Cortisone Shots?

Question

Help! Ive been told that because of a bulging disc in my lower back that is pinching my sciatic nerve I will require a series of cortisone shots. Has anyone out there had these shots? Let me know what you went through. Recovery time, pain associated with the shot, was it uncomforable?
Im actually nervous about the procedure and would like some idea what Im getting into!!

Answer 1

They are called ESI's and yes--I have had these done. They worked.
By advice is to be sure to have them done in radiology under floroscope (this way they can see).

Be aware it is only a temporary fix but mine lasted about a yr. It isnt something you want to do over and over although many folks do.

The procedure itself is not that bad--they numb the area --it is a pinch and bit uncomfortable but not anything drastic.

Answer 2

Cortisone Shot For Sciatica

Answer 3

I have had a similar problem with my feet. I got a cortisone shot after the one got really bad. Did the shot hurt? YES, but it was well worth it!! Later I tried getting a cortisone shot in my wrist for carpral tunnel and it was completely ineffective. My husband gets cortisone shots in his back and in his knee. His back took several treatments to give him really good results, his knee only took one. Would I do it again? Yes and so would he. Give it a try it won't do any damage even if it doesn't help the first time. Get a pair of crutches if you haven't already. Try taking as much weight and pressure off of that foot as possible. And you will need them after the shot for like two weeks so a little before hand practice won't hurt.

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Answer 4

the chiropractor has the right idea. doing these shots is going to do NOTHING to solve the problem. all it does is numb the pain and there's no telling how long that will last--anywhere from 2 hours to 3 months. besides you can only do 3 shots per year because of the side effects they don't tell you about--the steroid basically eats away cartilagenous tissue, so these don't do you any good in the long run. plus, remember that pain is just a symptom--a warning signal that something is wrong. so why would you just cover it up and think everything is ok?? is that what you would do if your check engine light came on in your car--or would you actually go get what is causing the light to come on fixed??

i have had low back issues for 20+ years and have found the only thing that does any good is regular chiropractic care. for those that shun this aren't educated in chiropractic or haven't gone to the right chiro. chiropractic is like everything else, there are some good and some bad practitioners. so just ask around. the spinal decompression that moist1 talks about is definitely a good option. i've heard nothing but good things about it. my guess, in just reading moist1's response, is that he/she is in the good chiropractor category. good luck

Answer 5

Hi there,
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While looking for a miracle cure, it has to be understood that sciatica pain in itself is not a disease. It is actually a symptom or a group of symptoms with an underlying cause that needs to be targeted if some sort of permanent pain relief is what one is looking for. But one thing is absolutely clear. Incorporating a few exercises that have a beneficial effect on sciatica pain in daily regime is of great help and whether a patient is taking drugs or not, these exercises ensure that his muscles are kept in a toned condition that lessen any flare up of pain. Just a few stretching exercises can bring about a drastic change in the levels of pain and signify the importance of exercise in the management of sciatica pain.
Best

Answer 6

I have a disc problem in my neck.I have had the shots and they worked pretty good for me.Relieved alot of pain and keeps me from having to take pain meds on a daily basis.I was really nervous before the first one but if you have a good doctor they will explain everything to you.I also had waking sedation for the shot which helped keep me still and relieved some of the apprehenssion.The recovery time is usually 24 hours and next to no pain.You will be tender and maybe swell slightly in the injection area.Just ice the area down if this happens.I opted for the waking sedation because after you get home you sleep most of the day.Also make sure you take a shower before the procedure because you can not get injection site wet for 24 hours.It's a pretty common procedure nowadays and is done on an outpatient basis.Just make sure someone can drive you home.

Answer 7

I went for the Cortisone shots but it didn't help me. Everyone is different. You and I could have the same level disc that was injured but depending on how good in shape the person is and the level of pain that you're expecing you could have it worse. Everyone has different levels of pain. I have 2 herianted discs in my neck 3 bulging discs in my back and 1 ruptured in my low back. But I see the chriopacter and get work done on my back and exercise daily and it doesn't bother me.

Answer 8

i am a chiropractor and specialize in spine related injuries. the disc acts as both a cushion and a spacer between each vertebrae. if a disc is bulging/herniated, that bulge can put pressure on the nerves exiting between each vertebra which causes a "pinched nerve." also if the disc is wearing out (getting thinner) you lose the space between the vertebra, which leaves less room for those nerves to exit--and again can pinch a nerve. the nerves in your cervical spine (neck) go all the way down your arm while the nerves in your lumbar spine (low back) form the sciatic nerve which runs all the way down your leg. if any of these are "pinched" they can cause pain, numbess, tingling, weakness wherever these nerves go (down arms/legs).

as a chiropractor i see this type of scenario on a daily basis. for those who have degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, disc bulging, etc.--normal chiropractic care can usually help with those problems. but there are also many people out there that have had this problem for many years and can't find relief with anything they try--including chiropractic.

but now there is a treatment that is perfect for your situation and the best part is: it's non-surgical and non-invasive. if you haven't heard of it yet it is called spinal decompression. this type of treatment focuses on disc injuries and the problems they cause. i use the DRX9000 spinal decompression system in my office and it works wonders for people with these types of injuries (approx. 90% successful). the DRX9000 is fda approved and is the best decompression system available (there are cheap knock-offs that don't give the same results).

my recommendation would be to see a chiro, especially if you've never tried it before-just to see what they have to say. also do some research on this treatment and then contact someone (usually a chiro) who uses it in their office. i would just google "DRX9000" to find info on it and doctors in your area who may have it. this treament is able to encourage the disc to go back to it's normal orientation and also rebuild its height--which then takes the pressure off whatever nerve it is compressing. pain meds, nerve blocks (like you had), cortisone shots, epidurals won't do anything to solve the problem--all they do is cover it up and they become less and less effective over time. surgery AT BEST is 50% successful and usually doesn't solve the problem since most people need another surgery 5-10 years down the road for the same issue. it's typically a viscious cycle. remember: surgery is always an option, so try something prior to surgery to see if you can avoid it--cause once you do the surgery there is no going back.

this treatment is extremely effective for degenerative disc disease, disc bulging, herniation, etc. and also sciatica type of cases, especially if you haven't had surgery yet. i've had many patients who were scheduled for surgery, tried this treatment as a last resort, and then ended up cancelling their surgery altogether after treatment was completed. it really does work and that's what my recommendation would be for you. good luck and hopefully this gives insight to others experiencing similar problems--there is a solution!!!

Answer 9

I had one in my life. on a cons't job i severly damaged my left hand. i thought it was broke. it swelled up real big.. i went to the hospital to get xrays but the dr. said you need a shot of cortisone. when i saw the size of the needle i told him you are not putting that in my sore hand. he gave me 7 small shots of maybe novicane around the area. in ten minutes he put the needle right in the middle of this huge aching bump. i looked the other way, lol. The next morning when i awoke expecting that i could not go to work, there was nothing wrong with my hand, No pain, no swelling, no nothing> I could not believe this! So go for it under the dr's supervision of course. ask him for the local shots first to num it.

Answer 10

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