Would you have epidurals in your back?

Question

my husband has 4 herniated disks in his back, and was sent to a pain clinic. they want to do epidural shots in his back for pain. would you have it done?

Answer 1

OH MY GOD

those bring back possibly the worst short term pain memories of my life. I had the same problem. Two severe herniated discs. I went through a year of physical therapy, swimming, strong back muscles, no activity, lots of activity, braces, pills, basically anything you can think of.

I went to the doctor at one point and said that I have two options. Surgery or epidural steroid injections. I took the ESI like anybody would and it was done in a rush after they got the doctor who performed this right before he left to go home. I dont know if this was normal but they only put 3 numbing needles. Then I easily went through the worst pain of my life. The needles into the epidural space are just immensly, undescribably painful. I was put in a wheelchair afterwards and then they said it will get better worse before it gets better. After 2 or 3 days it did get better to some extent, I could walk longer, stand longer, etc. In the end, the ESI did not work for me. They only served as an immense surge of pain.


Since your husband already has 4 discs herniated, I would go for surgery. It is painless, quick, just so much better. I would much rather live a full life rather than a half life filled with steroid injections

Answer 2

I have had 22 epidural blocks over the past 15 years. The problem is that they work well for some people & not so well for others. I've had 5 lumbar fusions as well. If your husband has 4 herniated discs & the doctor hasn't recommended surgery, you need to take him to another doctor. I would recommend taking him to an orthopedic surgeon. A good surgeon will tell you up front if he thinks surgery will help. I wish you lots of luck

Answer 3

I have had several for herniated discs. Also from a pain clinic. I gotta tell you, they really help. I was off all pain meds for about 3 months after the 2nd one. They are not permanent relief, but from my experience, they work anywhere from 2 months to 4 months. So I would definitely give it a try.

Answer 4

Yes I would. In fact, I had two epidurals done in my life years back when I had knee surgery. The anethesiologist explained it beforehand. He said that the needle would not penetrate any nerve or backbone. The needle is inserted low enough to where the main nerve trunk line is beginning to branch off into several thinner lines. The anethesiologist is careful and quite skilled to push the needle into the correct spot to where these smaller branches of the spinal cord are branching off, and the needle pushes them aside, never penetrates them. The anethesia is administered there and travels to the spinal cord branches and numbs them. The legs are numb for several hours, numb from the rib case down. Then, the feeling comes back and all is as before, normal functioning of the legs.

Answer 5

I have had them done many times with my back.
They usually use Lidocaine to help numb the pain
and a steroid for the inflammation. They do help,
but they do take a few days. You can only have
so many a year. For pain it helps some, not totally.
But when you back hurts this bad it is worth a try.
This is not the same kind of epidural you have when
you have a baby. Totally different.

Answer 6

It would depend on how severe the pain would be. I had a shot in my back when I had my daughter. I wasn't given an epidural, just one dose of the meds with a shot. An epidural is when the meds are given through a tube in your back.

Answer 7

Um with mine they made my fiance (now husband) depart the room. And I needed to hug a nurse that I did not realize for relief. I wasn't too glad approximately it. But oh good. Anyways via that factor I used to be in SOO a lot to relatively believe them hanging the epidural in.But after supply which used to be at 12:24 they mentioned they might be in in a while to take away the catheter from my again. Well they did not come till approximately 6 within the morning. It used to be tremendously uncomfortable. And after they took it out it harm worse, or I spotted the suffering extra on the grounds that I wasnt in exertions anymore =D I consider the tremendous tape that's in your again is what harm while getting it eliminated. Overall it used to be high-quality despite the fact that. I bought my epidural at 6 cm's I consider, and forty five mins after that (which that complete time I used to be ready to nap) I used to be nine one million/two and close to in a position to give. I consider my hubby calling my moms and dads, who had simply left for McDonalds, to hurry again otherwise they have been going to overlook supply! It appeared find it irresistible helped pace alongside my exertions, however it is going to have simply been accident!

Answer 8

Have had it done twice, although not for a problem like your husbands, but for childbirth. That needle is long and it hurts. It wears off after a number of hours so I don't see the point of getting one for back pain, the pain will still be there after it wears off. Then what?

Answer 9

no-i have degenerative disc disease-and the doctors wanted to inject medication into my spine area--and i considered it-and a woman i worked with couldn't praise the effects enough-she felt that these injections were her saviour--until one of the injections was given a fraction of an inch away from the intended area-and she has been paralyzed on her left side ever since--she will never be able to hold a job-or use her left side-again--no amount of pain relief is worth that risk--oh-and--her left side is paralyzed-but hurts her so badly she can barely function at all-after she got out of the hospital after a 2 month stay--no--spinal injections are sometimes not all they are cracked up to be!!

Answer 10

Yes. Many people with chronic pain have been helped tremendously with these pain blocks. The technique and medications used have improved dramatically these past few years. Rather than live with that kind of back pain, yes I would not hesitate to do it.