epidural for pain clinic due to lumbar sprain?

Question

i went to the doctor and they are going to start epidural injections in my back for the pain caused from a lumbar sprain has anyone had this and what is it like?

Answer 1

I had 3 done at the hospital. Make sure you go to a board-certified specialist in pain management. They knock you out for about an hour. I got pain relief within 3 days of getting the shots.

Answer 2

yes, i had them when nothing else, especially painkillers, even oxycontin, did not work. it was the best thing for the spinal pain. you see, i couldn't even walk without horrid pain. i had to teach kids at a summer camp where there are various terrains, and i had to be able to walk.

the epidural worked wonders for me! it lasted for six months! you must immediately tell the doctor if she hits a nerve in your spine. she can adjust the shot right away and it will not hurt anymore. although just that one pinch of bad pain is terrible, it won't last long and i think you will feel much better after the epidural.

sometimes you have to get epidurals under anesthesia in a hospital. they are very deep, so they have to put you under. those are even more effective. if eventually they are not, the pain doctor will not allow you to get another one. they seem to insist that if they do it in surgery and they use a "florescope," that they just cannot be wrong. since they just can't be wrong, you MUST feel good effects! how silly. maybe they made a mistake. it's possible, right?

i would go ahead and get the epidural in the pain doctor's office. make sure that you tell her that you will cry out if you feel pain and ask her to adjust the needle then so that you will not.

personally, having been injured way too often (spinal injuries mostly) and in so many ways, disabling me many times, i recommend that you do all you can to eliminate the pain now. research shows that the quicker they can eliminate pain, the less you will have of it overall. this is the truth. i'd think this: what will happen to my sprain if i do not get this injection? it will only be worse is what will happen. so i myself would get the shot.

hope all is much, much better real soon.

Answer 3

Sounds a bit radical treatment for a sprain to the lumbar region.. Perhaps you should get a second opinion, as that procedure can cause its own problems. Would be more appropriate for a fracture of a vertebral body.

There are just too many methods for treating this condition without a radical approach being used first. Most being very successfully treated. What you are proposing would be considered a last resort procedure.

This type of problem is routinely treated successfully, by the doctor of Chiropractic. Without benefit of a radical approach. The problem will still exist after the anesthetic effect has worn off.. Would not treating the cause be more satisfactory than temporary relief of the symptoms?

Answer 4

I had one done, and it worked very well for a while. Basically they put you in a room with a bunch of recliners and give you a robe. I didn't even have to take off my pants or shoes, they just had me take off my shirt and put the robe in. Then they have you drink this orange stuff, some kind of sedative. Then an anesthesiologist comes in and gives you a shot to basically knock you out. Then they bring you into a room and I was pretty much out before they put me on the table. I woke up a half an hour later very dazed and tired. I went back home and my back started to hurt like hell. It will continue to hurt like that for a while but if they did it right it will go away in 2-3 days and you'll be pain free for quite a while. Just make sure when you go home that you just lie down and don't do anything. My friend, who is a nurse said too much activity can cause some sort of spinal headache, which she said is like literally like having someone hit you with a sledgehammer. Good luck, I hope it works for you!

Answer 5

I had them. They were EXTREMELY painful for me. Any needle into the epidural space is excruciating. They put a good amount of numbing usually but mine (only had 1) was done as a last minute, emergency type of thing.

It is painful though. And it often gets worse before it get's better. The "worse" part lasted about 2 days for me. The end result is about 80% better. I'm sure everything will go fine.

Answer 6

Yes, and it is the most magnificent miracle! I was skeptical, but the pain went away for 4 months the first time, and then 6 months the 2nd, and 8 the 3rd. Its a little inconvenient getting them, but worth it!

Answer 7

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