Nerve Damage S1/L5

housemd89 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-26-2013, 12:40 PM

Well long time since I last posted here. I finally got reffered to Ortho and he told me my MRI showed one of my discs was worn and protruding. He has booked me in for a epidural steriod injection. Has anyone had this? What was it like?

He said if that doesn't help i may have to consider a spinal fusion. I'm just happy to finally get some answers but also annoyed as this was the same MRI image which i was told that there was no problems except the benign hemangiomas.

mmglobal · #2 (**permalink**) 06-26-2013, 04:57 PM

I had 8 lumbar epidurals more than a decade ago as I was doing my best to avoid surgery. Some of them were VERY effective. A couple had no effect. One made me worse.

It's a pretty common early step as you are doing your due diligence in trying to avoid surgery. With spine... less surgery is better. If you are dealing with typical american insurance, I doubt you'll avoid the ESI's unless you are willing to jump straight to surgery... again... less surgery is better if possible.

Less EVERYTHING is better... including ESI's. Nothing is risk-free. Anytime they are poking needles and scalpels around your spine, there is a chance that something will go wrong. I don't see why some pain management doctors and surgeons will do a third ESI when there was no benefit from the first two.

Good luck!

Mark

PS... If you must have surgery, something less invasive than a fusion is preferable, presuming you are a good candidate.

jsewell · #3 (**permalink**) 06-26-2013, 05:08 PM

I have had many ESI's. I was really scared with the first one, but now that they are so routine for me , no big deal. I look forward to the afternoon relaxing. My doc uses general anesthesia as he gives up to 6 at a time and does not like to see any one in pain. Some docs don't .
when are you having yours?
Judy

housemd89 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-26-2013, 10:01 PM

mmglobal - Thanks, I am in the UK so it's free for me. If i had the money or insurance i would have went private though. He told me the risks as well which kinda freaked me out such as paralysis and that the pain might get worse but it was rare. Surgery is the last thing i want and the ortho said they don't like doing it on people as young (i'm 23) as me but it's something i may have to consider if the injections don't help.
Edit - What other options are there to a spinal fusion?

jswell - I was told i'll be awake with just a local anathestic jag to the area, i hate needles as well but not too fussed because i'm not going to be looking at it. It's a 6 week maximum wait for it. I've been in pain for over a year and off work since October so 6 weeks seems like nothing lol.

jsewell · #5 (**permalink**) 06-27-2013, 07:43 PM

Six weeks is not too bad . Good Luck with the injections and let us know how you are doing after you have them
judy

hamrs_62 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-30-2013, 12:16 PM

I am not to sure about epidurals, when I asked my pain dr. (of coarse I knew the answer) ok this will cure what is wrong with my neck, and he said no, so then I said, so it will just mask the problem so I can feel good enough to hurt my neck more, and he said it masks the pain, so I asked why do it if it is not a cure,
Pain is there to warn you that something is wrong, with out it our body would not know when out finger was being burnt,

just because I cant feel that pain does not mean I can go back to work, so for me I really have no use unless I chose this option for a life long option, and never work again, I guess I just do not get it,,,

housemd89 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-30-2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamrs_62

I am not to sure about epidurals, when I asked my pain dr. (of coarse I knew the answer) ok this will cure what is wrong with my neck, and he said no, so then I said, so it will just mask the problem so I can feel good enough to hurt my neck more, and he said it masks the pain, so I asked why do it if it is not a cure,
Pain is there to warn you that something is wrong, with out it our body would not know when out finger was being burnt,

just because I cant feel that pain does not mean I can go back to work, so for me I really have no use unless I chose this option for a life long option, and never work again, I guess I just do not get it,,,

That's a very good point, I never thought about that. I'm out of options though and really want to stop feeling pain.. like you said though it could end up meaning you could hurt yourself more and not realise.