Oh goody, injection in the spine, really looking forward to this ...

SB118

SB118

SB118

Soldato
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Been dealing with sciatica for the last few months, been to see the osteopath 3 times and nothing has worked :( (well it was fine for about 4 hours after being "manhandled" but soon went back to be a "bit" tingly)

Now the he tells me the next stage is a "steroid epidural" injection in my lower spine.

Hmm, sounds like it's going to be a laugh a minute next week then :(

Anybody else had this done?
 
My mother had it done a while back & she said it hurt like hell but within a few mo's she felt Wonderful. Well worth the stab for the relief i'd say.
 
Steroids oh no! I was given a skin steroid a long time ago, it gave me really thin skin and gave me white patches everywhere!

The stuff you ingest is has some nasty side effects as well, you will most likely get very moody with people and feel sick for the first week.
 
Hi there. I had sciatica problems off and on for a number of years with one spell lasting for about 9 months . Not fun at all ! Although I have not had a steroid epidural, about a month ago I did have a lumbar punch for something unrelated to the sciatica.This involved putting a rather large needle into the spine and drawing off spinal fluid over a 20 minute period. I would say that the procedure of having a needle pushed into the spine was uncomfortable but not really painful - no more pain than having blood taken from your arm. Honestly the thought of it is worse than the actual event. I found the most 'stressful' element to be keeping perfectly still during the procedure. Good luck and don't worry about it. It'll feel great once it's done !!
 
I had a Lumbar Puncture a few years back in the bottom of my spine. They told me 'it barely hurts' and that 'you'll be put to sleep before they do it'. I got in there, I got put in a body lock by some nurses and away they drilled. It was the most painful thing i've ever felt in my entire life. After all that the thing failed as I was in too much pain for them to continue and not enough marrow was extracted. I just wanted to smack them. Did have an apology off the doctor etc though...

It'll stick with me through life that. Did get a KFC after it though, all's better. :)
 
First of all...

1- Go to a your GP
2- Be seen my a professional who is reconised by the national health (i.e. a physiotherapist) oesteopaths/cryopracters ect... are not employed by the national health - why? because there is crap all evidence behind their practice..

3- after the Gp - be seen by a physiotherapist, if that doesnt work, see a consultant.. and dont get an epidural injection from a cowboy. check credentials as u need a 2 year post grad orthopeadic medical certificate to be able to inject..

question: have u been given any exercises for the siatica? the tendency of these ppl is to use a lot of handons techniques, instead of exercises (+hands on) which makes u more dependent on their treatment, rather than teaching and educating the patient to self manage. (its a busness)

anyways thats my advice
 
SB118 said:
Now the he tells me the next stage is a "steroid epidural" injection in my lower spine.

Hmm, sounds like it's going to be a laugh a minute next week then :(

Anybody else had this done?
Click to expand...

Having one on the 15th March for a failed spinal fusion. Let me know how you get on ;)
 
I had this done when I broke my leg/ankle and had to have extensive surgery. It doesn't really hurt, nothing more painful that a needle at the dentist, except its in your back. Only last about 10-20 seconds.

After that all I can say is it feel VERY weird. Like everything seems to swell a bit, and you can feel anything. I couldn't feel my penis for about 10 hours, I was getting worried incase I never felt it again LOL :)

Overall, nothing to get yourself worried about.
 
sounds painful though. i have been in pain management therapy for a few years.(have steroid packets placed either side of my spine every 4 to 5 months.), blooming long needles. now they are talking about quarterising the nerves now. trapped nerves ,facet joint 5, . :eek:
 
I think I have some sort of problem with my back, 2 years ago It completely twinged and had immense pain for a few days, could barely move for the first day... couldn;'t get out of bed in the morning.

Now it's a recurring injury, not as painful as that one night... but still frustrating.

Got a footy match tomorrow too... and its currently in messed up mode
 
I had sciatica about ten years ago, they gave me amitriptyline and some exercises to do one of which was sitting on the edge of a table and gently swinging my legs to give things a bit of a stretch. I did that the most as I worked in a finance office at the time. Seemed to work for me and I couldn't stand up straight or sit down at my desk in comfort before that. I've not had it since either.
 
Don't know whether it's classed as a form of sciatica, but my wife has a displaced disc at the base of her spine that's compressing a nerve, which is giving her pain and numbness (sounds like a contradiction, but that's how she describes it ...) down both legs. She's been signed off work for the last three weeks as sitting down makes it worse - she either has to be flat on her back or bolt upright.

After months of the GP prescribing various painkillers (amitryptiline, diclofenac and ibuprofen) - papering over the cracks as I put it - and some expensive and unsuccessful sessions with an osteopath, she's going into hospital tomorrow for an MRI, the results of which will determine whether it can be treated with physiotherapy or requires surgery. She gets claustrophobic, so she's terrified on two counts: being in the MRI scanner and the possibility of surgery ...
 
Hi again. Sinque's grisly tale does not resemble the procedure that I had, or that which would be performed to give a steroid epidural. There were no nurses holding me down, no drilling and no extraction of marrow. Just 1 doctor and a nurse to assist.
A lumbar puncture involves inserting a spinal needle, usually between the lumbar vertebrae and pushing past the dura mater. It is then that drops of cerebrospinal fluid are collected.
A spinal epidural would be performed using a similar technique but involving injecting a local anesthetic and a steroid whilst being observed with a real time x-ray.This would not be like Sinque's experience at all !! Although not identical, women in child birth are often given epidurals for pain and are very grateful ...lol
So don't worry about..it's no big deal.
 
1 hour to go, i am SO looking forwards to thsi now. Been a virtual cripple the last few days. Hammered the ibuprofen over the weekend and had a good 24hrs where nothing hurt, but that doesn't work anymore.

Can't believe that something can stop you in your tracks so efficiently, i've got loads to do and can't physically do it.

ARGH!! :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
Good luck with it & try to concentrate on how good you will feel after :)
 
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