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Injection Question

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Posted 6/21/2011 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
I went for a follow up with my pain dr today and he asked how the new pain med (targin) was working and I said it was alright as we had discussed pain meds causing constipation last visit, I told him I had zero constipation issues but the pain is still like an 8. I also take 10 mg oxycodene as breakthrough.

He had the results from my mri and bone scan and he told me I have several cracked bones in my back and the next step is to try injections and according to him it will either work or not and if they don't he will be referring me for surgery.

I am a diabetic and he said the shots could cause false readings (too high) I'm just wondering if anyone has had these and if you are a diabetic how badly they mess up the readings??

BTW as soon as I told this Dr financially I could not afford to increase the cost of my meds and when he wrote his RX for the injections I asked if these could be done at a location closer to my home and he seemed to get upset by my requests am I asking too much?

Take care
Rose
Posted 6/21/2011 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
I know I'd get a second opinion.

 

Sherrine

Posted 6/21/2011 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thx Sherrine I was thinking about this last night and the Dr said if these shots don't help he refer me for surgery but I was referred to this pain dr by the surgeon who said he will not do a fusion until I loose more mobility he said when I am in a wheelchair and I am not there yet. My back hurts but I think this could still be controlled with a slight change in pain meds. I will go see my gp and discuss this with him as I need to be sure of this before I go ahead.
Posted 6/21/2011 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Rose, are these compressions fractures?  These are usually caused by osteoporosis and there are things you can do to help prevent more from happening.  I'd sure want to know how I had spinal fractures. 

 

Sherrine

Posted 6/21/2011 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
Sherrine the back surgeon said I have Spondylolistesis that I have a break in my lower back that heales wrong and a chip is floating around those results he got from mri, the pain Dr checked the mri and had me do a bone scan and he said I have multiple cracks in my lower back and hopefully the steroid injections would give me some pain relief in my back. The downside of the injections is they might not do anything for my back pain but they will definately cause complications with my diabetes control.
I just need some pain relief because I am in pain 24/7 sometimes my overall pain goes down to a 5 and those days are heavenly but most of the time its 7-8. I am hoping removing some back pain might give me some good days.
Posted 6/21/2011 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
That sounds horrible, Rose!  Prednisone does affect the blood sugars.  I have had to take Prednisone at times with the problems I have and I, too, am diabetic.  Since the shots are localized, it might not mess your sugars that badly.  I've always taken pills...except I did have cortisone shots in my back many years ago for muscle spasms.  Actually, they didn't help me one iota but this might help you. 

Can a pain patch be used on your back?  This might be another alternative. 

 

They do sell large Bed Buddies that lay over your shoulders and on your back.  I've seen these at Walgreen's and I also think Bed, Bath and Beyond have them too.  This might give you some relief because moist heat feels wonderful with pain. 

 

I hope you find something to give you some relief.  

 

Sherrine  

Posted 6/21/2011 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Sherrine, I will try to talk my hubby into pulling out my sewing machine so I can make a larger heating bag. We don't have a walgreens here but I do have lots of rice and barley and some baby soft flannel so I'll try it.

I have just reread the Drs report and he has ordered injections to right L4-5 L5-S1 on both sides the report also said mild joint degeneration.

I am also going to get ahold my my diabetic team and get checked again by them and listen to their words of wisdom regarding this. I know if I don't and my glucose sky rockets I will be in good hands with them.
Posted 6/21/2011 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Rose,
I am going through the same thing right now. Six weeks ago I went to a pain management doc and she gave me an epidural under fluouroscopy. This is the first time a fluouroscope was used, my rheumy never did and his injections never worked! It took her over an hour to do it because it was so very painful for me but she was patient, kept giving me numbing agents and here I am six weeks later and so far, so good...well sort of. That awful pain I had at l5/s1 is practically nonexistent, doesn't wake me in the middle of the night and the sciatic pain was gone until last week. It all came with with a vengeance...but...I had my 9 year old grandson here for a week and we ran like I was 30 years old...walking all over downtown, one day over four miles, then at the Cubs stadium, walking up and down rows of seats, and then went to two fairs...literally walking every day for a sold week...By Saturday, I was in such a pain flare, but I do understand why. She has now put me on Mobic, I went to see her today, to see if it will help to subside the fibro flare. She is trying to hold off giving me another injection.
I wish you well
Miriam
Posted 6/21/2011 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Mariam, I have spent the last 3 hours reading and rereading reports and the mri radiologist states I have spinal bifida occulta so that's a little different than the back surgeons report. I wish these guys would talk to one another and then make a decision and stick to it not have a pissing contest on who has the right diagnosis. I don't really care at this moment what is causing the pain lets get rid of it and we'll talk...maybe. I just made the appts to have the injections starting next Tuesday one a week for 6 weeks.
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