. If you're having the injection due to pain from a herniated disk, it might buy you enough time for the inflammation to settle down.

I've had these twice; the first one was six sites covering L1-2, L3-4 and L5-S1. This number of sites left me fairly sore but I was able to sleep horizontally for the fist time in months. The second they did just the sacrum, which helped even more. Not having to contend with back pain on top of the groin pain from a trapped nerve was a blessing.

The areas were sore for a few days afterwards; I took it easy and iced them at first, then used moist heat. Some docs use just a local, others use light sedation as well (a sedative such as versed delivered by IV which keeps you conscious though you may not remember anything), which is helpful to ensure you stay very still for multiple pokes. Either way, a spinal epidural entails significantly less discomfort than the pain you already have and is NOT the same procedure performed to provide anesthetic regional block for labor and delivery. You can safely ignore every horror story you will hear that involves birth--this isn't done the same way or for the same reason. As Caren notes, a fluoroscope will be used to ensure correct needle placement. If your clinic or doctor doesn't use one, find one that does. Generally they inject a small amount of a corticosteroid and buffered local anesthetic specially intended for spinal use. The local is supposed to provide immediate relief but the steroid doesn't kick in for a few days.

After a month the anti-inflammatory effects seem to be wearing off but it's enabled me to return to stretching and thus keep the pain level under control. Loose and limber hip muscles are critical to a happy low back.

Good luck with your procedure.

I am trying out a new rheumatologist shortly, and hopefully he can help me or advise me on which direction to go for pain relief. I hurt just about everyday and am learning psychologically how to deal better with the pain. My positive thinking is a tremendous help in keeping me happy. I avoid a lot of motions too, like bending down and reaching or carrying anything the least bit heavy for me. I have a tens unit now that I use with a heating pad which helps, but not as much as when the chiropractor does it.

I do hope, however, that I can find myself another pain management doctor who isn't in for it just for the money. After my epidural injections, that doctor was finished with me.

I am so sorry but I am very against epidural injections. They are not mean't to be given anywhere near the spine. Most doctors do it just to shut the patient up. I had six and now I am crippled. The cause Arachnoiditis and doctors know this. Now my spine and nerves are slowly dying off due to this treatment. There is a paper on the web by Dr. Sara Smith from the UK and Dr. Burton that will back this up. I had to go to a different city to get diagnosed, but when I brought the copies of the papers to my nero...all he could do is say I'm sorry...Oma

Here is a website you all can read about Arachnoiditis. Please read and if you have any questions, just ask.

http://www.arachnoiditis.info/content/arachnoiditis_explained/arachnoiditis_explained.html

I have had 8 of these over the past three years. They worked really well for me at first but now no longer work. They can be painful but they are less painful than surgery. Lora

I am a newbie...but a well seasoned hen on the subject of pain..
I have had three epidural pain injection in the siactic area. The first one didn't work, the second worked for 6 months and this third one, well here is my problem...it worked but I am having numbness and tingling. The doctors say it is not from the epdidural but I beg to differ. Always do some research especially on the cortizonal drug they may use in the injection could be something that is not intended for epidural injection which I am finding out now, after doing four weeks of non stop searching for answers. Not to scare you off the idea, just
ask lots of questions and be prepared for what may or maynot happen.

I have had two of these. The first worked and the second didn't do much.
I had mine done in the pain clinic. The nurse brought me into the room and after I was lying on the table face down they pulled my shirt up a bit and my pants down a bit. (Be sure to wear elastic wasted pants to this!) Then the doctor came in and prepped the area with iodine and cleaning solution. The will then inject a numbing agent, which feels like a bee sting supposedly. Then they used x-ray to guide the needle that has the steroids into the right place. This is not supposed to really hurt per say, but you will feel a lot of pressure, and it might hurt a bit. (It def. does not feel pleasant.) After it is over they cover the area with a band-aid which you are not supposed to get wet or remove for 24-hrs. So no bathing for the next day. My back hurt a lot for the next few days so they said you can use ice or take tylenol. The ice helped a lot.
I hope it all goes well for you!

Hey everyone thank you so much for your replies. I did get mine at about 8 oclock yesterday morning it was just as FiorLabahir said it was exactly i so wish that i got a sedative or took my pain meds beforehand. He said that my muscles were so tight and that is why it hurt so bad for the numbing drugs giong in and they numbed my skin before those. I was just so scared about it. But i made a mistake he didnt tell me no bath and do not remove for 24 hours i really wish i knew about that. Hopefully nothing bad happens. I do have really bad back pain now and still kinda dizzy. But happily my nerve pain is gone. HUbby says that we hope it lasts at least a few months. my dr was not to nice about the procedure he got on me because i had his office send a copy of my mri to another obgyn who thinks i have endo as there is a mass in my tummy. But i am happy so far that i got this done just praying that it keeps working. And im resting lots hurts to much to walk very far but im doing that too. Again thank you guys. I hope that we can all have pain free days for now on.

I have these done every six weeks, at least. They are spinal steroid injections, of varying types (we alternate, because too many of some types can cause spinal hematomas, in my case), and are always injected either directly at my spinal cord, or from a few inches to the right, left, or both sides of the spinal cord (but still injecting the steroids into the cord).

I'm given twilight, so I'm never awake during the procedure, and have to be driven home and pretty much babysat (husband-sat?) for the rest of the day. They tell you that you'll be sore for a day or two, but I am *always* sore much longer than that.

My first two epidurals were no help at all - in fact, they made my pain
worse. My pain doctor had warned me that this might happen, though, and told me that the third is often times the one that takes, for whatever reason. In my case, third time was the charm! I've heard that from a lot of people.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask! Good luck!

i've had 7: 5 in my lower back and 2 in my neck. they have helped a lot but i gained 30 lbs in 8 months. now that i stoppped geting them the lbs came off. good luck with all of it, it works for somw but not for others. let us know the results.

If anyone is thinking about an epidural to stop the pain think twice before going down this road. I have had about eight of these and the only thing they did was make the troubles I was having worst. After doing allot of research the epidural is not in your best interest the only good thing that comes from an epidural is it puts allot of money in the doctors pocket. Check out Arachnoiditis this is just one of many things that can go wrong. After going through all the hell the doctors put me through I had a friend tell me about a Tens Unit and I have stopped the pain by about 90% with no side effects. You don't have to pay the high prices that some of these sites charge here is a web site where I got mine. http://www.lgmedsupply.com/?gclid=CPLL792riLcCFfRQOgodmS0Aaw The only other thing that work at correcting these troubles is Medical Cannabis and both ot these are all natural and that is better than what doctors are pushing on you.

I have had a dozen of these over the years, they really only worked temporary, Depending how far along you are with your injury everyone is different I have heard good story's on how it has helped but probably more that they didn't work. I had my best luck with facet injections, and recently had a Rhizotomy which was able to get me a few months of relief. Remember everyone is different and we might not get same results. Trust in your doctor. First three epidurals I had were sitting up on a table and were really painful. I switched Doctors over the years and had the remaining ones laying flat on my stomach while under X-ray that the doctor could see, really simple and a lot less pain. Ice really helps the first 24 hours and some rest for a few days. Good luck and I hope you get some relief.