Spinal injections - not epidural.

pipkin71

Has anyone had these to relieve the pain in their lower spine?

I've had a date come through for the first session - the end of January.

I'm not a big fan of injections. Actually I hate them

When it was suggested that I have a course, I didn't ask what type of injections, but remember them saying I have to lie still for a while, so they have to be done at the hospital.

Any ideas what sort of injections they are?

If anyone's had them, what was the result? How long did you have relief from the pain for? How many sessions did you need?

Sorry for the questions. I should have asked at the last appointment, but there was so much going on that day.

jazabelle

Are they cortisone injections? One thing I would suggest is asking for something to relax you beforehand. I wouldn't have been able to do it without and it meant I couldn't remember what happened afterwards. You will also need someone to take you home in a car.

Be warned - it will be painful for a few days afterwards. I had nine in my upper back and neck and couldn't move afterwards.

Most people will have one session, and then if it works go in for more. They can last anything from a few weeks, to about six months if you're lucky. Sadly, I didn't have any pain relief from them at all - but I hope they help you!

qwertyuiop12345

Hi, I have had cortisone and lidocaine injections in my spine. I had to lie very still flat on my stomach and they were done by a surgeon. It didn't hurt at all, I didn't even know he had done it yet! But this might have been because I was already in a lot of pain and this was masking it.

For me the injections were fantastic, I couldn't even sit up before I had them and a day later I was able to stand with support.

However, I know there can be problems with them - the surgeon seemed quite nervous about having to do it.

I hope it goes well for you if you decide to have this done.

McKneff

Ignore any horror stories and stop worrying about it.
Get the information from the horses mouth and ask what to expect at your surgery. Each person is different,
and deals with it differently,
Ten years ago i didnt sleep for more than ten minutes at a time, i couldnt stand for more than 5 minutes or sit for more than 10 minutes because of excruciating pain in my back. I suffered it for 4 months before i got my spine injection.
I had to sit on the side of the bed with my head down to 'open' my spine. the surgeon (or whoever) was at the other side to do his job. One little nursey had hold of my hands and talked to me all the time, distraction is a wonderful thing. It was painful, but it lasted about 30 seconds. It transformed my life and i havent had so much as a twinge since.
The downside, in the afternoon when the aneasthetic was wearing off i suffeed the most intense itching down my legs for a couple of hours.

Worth it - you bet it was.

qwertyuiop12345

McKneff - Do you mind me asking what your back problem was?

I sort of assumed that once you had a back problem you were stuck with it happening periodically for the rest of your life. The fact the you mentioned your problem going away completely has given me a little light of hope!

chelleybelley

ive had several different injections into my lumbar spine...proloatherapy wich absolutely killed and several others and all the rest we're fine didnt hurt and also didnt work ...everyones different....good luck tho

McKneff

qwertyuiop12345 wrote: »

McKneff - Do you mind me asking what your back problem was?

I sort of assumed that once you had a back problem you were stuck with it happening periodically for the rest of your life. The fact the you mentioned your problem going away completely has given me a little light of hope!

Hello there,
I started with multiple joint arthritis when i was 40 and never had a problem with my back till about 10 years down the line, all my smaller joints were affected (apart from my fingers thank god) but when my back problem came it was just pure agony, and as far as i know it was just pure wear and tear and my arthritis. that was about 12 years ago. I have also had injections in wrists, shoulders and knees and they have all worked instantly and have lasted for years. (touch wood:rotfl:) i do get flare ups but its usually when i overdo things, like try to peel all the veg at once.
I believe the injection was a cocktail of things and not just cortisone.
i was given a list of what was in it but its got lost in the midst of time.
I've always managed to work full time,(part time since i hit 60 in October)
and i really feel the motivation to keep working helps with the arthritis.
I dont know how i do it actually as i also have pernicious anaemia and osteoporosis. Other than that I am healthy :rotfl:and pain free.
regards
Annie

And yes, there is always hope - when i first started with my arthritis, i couldnt see any at all until i had the various injections because medication certainly didnt do a thing although for about 10 years i had gold injections which sort of stopped helping gradually as my body got used to it.

pipkin71

qwertyuiop12345 wrote: »

McKneff - Do you mind me asking what your back problem was?

I sort of assumed that once you had a back problem you were stuck with it happening periodically for the rest of your life. The fact the you mentioned your problem going away completely has given me a little light of hope!

Yes, I have that impression qwertyuiop.

The hospital have said there is no cure now, just pain management, so to read that McKneff's pain had gone is interesting.

Invasion

I hope you get some relief from the injections Pipkin a friend of the family has a bad back and is going on into hosp for an intensive residential course for a week or 2- can't remember! for physio and hydrotherapy etc, as well as having nerve blocks in her back.

crafty_carrot

I had 2 days of facet black injections in my back (in 6 different sites) they did me no good at all. I found that it all seems to be trial & error!! crafty carrot

kaya

there are two sides to every coin , i was offered them, statistics showed that they are no better than a placebo, my reason for not having it done was meeting a friend of my mums who walked into hospital , had the injection and has been in a wheelchair since, it has to be your decision, nobody elses, there is no chance of your consultant telling you it is a dangerous procedure as its not in there remit, all i would ask is that you research it for yourself thoroughly and make your own decision based on the facts you find, please make you decision an informed one and do not be persuaded if you decide not to go ahead, the mind is a powerfull tool and the placebo effect could account for many of the success stories, i have done the hospital rehab course for 3 weeks at the RNOH in stanmore, i am now worse than before, good luck whatever you decide to do