How long does it take for a cervical epidural injection to work and other ?'s...

Background:

I have severe and debilitating scapular, teres muscle, and lat pain.  It's been discovered a few months ago that cervical spinal stenosis and a bulge in C6-7 may have been the problem the whole time.  Last Thursday my doc gave me an epidural under the x-ray machine thing.  I felt better for about 3 days(placebo?), but not so much in the 5 days since.  Should I be discouraged by this, that a) the Stenosis/Bulge isn't my problem  b) even if it was, it's too far gone after being untreated/diagnosed for 10 years? The doctor has obviously told me some things, but I want some input from folks who've had real-life experience w/ this themselves.

Questions:

1)How long did it take for yours to work?

2)If it didn't do the trick the first time, did more injections help(if so, how many)?  Or were they a lost cause.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

There are usually two parts to the injection -- an anesthetic (which kicks in almost right away & may have been what made things better at first) and a steroid (which is supposed to be longer acting).

I've had the same issue as you, with relief at first followed by nothing. Doing it under the flouroscope did help me some because at least then the docs could get it consistently in the same place -- or if it didn't work then in a different place -- but it's not a guarantee either way.

Epidurals are a pretty inexact science, so just because it didn't work one time doesn't mean it won't work in the future. I think there is a limit though of how much they can give you in a row -- something about tissue damage or something from the steroids, I'm not sure I remember exactly.

Also, have you been putting ice on the the injection site? Usually that helps me get a little better relief from the epi.

Take care & hope you feel better!
frances

Good input... Thank you both.

Hi Lake Murry,

 

Haven't seen you around lately and really hate to hear how things are going for you. My pain dr sayd its really a good 2 weeks before you will know if an eppie is going to work or not. I think not sure Frances hit on the head, the first relief you feel is from the novacainr type deadner used. The steroid is suppose to help reduce inflammation and it is not fast acting. Personally I have little faith in the ESI's, these are the ones done in a series of 3 injections spaced apart. No you cannot have alot of the total series done close together. My first dr that I totally trusted told me they are really useless on people that have had pain for a long time.

 

I am under the care of another excellent pain dr and he did the Radio Frequency under Floroscopy on my neck. They say they will last 6 month sometimes longer. I had an excellent response to this procedure. For the first time in years I no longer felt like I had baseballs under my shoulder blades. I had done every type of PT out there to no avail, went thru chiropractic care and nothing would relieve the mess until I had the RF done.  I was totally amazed that this dr did something that took that pain away because no one else had had any luck doing so. I also had a medial branch block done, along with the RF on my low back and facet injections.

 

I hope somehow you can find something that works. If you try the 2nd injection and get no relief I would not bother going thru that a 3rd time. Steroids can be great for many, many things, long term use is not good for our bodies. Good luck and get to feeling better. Susie

Maybe you can try it again. Sometimes if they are just a hair different in placement it can make a big difference. Sometimes it takes a cumulative effect for them to kick in. If your doc's cool with doing another one, why not give it a shot? (ha, ha. I just got that when I re-read it. :)

Another option is to get a facet injection (you can even get multiples at one time). Instead of going in your lower back, they are injected at the level of your pain (in your neck). It uses a shorter, skinnier needle so it doesn't go all the way down into your dura. I think it works on the nerves or the joint, or something. Maybe you can look it up. Or else maybe another member knows. If the facet injections work, even if only for a couple weeks, it would be a good indicator that perhaps the Radio Frequency could work for you. They can do the facet injections either "blind" or under the flouroscope. Prior to the RF, though, the docs need to do the facets a couple of times under flouro to make sure they're hitting a pain sensor & not a motor sensor on your nerve (otherwise you might not be able to move your arms for 6-24 months until the RF wears off :).

Anyways, don't get discouraged. There are a lot of options out there. You just need to look at this like a job or training for the Olympics or fighting in a War or anything else that inspires you to keep going until you succeed. Having a positive attitude is super hard, but if you keep telling yourself positive things (especially if you say them aloud) they will become easier to believe. Seriously, there's like a hundred different things you can try & one of them is bound to work.

---> sending happy thoughts plus 8 lucky smilies over to you --> :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) -->

Just had my 1st c5/c6 epi injection yesterday. I'm in more pain now than since the issue began 3 months ago. My GP said I'd have relief after 24 hours, yet the Doc who administered it said 3 days, as well as the possibility for up to 2 more. My issue was more nerve impingement, with a minor bulging disc - sharp, radiating pain along both shoulders - especially rear delts, biceps and (of course), neck/traps. It's amazing how this affects your normal, everyday routine.

Pain meds and tylenol are my friend!!

All the feedback on this thread is extremely helpful - thank you to everyone who has posted.

 

I am having the epidural a week from today...........my doctor told me that the pain will worsen, before it improves..........that its a couple weeks-month before you see full benefit........
A bit nervous about having it done, but am tired of the pain