Do you mind my asking what kind of pain you are experiencing that led you to that decision? I am assuming that you have tried meds and nothing has helped.

I get intermittent shooting leg pain down one leg or the other.. Occasionally it is in both. I have been seeing my primary doc for care.. He has prescribed muscle relaxants. The last time it flaired up I almost couldn't get out of bed. I called him and because I have an hmo refered me to a pain specialist who ofcourse recommends and injection. I would have figured that my doc would refer me to an orthopedist or something... I have been told so many things about my problem.. Mostly that I have stenosis, ddd, and a herniated or bulging disk.... It's actually pretty frustrating... The worst prospect about having this injection is that if it doesn't work the first time then they try again.. This just doesn't seem feasible... I get the most relief from wearing my brace but, it doesn't fit under clothes too well and I can't wear it for ever. I guess i'll just wait and see.

I had a c-section 3 1/2 months ago and they put the epidural/spinal injection in the wrong place and since then I can not use my leg for 70%, I have a dropfoot and lots of pain. Painkillers don't help because the damaged nerves need to fix themselves and that is a long and painful proces. The neurologist is not sure if everything will be like before, there is a chance that I will stay with this disability.

Make sure that the person who will give you the spinal/epidural knows where to put it!!!!!!!!

I never thought that I could become disabled by having a c-section

I just had my second one in a month. I went in for same day surgery (outpatient). They put an iv in and the doctor explained what he was going to do. They then gave me versed which knocked me out. According to where you tell them you are hurting and what sensations you are experiencing and where you experience them, they will inject a cortizone/numbing med into your spine. For the next 8-12 hours your back and legs will feel great!!! (until the numbing meds wear off) in my experience, for the next 2 days you will hurt worse, and then by the 3rd day, you feel 16 years old again! Unfortunately, some people, like me, have to have them repeated in about 3 weeks if the first doesn't take well. My first took well, but in about a week, I could tell that my pain was coming back in all of the familiar places. It has been a week since my second one, and the pain is better, but by the end of the afternoon, I can tell that I need to get off my feet or take some meds. Hope this helps! Jenn