Catheter Injections 2 (Racz Method)

Okay, so today after waiting 3 hrs to see my PM Doctor, we went over his next procedure
which is going to be Catheter Injections using the Racz Method, but not as impatient,
will be outpatient and I'll have the catheter in for a few days with time released steroids
with the hopes it floods the spinal canal at the correct locations and for the procedure it's
about an hour and since I have some sensitivity to steroids I'll have to pre-med with benadryl...and
this all will take place next Wednesday 9th of December, this is supposed to work better
than the regular steroid injections...kinda seems like this is a mini trial pain pump,
except it uses steroids...I guess I'll need to buy a pair of sweat pants for this, I'm
not very fond of sweat pants...I'll be very loopy next wednesday with all the benadryl and stuff..
Hope y'all have pain free days..
My eye's are doing okay for now and the steroid eye drops have been reduce to twice a day, I'll
see the eye doctor again next week as he's keeping close tabs on these eye drops, they sure do make
my eye's itch...
hugz
and Skeye posts on yourself okay, hope your making it thru this semster, prayers to ya.....

Hi Char:

I had 6 epidural steroid injections done through a Racz cathetar. I was told that because I have such a good fusion, there was no way for my doctor to stick the needle straight into my back and get to the area where my pain was originating from. The Racz method is where they go up through your tailbone, through the epidural space until they reach the level of your spine where they want to put the steroids.

I was given an local anesthetic, but it was kind of like too little, too late - he would start the procedure, I would scream, he would give me some local anesthetic, which would numb the area where he was. He would advance the needle, I would scream, he would give me more local, and so on and so on. I was getting the local after each jolt of pain, and it only worked where he was at the time, so as soon as he advanced the needle, we were out of the area that he had just anesthetized. I don't want to say anything to scare you, so I will keep my comments to myself, but it was not fun.

I allowed my doctor to do this 6 times. I had a series of 3, and then when I would have a bad run of pain, out of desperation, I asked him to do one on me 3 other times. The most relief I got from any of them was 3 days, but I know many people get great relief that lasts up to several months.

My biggest suggestion would be to demand to be sedated. My doctor did not offer sedation, and it is definitely not something I would recommend having done without it. When I think back on it, I can't believe I let him do it to me 6 times with nothing, it was out of sheer desperation for some relief.

I will be thinking of you and praying that these injections give you some great, long-term relief from your pain!

Lorie

I hope this turns out to give you a good amount of pain relief but please, watch the amount of steriods being used, and where they are putting it. You don't want to wind up like I am right now Chartreux.....
Sandi

Chart, you sound like me with the sweat pants. I had to wear them after my fusion surgery. I only bought 1 pair and borrowed the rest. The one pair I bought are now my painting pants.

I don't know anything about the procedure your having but it does sound rather scary. Get lots of info before doing it. I do hope you get some longer term pain relief from it. Will be thinking of you on the 9th.

Oh yeah, I'll be sedated or I'll be kicking down the place, I've had 8 facet 2 nerve blocks injections done by quack doc #1 without
any sedation and I still remember screaming and them holding me down pretty hard, even with those table straps, never again
went back to that doctor, I wanted to sue his ...(well ya know the place)...Hopefully these will flood the spinal canal and work...
Thanks for all your kindness...
Hope y'all get some low pain days
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGZ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Well, my appointment for these is at 1:15 p.m. tomorrow, wish me luck, I'm kinda happy and
kinda scared, as I hope this works...
hugz

Good luck to you for tomorrow. Hope it goes well for you and that you get the relief you are looking for.

Suzane

Sending hugs to you, Char, and we'll be waiting to hear how it goes!

(((((((((Chartreux)))))))))

PaLady

I hope all goes well tomorrow!

Lorie

Good evening Chartzy! I'm glad to see that you made it home. How soon before you will tell a difference? I sure hope this will give you some relief! Please keep us posted when you feel up to it. Your buddy.....Michael

I'll go in next week and try to figure out what is causing these asthma flairs, when I go for procedures..
I don't know if it was due to the room being cold, or my being scared...it lasted for about 4 minutes and it's pretty embarassing and all, I hope my PM Doctor won't drop me now for having this asthma flair....
Muscle spasms are under control for now but back is still too sore to tell yet how well the injection have helped...I'm still so very tired...
HUGZ to all...TY Michael and PAlady...

(((((((((((Char)))))))))))). I'm glad you made it through the procedure okay. I hope it helps!!

big hugs,
skeye