Caudal Epidural?

Can any of the experts here, tell me if a Caudal Epidural might give me more relief or if it might speed up the healing process from my Double Lumbar Fusion?
My pain has returned, and seems to have plateaued to a constant 3-4 pain rate. This is so disgusting to me!
I hate it! I hate pain meds as well! I'm in my sixth month of recovery here, and cant stand the thought of 6 more months of recovery!
My fusion is L4-L5, L5-S1

SE

Gosh Michael I wish I could help you. I hate to see you in pain still.

I hope someone comes along here that has experienced this or as I mentioned a call to your surgeon should give you some answers.

Know that I care about you and love you. I pray that your pain will diminish and you can be that superman again!!!

Huge hugs

 

SE if the problem you are having is from nerves being inflamed then this may or may not work. They can be done like the regular ESI's in a series of three spread out over weeks. The only healing involved here is if the nerves are inflamed and it may get the the inflammation down enough for the nerves to heal. You can't seem to get a winning hand yet with your back pain and that's too bad considering you went thru surgery trying to get the pain down. Check out SpineUniverse.com, its a wonderful extremely informative spine site, and a trustworthy one too. Hope this injection gives you some relief.

Take care...Susie

Oh Michael sorry to hear about the pain, can't help with the technical issues but heat always helps me. Hot bath or heat packs, don't forget sometimes the simplest things can give some help sometimes. I realise your pain is probably well above heat packs, but you never know especially if there are muscles involved.

Best wishes, my heart is with you, golitho

Screaming Eagle,

Sorry things just are not getting any better for you.  It sounds like your pain may be from inflamation, so an epidural will help for a while.  If it is nerve damage causing pain, I don't think it will help all that much

  I say  its worth a shot if  your surgeon and PM want to try it. I had a transforminal (sp) last week, and pain in leg and foot still hanging around. Having the second in the series in two weeks.

Let us know what you decide to do..........Good luck and hang in there.

Hydrangea

Well shoot Hydrangea, I just posted, and saw your reply! :)

ok you got me!....what is a trans ...what ever SP? :)

Of course I could be wrong, but I think you are right, as my pain is not pin/point as it was before the surgery.
It is more over a large general area and radiates out towards my hips. Weird, I guess! :)

This is so madding, as I was sure I was on the mend, and had several days of almost being pain free.
Most of my pain is from bending over and or sitting. Standing, I'm basically pain free.
My muscles feel tight across my lower back, and I have been trying to stretch them several times a day.

I do feel much better than before the surgery, as I was a strong 7-8 on a pain scale before it.

Good to see you here as well! :)

SE:)

Golitho! I must admit that I do remembering talking to you before my surgery, but I am having a terrible time trying to remember who you were :)

So sorry....as it pains me. I just wanted to say that you seem to have a very sincere heart in your responses.

Thank You so much!....as you spark my sixth sense! :) Your Heart Shines bright! :) Thank You!...Thank You!

I have missed so many members here, and fell into a very dark place for such a long time during my recovery....and at times I feel I could easily slip back there.

It's members like you, Lindaloo, tmjpain, Pete, and so many, many others (Tina, Mikel, Dani, Privey, Chutz and so on)....and of course my wonderful, wonderful wife!

My wife has been my ultimate strength and the wind beneath my wings. I'm in love! :)

Again Thank You from the bottom of my heart

SE:)

Sorry SE! I've been a little scarce this week, as I'm on vacation & only have limited access to the computer, and the last few weeks before I was really really busy with work & was too exhausted by the time I got home to post much.

I'm doing okay. I'm really pleased with my stimulator. I've had it for about 4 wks now & I'm getting up to 50% relief from it, maybe even a little more at times (it's bringing me down from a 7/8+ to a 4/5). It doesn't help all the time, I still have my bad days (today's been one of them), but in general, I'm getting significant relief each day, for much of the day. I just met with my PCP last week & we agreed that for now it's best for me to still remain on the same pain meds (which I only take at night anyway, because they don't do much for me & so I have to take a lot to get any kind of relief). But in general, I couldn't be happier with the results from my stim. It takes some getting used to (had to make a few minor lifestyle changes), but so far it's been absolutely worth it. I'm so happy that I stuck it through & fought my insurance company for as long as I did. Thanks for checking in on me.

hugs,
Skeye

Hey Michael...

I'm sorry you've been seeing an increase in pain. I think trying a muscle relaxer, though, is a great idea. At least it's "easy" thing to try and see if it helps. I also think you've been working like crazy and that probably has a lot to do w/ the extra pain (sorry, don't mean to nag you) :)

Anyway, call your doctor asap and see about the muscle relaxer... and try to rest when you can, my friend!

--Tina

         Ok Susie! I have to agree with you on this, and hope that it is the case with me. I have always been a very hard physical worker in anything that I do. I did just get off the phone with my surgeon's nurse, and she will pass the information along to my Surgeon. She did comment that I had greatly reduced my pain meds in a very short time. I asked her not to increase them, as I want off of them as soon as possible.... I need a break from them physically and mentally.

       She was inclined to say that he will try Flexeril or another simular med to help with muscles spasams, if that is what is bothering me. At this point I'm not sure what the problem is, but I do know that when I'm standing up, there is not much pain if any at all. Most of my pain is generated when I shift my body as leaning over or getting out of bed, or getting up from a chair.

       Thank you for your timely responce, and whiile I realize you are not a DR, there is some wisdom here from you that one would be wise to listen to. Thank you so much!

        SE:)

OK Skeye!....now I'm scratching my head here! I thought you just graduated from Vet School? Wow!....I guess my pain meds did a number on me :)

Good for you though! Hang in there and follow your dreams! :)

SE:)

Nope, I wish. I just graduates from college. I'm taking a year off, then I have 4 more years to go, so not quite done yet.

Skeye

Hello Dani! ...Well....I was supposed to have off, then at the last min, they told me to come in, and to keep on coming in on the weekends untill they say stop There not even going to take the trouble to ask in advance anymore. Orders were...just keep coming on in. Since I have experience on all machines here, they seem to use me most of the time.
This will be my 9th weekend or so, and I'm begining to loose track of it. It's the same old cycle....work, go home to bed...work, go home to bed...and many times I sleep right through supper
I'm now on Flexeril, and hope that helps....and the Tramadol is there...but I need to talk to the nurse before taking it, as I have some concern about it. I told them I did not want an increas in my pain meds, and Tramadol looks like a pain med to me.
Take care, and I know you are one busy woman too!

SE