Pincushion Vent

Most doctors will not perform an injection in the exact same location more than once a month or so. However there are certain types of injection therapies where the alternate where they inject at such as one week they do the right the next week the left and the third week in the middle or start in an adjacent area.

I have had the caudal injections and as far as post procedure pain/flareups go it was the least out of all the various types I have had. Not saying I wasn't a bit more sore the next couple of days only that it wasn't as bad.

As far as benefits go I have never had any luck with any kind of injection therapy.

To be honest I've had numerous injections over the past 5-6 years or more and only got real relief from the injections in my knee, nothing good for my back, so wish I could give you more insight and better results, and I just think the injections are expensive for the little to no relief I got from them so it's really good that you have found relief and it's good to hear about that, you can probably goodle the injections to find out more on them. Many many well wishes and more success to you...

Im with you Char, have had multiple injections thru the years but the best ans funny but almost instant relief came from those in my knee and shoulder. The ones in my back and there have been many have been hit and miss. Ive said it before some help some of the time and some of the time they help more or not at all.

Like Kwit said I began to feel the benefits didnt much out weigh the initial pain in my back. I will definately say that the ones done under fluroscopy were much much more helpful then any and maybe all of the rest of them. Possible that with the guide from the scpe they are not flying blind? Actually hit where the meds need to be versus hoping they get close? It was alot more procedural as I was under anesthesia and all tha goes with that but well worth it it.

Anyone have the same experience with that,the esi's guided by fluroscopy and those not and if you think they work better?

As for caudal no I have not had those so cant really say,sorry. I think like you though,enough already!!


Vickie

Thank you for sharing your experiences, and support.
Just to elaborate, doc does his injections under flouro, so Im pretty sure he is going where he intends to. No anesthesia here either, but I dont really I think it is necessary.

My main frustration is that i go to PM because what I have been doing for pain is not working up to this point, and the only thing he is doing for me is aggrivating that pain to a higher level by injection, before it is providing relief. and Im feeling like the relief is small compared to the days that follow the injections.

Would it be out-of-bounds to ask if he would consider medicating me just for one to two days post-procedure? I am already on mobic for inflammation, so motrin is out of the question, and tylenol hasnt been working well enough. I dont mean asking for a long-term medication plan, just for the one or two days after. Id be more likely to continue this stick,stick,stick treatment plan if it werent for the post injection flares.
or is it taboo to ask the doctor for something stronger than tylenol?

True. I just worry too much.
If he says no I know ill live,I've made it this far. I would just like to do it more comfortably...
Shoulda just asked yesterday, but hindsight is alwaya 20/20.

It's always appropriate to talk about your concerns and pain issues with your Dr. I think the only thing that I advise against is ever asking for an actual medication by name which I don't think you are intending.

Most Drs. deal in facts/figures so telling him that the days after the injection cause your pain to be at "insert number here" level to where you cannot do "x, y, or z"....and ask him what he suggests that you can do or take to help with these pain levels.

I've had good luck with a muscle relaxer to help out if there is any soreness the days afterward. Even after having 3 fusion surgeries and being in PM for about 8 years now...I still get injections a few times a year as it is just one of the many modalities I use to help keep my pain levels at a decent level.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

I am very open with my oncologist/PM, when my latest meds weren't doing it any more, I simply asked him to up one of them, and he did without question. We have a good trust and doctor/patient relationship going. He knows I am not making up stuff to get meds, that's half the battle.

By all means, let him know how you are feeling and doing in your situation.

david