EPIDURAL SHOTS

Hi Cry, Sorry you are having nerve pain. It is just aweful, isn't it?? Mine started like a hot knife down my leg. I had some physical therapy, traction and some spinal injections. I would have the injections and then have to lay flat for several hours. I had these once a week for three weeks. But they sure didn't block the pain. The pain got less intense but over the years it is still very much there in my hip and down my leg. I'm so sorry you are dealing with this too. Lots of us have questionable dx. The important thing is that they are treating your symptoms. Sometimes these diseases are hard to differentiate because several can cause similar symptoms. I did find that it is really important for me to position myself very carefully for sleep. I never liked sleeping on my back, but that is the only way to get away from the pain sometimes. I put one long pillow almost under my hip and my leg is bent and supported by the pillow. Another pillow, similar on the other side. Smaller one under each arm and splints on both wrists. *sigh* I don't always need to do this, but often its the only way to escape the pain. Is your pain worst at night??? Blessings!

 Thank you Rosie and Audrey for your prayers and advice , the funny thing is about a year ago I bought to wrist splints from Wall Mart and slep with them for about a month , My thought was my wrist won't hurt so much if I don't move them as much, Guess beautiful minds think alike lol. And I do sleep with my pillow under my legs , that is the only was I can get to sleep . I've been investigating all night about my neck pain think it might be lymph nodes , but it runs down the back of my neck to on both sides . It started on Sunday  only on left side and mainly in back of neck running down shoulder .Then on Monday it was on both sides , now today it's in front but not as strong pain .Collar bone is really sore to . And I was just saying to my self I should get out my wrist splints my fingers are really hurting to , in the middle of a flare I guess. Well ty again tc

                                                        Crystal

Cry,
I would definitely seek a pain management specialist and get a reevaluation of your spine and joints. I can tell you that celebrex made my pain worse, as does GABA drugs like lyrica and neurontin. This is because some drugs are anticholinergenic like celebrex and many antiinflammatories, and the GABA drugs block GABA. Apparenty, my pain problems respond better to drugs that are not anticholinergenic and that allow me to have more GABA. So having a pain management doctor that understand how the drugs work and can make good calls is important. Also, when you get those blocks, you need to be careful, as you know, about infection. Do you have a fever? If so, you need to see a doctor. Also, if you have a curved or crooked or caving in spine with degeneration, taking muscle relaxers all the time can cause it to get worse since you don't have any support for your spine when the muscles are relaxed. When I take them rarely, I have to stay in bed, one false move and I can be really really hurt.

I using Lidocaine patches right now, which are working well, though you can only use them 12 hours at a time. Maybe your primary care doc could help you out. Other medicines that you wouldn't expect can cause back pain and other pain as a side effect, and that is easy enough for you to check out. You can even ask your pharmacist. Also, all my MRIs came back normal until I had a myelogram and if you haven't had one, I would suggest you try to get one. MRIs can be misread and the myelogram is the gold standard for spinal nerve compression. And if you have a problem like that, it might be good to see a good pain management doc or even orthopedic person to get you diagnosed and refered to a neurosurgeon if something like that is needed.

I have been to neurologists and, besides horribly painful tests that show little, I havent gotten any help, dx, or relief. This is my experience, but they are more involved with brain problems, epilepsy and the demyelinating diseases. I have very bad degenerative osteoarthritis and spodylitis, and stenosis. My pain management doctor ordered all the tests, physical therapy, meds, myelogram on my request--which was a good thing, and referred me to a good neurosurgeon. There is new microsurgery with lasers for the back now and lots of new things. Pain management helps.

Hi everybody ,ty for your help . Went to rumey yesturday on friday. My lympe nodes are all swallon . was told I am having a rumatic flare , he took all the blood work ,we all know about so well . I am back on steroids . If they don't work he wants to switch me from celebrex to indocine . then he said I could take this other med that's starts with a m , but I"d have to come in every 6 weeks just for blood work , trying to keep that as last resort . My leg is feeling beter , he gave me anthor script for shot . The last one lasted about 3 weeks I hope this one will last a few months . Ty for all your advice again , I really appricate it , can't spell again , Oh and am thinking about finally going to pain management .
TC And Hagd
Crystal
PS was told to take it easy , like I have choice in that matter lol!