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Had my first epidural steroid injection...Ouch!!!

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Posted 9/19/2011 5:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone!  Well I had my first epidural steroid injection for my low back pain on the 13th.  The first couple of days I thought it worked wonders.  However, today I am having horrible burning pain in my lower back and right leg.  I was just wondering if others have experienced severe pain post ESI...like 5 days out.  I've read that it may take a week or 2 to get relief, but I guess I'm frustrated and just wanting to vent.

My husband seems to think I was supposed to have been *fixed* right away and I think he doesn't understand.  I feel so bad that he is working hard and I just can't keep up with the house work.  I've been moaning and groaning and laying around with a heating pad. 

Has anyone else experienced this burning type pain about 5 days after your ESI?  Thanks in advance for your replies and I hope you all are having a low pain night....I'm also so sick of being an insomniac shocked

Posted 9/19/2011 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning Mysti!

I noticed that you wrote an almost identical post a few days ago, and several members replied back to you, but you never answered back to them. I have provided a link here for you so that you may read their well written and thought out replies.

I think if you will take the time to read them, it will answer your question here. Also, I think you would be best served by continuing your questions and information on the orgional post, as members will appreciate the history of what has been shared and advised to you, and the history of your questions as well.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=16&m=2212531

We all hope you get to feeling better soon!

Take care,

SE
Posted 9/19/2011 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ,MYSTI sorry to hear your in so much pain ,as for the steriod injection ,yes I had them ,in neck and elbow,the elbow on the next day ,Ithought something went wrong ,kinda burning pain like you described ,it took a few days to go away.I think what your doing now ,by laying down one heating pad is a good thing!As for the house work ,it will be there when your able to do it!For now just look after yourself,till the pain goes away,if its not better in afew days call the dr. Ido hope it gets better soon! I myself have 7days till my big surgery to remove a rib? I'm told its painful,but Iknow Iwill make it !Please take care from michele
Posted 9/20/2011 5:00 AM (GMT 0)
smhair  Screaming Eagle....oh my goodness!  Wow, I don't know if it's the meds or what, but I absolutely had forgotten I made that post a bit earlier....yikes!  Now I'm really embarrassed....and apologize for taking up space for a new post.

I had a follow-up visit with the PM this morning.  I left feeling very frustrated because he said I would need another injection in a higher up disc...I think L3...and I was wondering why in the world he didn't do that one at the same time as the one I just got.  It was kind of a major ordeal having to get someone to take me, then go 65 miles to the outpatient clinic....then the IV and all that stuff.  So now the dr's office is supposed to call me with an appointment date for the next injection.  I do understand that they can probably inject just a certain amount at a time and I did get 2 injections at the same time, so I get that.  But just frustrated also because the dr. talked a good while about how my back will never get better and I will have to deal with this pain issue for the rest of my life.  How depressing. 

He did make some med changes.  He increased my Lyrica (which my PCP was prescribing...this may be an issue) and gave me a rx for Zanaflex.  He took me off Flexeril because I told him it just didn't help me.  I took a Zanaflex today and it just knocked me out and made my whole body feel limp and shoulders hurting.  I don't know if I'm going to continue with it, but I will try just a half tablet at bedtime.

Thank you for your replies...and I hope everyone is feeling comfort tonight.

Posted 9/20/2011 12:34 PM (GMT 0)
 

      Good morning Mysti!

             Hey no biggy on the double post, I just wanted to be sure and give you a tip that might benefit you and the members. I know excatly what you mean about the meds making a person forgetful. I have done things like this several times, and I'm sure it won't be the last! wink

      Where was the first "Epidural" injected? Maybe the L3 will be close enough to it, that it will help a little more. I'm thinking you are allowed three of them in the same area, so don't be surprised if they will want to do all three of them.

      Also adding a icepack to the injection sight, might benefit you as well,...so give it a try.

      Take care, and keep us updated please. We enjoy having you on the forum with us!

