Epidural Steroid Shot appt next week...

[Katie]

Mary, Is this a steroid shot that is supposed to relieve pain? I've had a number of them, and if it the same thing, it is hard to describe.

First the doctor put in a numbing agent, a freezing medication so that the 'big' injection doesn't hurt. It is a weird feeling....your legs go sort of tingly and numb at the same time. It was done on me while I was sitting up, but I had to lay down afterwards or else I would have fallen when I got off the table.

It felt like I was walking on rubber legs when I finally was allowed to go.

Yes, it did hurt a bit, but not anything like having children It is more like an intake of breath sort of pain, at least for me. Remember, every one is different.

I truly hope that this works for you. It didn't for me, after the second one, but I have a relative who has only had one a year, and it helped immensely.

Good luck with it, and let us know how it went.

[Kathy]

Are you getting sedation? I love getting the sedation, it is a couple of pain free hours and you are out of it for the shot. The numbing agent (lidocaine, I believe) burns like crazy. It feels like a bunch of ants biting you all at the same time. If you had stitches after child birth, and were able to feel at that time (ie. no epidural relief), they most likely gave you a shot of lidocaine, prior to the stitches. The numbing is the worst part, in my opinion. It's not horrible, nothing compared to childbirth; I just like the sedation drugs
I am so afraid of needles (I'm getting better, after 2 kids, numerous injections, surgery, etc). I go to a place where they give you a shot of lidocaine in your hand (small needle, a little burn), before starting the IV. Now, that's the way to go, especially if you aren't crazy about needles. I also get lots of warmed up blankets when I go. I love the warm blankets!

[Maria]

If you're getting sedation you probably won't know what's going on and the actual ESI will be over before you know it. It will be the process of your first visit there and the recovery that will take longer.

There are different approaches for the ESI. Someone mentioned rubber legs which is a more common feeling with a caudal approach.

For myself I prefer a transforaminal approach as it more directly gets the specific segment re relief. Caudal is more generalized and sort of bathes the nerves from the bottom upward. Good for an L5S1 area. I get the transforaminal approach for my L4 area.

In another post I stated that the first ESI usually will create what might seem like a flare up or more pain than you had going in but usually this is just for a few days. Then this clears up and you should feel much better if this works for you.

The following ESIs will likely not give you as much of an aggravated feeling down there (low spine).

Oh~ urinate before the procedure just in case it's done caudally because afterwards if you have rubber legs you will probably have rubber perineal area as well and you may not be quite able to feel yourself urinating or where it's going! At least for about the first hour to two post procedure.

You will want to plan on resting the remainder of the day with an ice pack intermittantly for 20 to 30 mins for the rest of the day.

I hope they work as well for you as they do for me

[Kathy]

Re. Maria's post on urinating first. If you are of child bearing age (which I assume you are with a adorable daughter), even if you use contraceptives or haven't done the deed in months, you will have to pee for a pregnancy test. You only get outof it if you have been surgically 'fixed' or have been through menopause. I always try to hold it, until I get to the hospital. I then ask to go right away, so a nurse comes and gets me and lets me relieve myself (if I go at home, then I can't when I get there, since I'm not drinking anything). Anyway, just another tidbit of information.

[Eastex]

I have had a few of these at different hospitals. The first place basically rolled me back and wiped the area, then a shot to numb you, and then the injection. It didn't hurt that bad. The first shot stung and then the next one felt like pressure. Last week, I had my most recent one done where I had my disco. They started an IV and then fed me something before the injection. They did my SI and Facet. They still gave me shot too numb it too. Really no pain was felt. They will have you under an x-ray to make sure they are hitting the spot. They let me see where it went. Cool.

[dshobbies]

My ESIs were done under sedation. I didn't feel a thing and don't remember anything. As soon as I was completely awake, I was allowed to leave. Had 3 injections, 1 week apart. Relief was immediate and didn't need to rest or ice except with last one. After 4th week, had no relief at all, nothing, nada, zipo. It was worth the try if nothing else.

I hope it works for you because those 3 weeks were blissful. Good luck, Dale

[Maria]

Good tidbit for women of childbearing age as I have been surgically fixed at age 40 and am now officially post menopausal since age 50!

The nurses still ask when my last period was and it's so nice to say "I dunno.. 5-7 years ago?"

I am a frequent voider and can go on command practically (which is a royal pain). I usually try to go after the nice nurses have taken all my information, gowned, and done all else (even IV) yet before I'm going into the procedure room. Of course I've had it done so many times now (somewhere near 30) that I have it down pretty good and the surgery centers have the same routine once you've gone thru it.

I just mentioned the voiding thing just in case you got the caudal approach and post procedure rubber legs. Don't think I let that deter me from my frequent voiding .. I still went just felt like I wasn't sure what I was doing *down there*!