Epidural Injection

[ouch]

Ouch here - I know this question doesn't fall in the realm of our knee forum, but I'm getting desperate here. He had the epidural injection yesterday in his spine, and he doesn't feel much better. Are these injections supposed to work right away, or does it take time. I know a few who posted on this site have had them and I'm curious to know how theirs worked. Thank you all.:pnc:

 

[JudyS]

Hi
I would say they are not instant. My doc has me have a follow up apt in about 2 weeks after the injections. I also get many at one time. Maybe 6 or 8 . Hallf on each side. some times for me it hurts pretty bad for a few days, the muscles pain from the actual injecion. My doc always has an anesthesiologist and we get general anesthesia. He really does not like anyone to be in pain. So I had lumbar injections on like April 2nd, I told him they took away the sciatic pain down the legs and butt and maybe 40-50 percent of the back pain. Not really good. Well I had them again 4 weeks ago and this time they were awesome. I would say the best ever. I dont;' know if it was because the 2 times were so close . he has never done that before. He told me he used a different medication. When I wake up in recovery I always recieve like 3 or 4 small doses of diluaudid as well. Then I go home and sleep. But it does feel like he had a fight with my back for about 2 days. Then it starts to get better. His instrucions say it can take up to 10 days for the med to kick in.

I am actually getting them in my neck on monday a.m. He never lets me do them this close together. I called and beggged last monday. It ususally takes about 3 weeks to get on his schedule too. I don't know what happened but I am thrilled.


I sure hope they work for your hubby. That constant chronic pain sure can wear a person down.
I have an inflammatory disease which is why I keep getting them , don't think this is the norm!! I've onlly had them in my neck once before, but it worked pretty darn good. That was the day after Christmas so it also worked for a long time. For me at least. The key after the lumbar ones is to then go to pt and strengthen your core muscles .
judy

 

[ouch]

Thanks for the post Judy. So, how long does one have to wait before they have another one? He has a follow up appointment next Thursday, so if he is still in pain hopefully he will arrange for another shot. Trouble is, we always have to wait for authorization from our insurance co.
Glad to hear yours are helping you.

 

[JudyS]

Different doctors different rules about how long inbetween. My doc does not have any specific rules but he has told me in the past that if they are too close together they may not work. I've had some that did not work at all . I've also had issues with steroids (what they inject) as far as my body making too much of it's own. So my case is different. Some times I have read of docs doing them in a series as well. Who knows. One thing is they have never done anything for my thoracic spine at all.

How many actual injections did your husband get??? There are also a variety of locations the docs can use. The edpidural space, a nerve block, facet blocks. Mine always tells me he is giving me the full monty, whatever that means in his mind!!!
judy

 

[ouch]

Well, it's been5 days since the injection and sadly to say, no relief. He goes back to the surgeon on Thursday. Today he meets with his new P/T (I feel very good about this P/T) and he will decide if he needs the MUA. One day at a time.

 

[Texas]

Thats it Ouch thats all you can do. Good things have to come your way soon. We all have our fingers crossed. I think we would all celebrate (not in a mean way) if he got a MAU he would feel so much better....Good Luck keep us posted...I told you I look for your posts...lol..Hopefully hes getting closer. Then you will need a vacation right...You have beed a terrifc caregiver and wife thru all of this you really have...

 

[calling_all_angels]

Ouch,
Sorry that the injection (only one?) did not help you husband. I had my fingers crossed thathe would at least get rid of the back pain. Lets hope the surgeon will have something better for him this time. It is a really long road of recovery that you two seem to be on, lets hope that someone will be able to shorten it for you

 

[Jamie]

I'm sorry the injection didn't work. You had to try just in case....

There will be something that does work, though.....I have faith. You just have to keep searching and never stop trying. I know you will. You both have been troopers through all of this.

 

[JudyS]

Ouch
Sorry it didn't work yet, like I said my surgeon has us give it 10 days to 2 weeks. I just had them in my neck this morning and my follow up is the 27th. It has all that time to work. Right now it feels like everyone in the OR had a few punches in my neck while I slept!! So sore to move it in any direction!!!
Let us know how his apt goes.
judy