epidurals

[hamrs_62]

when I had my ortho doc refer me to my neuro, first thing he said, was, that he (Neuro doc) will probably recommend a fusion, and I went to a pain management doc also, he did thoracic steroid shots, didn't help, he tried acupuncture, didn't help, he wouldn't do anything for my neck, why I don't, he said he wouldn't do my neck when I asked him, because my neck pain was worse then my thoracic area, and, after I was hurt, I went back to work as soon as the doctor would release me, and tried for 1 1/2 +- to work through, thats what I did before, when I got hurt, but ended up getting worse instead of better, extreme head aches when wearing hard hats, neck got where I couldn't look up, found out that I can't hang upside down anymore, get extremely dizzy, I have permanent restrictions that were put on me for a shoulder injury which I had from the same fall, which in construction, there is no permanent light duty,,, with being a electrician, my work works out every part of the body, from climbing 100' towers, digging ditches, pouring and finishing concrete, most of doing the job is working over your head, looking up, reaching up, climbing up and down ladders, if you have ever worked concrete, it works your total upper body,,,, nothing seemed to help me get through the pain, thats when the doc took me off work, when I just couldn't do it and think anymore because of my pain, now I am taking oxy, and Gabapentin, and the ladder the last month seems to help more then just the oxy alone

[Maria]

I can't even work out my upper body mildly without having neck and thoracic pain now so I just don't do it. I stick to walking or lower body exercises the latter of whiic can exaccerbate my lower lumbar probs as well so mostly it's walking for me re some kind of exercise.

At some point we have to make a decision what we're going to do. I had 2 spine surgeries while I was an RN,NP and instead of getting better had a failed 2nd surgery and was much worse so I worked another 8 years tho had to go to part time work and even that was incredibly difficult for me and finally I applied for permanent disability.

I've never had cervical ESIs. I have friends who have but when it came to me at first I was offered it and then when I said I wanted it the offer was withdrawn.

After a while my cervical spine issues seemed to ease off. I must admit that I don't think any of my spine issues would have eased off if I continued working and I doubt I would have been able to turn down another surgery if I didn't pursue permanent disability.

Again we do have to make some choices and sometimes one doesn't seem much better than another or at least certainly not perfect as in what we really want.

I do wish you the best as I can imagine you are suffering greatly with your injury. Good luck and please keep us posted~ Maria

[jsewell]

I did have one set of cervical Epidural injections which did work, then i went and broke my darn neck so now it always gives me problems.
My thoracic epidurals did nothing. My problem there ended with surgery , removal of the disk which is tricky in the thoracic spine and difficult to get the surgeons to believe it is a painful area. I had a discogram to prove i had painful segments in my thoracic spine. It took about 4 or 5 months after surgery for the thoracic pain to go away.
I know some docs just inject on level at a time. My surgeon does about 4 levels at one time bilaterally with me as i always seem to have multiple problems.
take care, don't give up , just find better doctors,
judy