Epidoral?

[The patriot]

As you may or may not know, I have pretty major back problems. Herniated discs, shifted discs pinched nerves,etc. etc. and preminent nerve damage. Cervical and lumbar areas.

The Dr now wants to do an epidoral for relief of pain.

Has anyone here ever gone through this? What are the percentages I will only need one? How is the outcome? Did you need to go back for another, and when?

I know everyone's body will react differently to the "same" procedure, but I'd like some reassurance before I get this done. :{

I dont really like the idea of a needle in my spine. :{

Eric

 

[RT66DOC]

Never had one myself. Don't like the idea of a needle in my spine either. Most folks I've referred for back pain who wound up with epidurals got relief for a few months then had to have it repeated. Two or three times was about the max anybody I ever knew was willing to put up with. A trashed back is a tough situation.



The problem is that "man" has not yet fully "adapted" from an evolutionary standpoint (not starting a repeat Scopes Monkey harangue here) to the upright posture. If you take a look at the mechanics/physics of a dog, horse, etc. you will notice that their spines are supported at four points and are therefore subjected mainly to traction forces. We, on the other hand, have our vertebrae stacked up on top of two legs which subjects our spines to compression forces which without great additional provocation results in blowing out the little shock absorber cushions (disks) between the bones.



You could always solicit a second, third, fourth, etc. opinion and decide which you are most comfortable with. Weigh benefit vs risk - your docs should be doing that but never hurts to insert yourself into the treatment planning process. Collect all the info about your options and go from there.



Good Luck

 

[XJSuperman]

Chances are 1 will not be enough. I am a licensed massage therapist and worked for a medical doctor for almost 2 years and now have my own practice.

While working for the MD people usually got injections in the spine as a last resort before surgery... meaning everything else you;ve tried has not helped and the ONLY other things are injections... then surgery.



I say give it ONE chance. If it works for you then by all means do it again... BUT if it doesn;t work the first time I would not allow them to do it again.

It's literally a 50/50 shot. I've seen equally as many folks that it helped as those that it did nothing for. The occurences of problems from the epidural are something to consider... it won;t necessarily make you worse than you are BUT there are some side effects you need to look into. And I would ask EXACTLY what drug they are going to use and ALL of its side effects both major and minor. Also try and read up on the side effects of the needle in your spine. I know alot of folks who had headaches ranging from mild to very severe and have heard of other physical effects that are in addition to the drugs side effects.



Now I'm not saying this to scare you BUT to let you know what you can do to better prepare yourself so you won;t have any unpleasant surprises.

 

[dseabaugh]

Here's our family experience with them, My mother is in too poor of heath to have back surgery so the has had them. They usually wear off before she is allowed another one. each successive one does less. My grandmother is 94 and too old to be going through back surgery, though it would have limited effect anyway due to all the deterioration. The shots don't help her as much as as first either and she spends a lot of time laying dowm due to back pain anyway. My brother just started the shots after surgery didn't help. The shots seem to give a limited amount of help for him also. Back pain sucks. The only thing I've tried involves 3 trips to the chiropractor a week with super results, but can't stand the tax on my time, and the $140 per week. After 142 visits, I had to stop. . I've stopped that due to the cost but I pay for it in a different way now. I have had a lot of experience myself with steriod injections and They seem to have the same results for me as those I know. Works wonders the first time, little less next , then dosage starts increasing to get results, and then ultimately has no effect at all.

 

[**ICEMAN**]

i have the same problems you do plus a list of others with my lower back.

i had surgery due to my leg going totally numb. pieces of disc were chipping off and pinched my siatic nerve.

i felt great after surgery until i returned to work and sevre pain started.

i went through a series of cotizone shots with no relief so they wanted to try an epidoral. told me it helps 50% of the people 50% of the time. i hate needles and can't tolerate pain but i had to do something.

when the doc put the big needle in i couldn't stand it. says he numbed me more than he has ever done to anyone and i still felt it.

when he injected the medication it felt like i was going to explode. the pressure was so great from mid back to lower butt i couldn't stand it and he had to stop.

he says to be still or you will break the needle off in you or bend it,,,thanks,,just what i needed to hear.

he got about 3/4 of the dose in me and it didn't help at all.

i will never let anyone stick needles in my back again as long as i am awake.

i tried it hoping for the best even though there is a risk of becoming totally paralized with the proceedure.

i had talked to a dozen people who had it and it help about 2 of them.

currently my neuro surgen says there is nothing more surgically he can do but suggest i try a discogram( basically they keep poking your nerves till they find the one where the pain is coming from and then they kill that nerve).

nope,,,no more "try'ing" on me.

i have been on pain killers and do pretty good most of the time until they start to wear off. they keep me mobile and allow me to do chores etc that need to be done and sometimes let me do things i know i shouldn't even try and i wind up paying for it the next day. i have not returned to work yet and it's been almost a year since the last day i did work.

anyway,,i could go on for hours about my back problems.

basically,,you will have to decide for yourself whether to try the epidoral and i wish you all the luck in whatever you decide.

 

[The patriot]

Thanks all, now I'm scared as he** to do this. :-laf Just kidding, he's putting me out to do it, so I guess it'll be OK?

Another problem is, I'm on temp. disability. The ins. co. is involved with this (as you might imagine) and I think they believe this is a fix. I dont think so! They still havent done anything to address the actual problem.

I'm now working my way up to the 6 month limit on Temporary status, and will soon drop back to 60% base pay. I cant live on this!

Further complicating the problem is my job is moving to mexico next spring, and offered every "essential personell" a buy out.

If I cant make it back I'm afraid I will not get this. If I go back, theyre walking people out every week to avoid paying the buyout. I KNOW I'm targeted.

Kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place. Plus the back thing...

Life is fun, aint it? :laf

Eric

 

[Sageair]

I had a total of six of them and yes they hurt like hell but the last one did the trick and i have been painfree for three years. I am more careful of my back now and do some exercises but I am PAINFREE !!!!!!.

 

[**ICEMAN**]

he's putting me out to do it, so I guess it'll be OK?

you better ask again about that. they can make you drowsy but they told me they cant do it with the patient being "all the way out".

they need your input as they insert the needle to know if they strike a nerve or something worse.

just going by what i was told.

 

[The patriot]

you better ask again about that. they can make you drowsy but they told me they cant do it with the patient being "all the way out".

they need your input as they insert the needle to know if they strike a nerve or something worse.

just going by what i was told.

Well that's whet he said. He said he was using x ray to make sure it was placed right.

This guy has done 2000 of them... so he said. Only had less than 5 people have headaches in the last 1000 he told me also.

Right now I aint taking nothing for the pain.

Eric

 

[The patriot]

Well I got it done today. It was painless, in fact I didnt even know it was done.

He didnt "put me out", just sedated me.

I am feeling less pain, but still have some. I'm sure as soon as I start actually doing something I'll feel more, but for now it's a step in the right direction.

Eric