I had my very first cervical epidural this
morning which seemed to go quiet well.
Apart from being extremely groggy the
entire day, i'm in more pain than I
started out with and unable to tilt my
head in a downward motion without
screaming. I'm also suffering from a non
stop headache.
I understand that everyone's outcome may
vary but what i'm not aware of is how long
the severe pain will last. Does anyone
have a similar situation or for lack of
better words ... Can anyone tell who's
had this done share with me what to expect
next?
Thank you
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captkel
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Montgomery Texas
I Had Lumbar Injection Same Thing Posted: 02-19-07 19:15pm
I had my injection on Valentines Day like
you did. I was fine for the first couple
of days...then tried to get out of bed Sat
morning and was totally unable to move my
left leg..I could not put any pressure on
my left leg and I was to the point of
tears...and I'm a big guy...Today is
Monday and this morning I am still having
the "ordeal from hell" trying to get up in
the morning. It takes a while of making
myself stand until I can move...this is
the most pain I have ever experienced. I
trust my doctor is a good one and he used
the flouroscopy to place the needle...I
thought this would be a cakewalk deal. I
never was concerned..Now I'm hoping like
heck I did not make a mistake doing this.
How are you doing now?
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rustypierce
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Aug 2008 Posts: 2
Mine scheduled for 9/2/08 Posted: 08-26-08 13:35pm
After reading the above two experiences,I
am definitly concerned. I am having issues
with c-4 and c-5 causing bone spurs and
pain in back and neck. I also though it
would be a cake walk. Similar to spouse
having it done during child delivery.
Maybe I should research this more!
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Marianne0558
Supporter
Joined: 10 Sep 2007 Posts: 1726 Location: Charleston, SC USA
Thanks: 48
Thanked:6
Posted: 08-26-08 13:38pm
Just make sure you have a fantastic
anesthesiologist performing the procedure.
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 910
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Posted: 08-26-08 23:22pm
Hello 1Hope,
NO, you should not be having the pain you
describe AFTER the epidural injection. I
had one this past Thursday by my pain
management doc. Some slight discomfort
during the injection that was all. I
should add that the injection was not like
yours in that my doc made an injection up
my tailbone to my S1/L5. That afternoon I
was doing some light gardening and without
any pain.
I'm with Marianne. One needs a FANTASTIC
doctor who specializes in such injections.
Pardon Marianne, but a "fantastic
anesthesiologist" would not necessarily
know how to give an epidural for back
pain. Oh yes, MAKE SURE the doctor also
uses a fluoroscope to help him/her guide
the needle to the exact precise location
it needs to go to deliver the
corticosteroid. And you had better have
had MRI images so the doctor could better
determine WHERE the medication needed to
go.
1Hope, are you in the care of a spinal
surgeon? If not, in my opinion you really
need to be.
Take care.
RichT
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farmerted
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Aug 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Minnesota, USA
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0
Posted: 08-26-08 23:35pm
No that is something that need's to be
checked out!
Mine caused me pain and the anesthia made
me sick.
After that my blood sugar went crazy and I
had rashes,Im diabetic and use an insulin
pump and was pumping all the time and
eating once a day a day!!!
The med's made my sugar very high!
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rustypierce
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Aug 2008 Posts: 2
Mine scheduled for next Tuesday Posted: 08-27-08 09:06am
I have problems with c3-4, and c4-5. I
have too many questions on this! Will
they inject the steroid right into this
location? What should I expect, nausea,
headache, local injection soreness? Will
this have an effect on my upper back and
neck pain immediately or will it take a
couple of days. Can most people return to
work the next day?
I know everyone's experience can be
different. I was just looking for answers
for the norm.
Thanks in advance!
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 910
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Posted: 08-27-08 18:24pm
Hello Rusty,
Yes, we humans are a varied lot, and
respond to things in different ways. With
that said, permit me to continue -
I would highly recommend that you ask your
doctor the questions that you have raised
here. And do so tomorrow.
In my opinion, it is very important to
have a POSITIVE attitude. Truly amazing
the positive effect that alone can have,
no matter what the issue.
On to your doctor - Rusty, make SURE the
doctor to give you the injection is an
EXPERT at giving epidural spinal
injections. I cannot stress that strong
enough. Also, a MUST is that the doctor
thoroughly review your MRI images before
the injection and that he/she MUST use a
fluoroscope to help in visualizing where
the precise location the corticosteroid
needs to be delivered while at the same
time can "see" the location of the needle
and where it needs to go. If your doc
can't meet any of the "MUSTS", then in my
opinion find another doctor specializing
in giving spinal epidural injections.
Rusty, if you had my doc, I kneo you could
be at work the next day. As I said above,
I was doing light gardening in the
afternoon of my epidural. The next day I
accomplished more than I would have in
three days before my injection.
Now doi your research well in the days to
come. You want the BEST spinal specialist
(with MD or OD after his/her name".
RichT
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littleonefb
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 229 Location: ,
Thanks: 7
Thanked:0
Posted: 09-02-08 12:10pm
ESI are usually given in a series of 3
injections over a period of 6-8 weeks.
It is not uncommon to have a headache
following an ESI in any area of the spine
and the usual instructions following the
ESI is to lay down for several hours to
prevent the "spinal headache" that can
result.
On the other hand, if the headache is very
severe, it could indicate a "dura leak"
where the dura was nicked by the needle
and some spinal fluid is leaking out and
should be reported to the doctor ASAP.
this is not very common, especially if the
ESI is done under floroscopy which is
should be done. If the doctor is not
using floroscopy to do the ESI, I would
not allow the ESI to be done.
It also isn't uncommon to have some
injection site pain after the ESI is done
and the instructions should tell you to
apply ice to the area to relieve any
injection site pain.
All of my information provided to me both
before and after ESI also state that it is
possible that the ESI can make the pain
worse, not work at all or only relieve
pain for a few days.
The initial pain relief, if it happens is
the lidocaine injection which will last
about 24 hours, and it takes anywhere from
24-72 hours for the steroid to start to
kick in and relieve pain.
If the first injection doesn't relieve
pain, then a second one can be given in a
slightly different location to see if that
works, but if the second one does not
work, then usually a third one is not
given.
All ESI regardless of the location of the
spine, need to be given by a well
experienced Pain management doctor who
uses floroscopy to give the ESI so that
the injection is given in the correct
location and is not a game of "hit or miss
or pure luck that it is placed in the
right location".
Also, a lidocaine injection is given to
numb the area and into the area of the
injection and then the steroid.
Also quick acting sedation can be used so
that you are not awake when the injection
is actually done, but awake within 5-10
minutes that it is given.
My own PM doctor always uses sedation as
he does not want to have patients moving
when he gives injections, it is too risky
and can cause the needle to go into the
wrong area.
Rich, I am flabbergasted that you where
outside gardening after having an ESI done
in the morning. I have never heard of any
doctor not telling a patient to rest for
the remainder of the day, with or without
sedation being used, and to lay down for
several hours afterwards to help prevent
the spinal headache that can occur.
