Epidural Steroid Injection C-spine--tomorrow, advice???

Hi Everyone,

PMD was able to really push things thru quick this time. I am scheduled for surgery (colostomy w/ rectum removed, complete hysterectomy, bladder sling) on the 27th of this month, so I needed to get the neck stuff done soon. Usually their office takes weeks or months to get things done, this time, I saw the doc Tues, and by Weds, they called to schedule the procedure, to be done on Friday!! Guess they are capable of moving quickly when they want to!

Been having issues w/ bulging discs in neck and other stuff, but mostly the problem is a pinched nerve causing pain in left side of neck and numbness/tingling down entire arm into my thumb. Did PT for about 6 weeks, before that tried just resting it, meds, etc. Nothing worked, so injection scheduled for tomorrow.

I know very little about this whole thing. Have never had neck injection before. Have had lots of lower back stuff done: surgeries, SI joint injections, steroid injections, RFA, and of course meds, PT, TENS, etc.

So, what's the deal w/ the neck? Anything to really be aware of? Things to do/not do? I know this is super short notice, but I'd appreciate any advice or feedback you could give me about this. I will be calling my colorectal surgeon in the morning to double check/make sure it's ok, as well as calling my headache doc (scheduled for botox for migraines on the 20th) want to be sure no conflicts.

Any thoughts??

Thanks,

Sunny13.

Sunny I also can't think of anything you would need to know that's different then the other injections you have had. Pretty much same post procedure regardless of spinal area. Good luck with your other upcoming surgeries!

I have had plenty of lumbar and neck injections. Some worked, some didn't. Some worked a while, some for a long time. It's hard to predict.

Partly, the difference may be what type of injection is being done. There's a difference in where the medicine is injected and why it's being done. Facet joint injections, for example, are done to see if ablation will work. they don't usually last long, although they can.

For lumbar especially, ablations have helped the longest, but even those haven't always stopped pain.

I've never even been offered anything for anxiety or pain for the injections or even the ablations. They hurt, but it's only very brief pain, and I much prefer to keep my mind. Some people are given Versed, but it doesn't do anything for pain, only makes you forget.

i think the performing physicians can take time and use Marcaine or Ropivicaine and Decadron or Methylprenisolone or Triamcinolone rather than the more convinent:Lidocaine and Prednisone. i have had a good result with Celestone and Decadron.