        SE wink

Posted 9/21/2011 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mysti. Screaming Eagle is right as usual. When my pm dr did my shots in my back she would only do a set of three. She said that's all dr's are allowed to do. As far as the ice is concerned, I can't use it. It only makes things worse for me. And like someone told you before, it probably stung because the injection sight was tender. Some people are more sensitive to needles than others. Either way, I hope you get some relief!
Posted 9/21/2011 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you kat1611 for your reply!  Yes, that's what I am understanding about the set of 3 injections only.  I guess I was just wondering why the PM doc didn't go ahead and inject that 3rd disc (L3) he said needed it, too.  It was my 1st injection, but he put 2 separate shots into 2 separate discs...just wish he could have done the other one too!  May be one reason I still have some pain.  I kind of question whether the dr's hold out on doing the "other disc" because it will more profitable, money-wise, for them to do it in another session.  Makes me wonder...

I can't really tolerate ice either.  I know they always say to ice it at first, but I just find that ice/cold is painful to me.  Heat always feels more comfortable.  However, when I applied a heating pad to that injection site...wow...I had to remove it fast, as it felt like my skin was going to rip open!  I guess, like you say, that injection site was still tender.  It actually still is, so I think I am one of those people that are sensitive to needles.  I do remember, as a kid, that vaccinations and other injections always hurt so bad for me, even causing my arm/butt to swell up.

Anyhow, it's good to meet you here...but sorry you have the need to be here, too.

Posted 9/22/2011 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
Take your ice pack and wrap it in a pillowcase.  It will provide an excellent buffer and allow you to tolerate just a little bit of the coolness that could provide just the relief you need.  I know this from experience.  My hands absolutely can NOT tolerate the cold at all.  There's no way, no how.  But, when there's swelling involved, if I will take my pain meds and wrap an ice pack as I described, I am able to get the swelling to subside, relieving the nerve pressure and providing great relief.  And, for me, it normally doesn't take more than 7-10 minutes.  ANY length of time will probably help greatly.

Prayers and gentle hugs.

~Cathy

Posted 9/22/2011 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Cathy and thanks for your good advice. I'm going to try that with the pillowcase, like you suggested. Actually, I was placing my ice pack in a baggie so it wouldn't leak, then applying that directly...which gave it no buffer. I've also wrapped a towel around it...which was too much of a buffer lol. So the pillowcase sounds about right!

Gentle hugs back to ya (((((((((()))))))))
Posted 9/23/2011 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
When I said my pm would give me a max of one set of three, I meant she would do one shot, if that didn't work, come back, another shot, come back, another shot. She wouldn't do all three at once. But I hope you don't need another shot. Just more ice(or not), and some recovery time.
Posted 9/23/2011 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
I never had shoulder injections, but the epidural I had on my spine caused me severe pain for around 4 days the last time I had it done. It was an all over ache and burning in the hip, sort of felt like every joint in my body had been smashed. Thankfully that feeling went away. I hope you're feeling better!
Posted 10/2/2011 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
I had three facet injections combined with lower lumbar since 08. The first one ine 08 seemed to work for almost a year. My back pain was down to about a 3 or 4 which is like no pain for me. Pain came back and broke down and got another one in December and then one in June. Neither helped an it seemed my last one made my pain worse. They are so expensive, especially the anesthesia. I am thinking of doing a L4 because I have no where else to go. My bone dr said they will not give me my meds anymore and pain management drs treat you like you are an addicted criminal. I have always had pain sensation down my leg and tingling in my foot. Tried lyrica and it worked almost immediately and I was ecstatic. Second day pain is creeping back and tonight pain is bad. I wish they could inject you with permanent numbing medicine or block that particular pain receptor. Jeeze it just seems like there should be an easier way or solution. I think you shouldn't bear the pain, you should illuminate it if possible. I think pain management drs should require for them to experience chronic pain before they can become a dr.
Posted 10/2/2011 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
They will only do set of 3 b/c we are dealing with potent steroids. I had an irresponsible mad doctor who gave me too much in a period of 3 months and I ended up in the psych ward with roid rage.

No fun!

Good luck

Maggie

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