will be trying another pain management doctor

This will be doc number 3. The first doc gave me a cortisone shot and that didn't work. The second doc wanted to cut a nerve in my back and I was too afraid to follow through. Also it was very inconvenient because it was far from my residence and difficult to get a ride. It would have consisted of three trips and the driver would have had to stay there and wait till it was finished all three times.

Now I will be seeing another doc who can look at my discs and capture an image and then know exactly where to put the cortisone shot.

Well hope it works out because sometimes the pain is just achy and bad and I just want to lie in bed and forget about it.

hope all is okay with the group and good luck to all. btw my knee gel shots are doing well and i will be going to get another three shots in december.

Joan, I hope number 3 is the lucky charm for you. It can be difficult finding the right dr sometimes & when you do you will know it, makes all the difference in the world.

When you say the one dr wanted to cut your nerve, are you talking going in & doing a full blown surgery to cut it, thats pretty radical. A lot of us have had ablation of nerves endings done by radio frequency but this is a one trip visit to the dr after doing a trial block to see if we are a candidate for it.

If they don't inject the correct level or area then its all for nothing particularly in the spine. Good luck with number 3 & let us know how the visit goes.

I do all my injections under floroscopy as a matter of fact they're not sticking needle's in my back anywhere without the ability to see where they're going. I have had good success with the 4 I have had that way. Good luck.

Joan I'm with you on the nerve thing and floroscopy is likely what he is going to do. He actually can watch real time where he is inserting the needle, so could I. I was sedated prior to the process and I should have only had about 30 mins in recovery but my doc was really liberal with the numbing meds and unfortunately I lost all the feeling below my waist for a few hours and that meant no bladder control either so I had to stay awhile. He was working at L4-5, and S-1 so it was not that unusual. I got months of relief that was great. Hoping you do as well!!

I have no experience with the type you're referencing but for what it's worth, I had some success with my superior hypogastric nerve block. It cut my pain by about 1/2 for almost three days, and that was just my 'test' run.

I am trying to find a time in my schedule to fit in another one. I have to go to San Antonio for work twice in the next month so I would like to do it the day before each trip.

I hope you get really good results!

Well I don't know if I said that rest had helped me quite a bit. For a few days I just layed around in bed and read books.

I saw my doctor on October 23 and never heard anything about it yet. I just have the achy pain now due to the rest. During the summer I had pain so bad that my hand was shaking. I think it may have been from carrying up a big milk, yogurt, cottage cheese and a melon upstairs. It is only twenty steps but a lot for me.

I called today and supposedly the pain doc number three got all my paper work and will call me soon to let me know about the availability of an appointment.

The reason I am doing this is because I know there is something off with my back and maybe can get some help with that.

My one knee is doing fine.

I hope I don't have a bladder problem with the procedure!!! Always something to worry about.

Take care of yourselves ... my healing well friends.

Hey Joan...Sorry to hear that you've had to wait so long.  Perhaps this will be the lucky charm=)  I just wanted to offer my support and understanding for both your back pain and your knee pain.  The Synvisc I should help your knee.  I get the injection in both my knees to delay FKR.  They are "throw-up" painful, but SO WORTH IT in the long run.  Initially, I got relief up to 16 months.  I had my last ones in April/May...BOB is already screaming for more=(  I don't know how much longer Ortho will administer, as she stresses the need for replacements.

I hope that you have success, as you know, our "gait being off" screws up our spine alignment...IF unlike mine, yours was ever actually "aligned".  Please take care of yourself, and don't overdo.

(((Hugs)))

~~Dixie