Did anyone of you who has had the facet blocks get any kind of sedative to take before the procedure?
My doctors nurse said she doesn't usually prescribe anything but I have heard that they usually do.
Should I take something?
When I had an epidural I didn't take anything and was okay.
Christina

Hi Christina http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

I have had the epidural shots, Discogram, and the Facet Joint Blocks. May I just say, and my doctor told me too, that the worst pain from them all is the Facet Joint Blocks. I am not sure why the docs don't give out something before those. The Facet Blocks for me were the worst.

Luckily, in the am I took a little bit of my pain meds, and a xanaax that I take.

Don't be scared. The Facet Blocks are all part of the process with the back. Why are you having them done?

I had to have them done so that my doc could rule out if my back pain was coming from the Facet Joints.

Hope this doesn't scare ya.. just wanted to let you know http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Let me know how you do!

http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif cj

Hi CJ!
It is so nice to hear from you, haven't heard from you in forever, it seems anyway.
Are you recovering any better? Hope so!
I hear the facet blocks really suck but I think I'll be okay. I think my pain tolerance is pretty high throughout all this.
I am having them done because I explained my symptoms on a piece of paper and faxed it to my doctor suggesting the blocks because I really do feel like my facet joint at L4 L5 is messed up. He called me back telling me that he made an appointment.
I am scared to do it but know that it could be the answer that I am looking for as my disc pain just isn't the same this time around as far as tearing the disc.
It actually is really tender and hurts to push on my L4 L5 area at all and just the pain sounds so much like facet joint disease.
I know the success rate is rather low but I am hoping that the steroid that they inject will just totally take away the inflammation in the joint, break it all apart and make it go away. Wishful Thinking!!
I'm not in pain during the day unless I do something I shouldn't and when my disc was really messed up last time, it didn't take much to put myself over the edge.
It's just different!
I have this on the 21st.
Did you have alot of pain afterwards?
I am most afraid of it making me worse as my pain isn't severe unless I screw it up.
I have visions of them putting the needle through me disc and tearing it again too. I need to stop analylizing it!
I hope you are recovering well!
I'll keep you posted!

Christina http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif

------------------
26 years old:Complete thoracic fusion (13 levels)at age 17 due to scoliosis: Now, suffer from DDD in lumbar and sacroilliac joints, torn and ruptured discs, facet joint problems and arthritis of course.

Hi Christina,
I have had 3 lots of facet blocks in the cervical spine. 2 in c5/6 and one in 3/4. The 5/6 blocks were not painfull for me just uncomfortable and I recovered well. The 3/4 block was less uncomfortable but more painfull afterwards with loads of headaches. I am having more facet blocks and a nerve block in 2 days and am scared of the nerve block rather than the facet injection. I guess it's when you don't know what it's like you find ways to scare yourself with the unknown. The thought of an epidural really scares me. I know what you mean by over analysing and worrying. Best to just get them over and I think you may find they are not too bad.
Mel

Hi Christina http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

I am sure you will do fine. I think the most important part of the equation is, do you trust the doctor doing the procedure?

You sound like you know what you are doing, so try not to worry. I know that is tough. Even when there is nothing to worry about, I still worry! It is a sick, sick ordeal. Probably the reason I injured my disc in the first place.

Thank you sooooooo much for asking about my recovery. I am now post op from the IDET 8 weeks, and sad to say, I am feeling worse! I am remaining positive though. From what I have learned about the IDET that most of the healing will happen between 3-6 months post op.

I never imagined in a million years that I could experience so much pain, as we all do with our backs.

My prayers will be with you for your facet joint blocks http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif

Like I said, you seem to know what you are doing, and I am sure it will all work out http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif cj

Hi all!

I know that this is an old thread... but, I searched facet joint and came up w/ quite a few. My doctor has set one up for 7/29 and I have a couple of questions.

1) What is pain from facet joints? Christine - why did you think your pain was from Facet Joints?

2) Why would the procedure itself be more painful than a discogram?

Thanks for any help....I'm just starting my research on this subject, so please humor me! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif

Karen

------------------
9/22/00 24 hour labor, baby posterior, left tailbone killing me
12/00 MRI - PCP said nothing amiss - but, had to begin taking vicodin
2/8/02 - 2nd baby born after long, painful pregnancy, weight gain didn't help
2000-11/02 various PT + pain meds
11/02 Referred to Neuro
3/03 NEW MRI - shows slight bulge L3-L4,slight DDD, neural foramen involved, Superior aspect S1 and L5 Nerve root involvement -Neuro Refers to PM for ESI
3/03 PM Doc orders ESI
3/21,4/1,4/8 - ESI's no help
5/9 - Discogram - shows Tear L4 w/ significant leak onto nerves, DDD
Performing doc oversedated, False Negative (pm doc & I agree)
New Consult w/ Dept Head Cleveland Clinic 7/8 to discuss possible new discogram/IDET candidacy

Hi Christina, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

I had Versed for all of mine, but I did have a few selective nerve blocks without using anything, I will never repeat that http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/hammer.gif

Please keep us posted.

Good luck http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/t_up.gif

Baxter http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif

------------------
Two level laminectomy fusion L5-S1 & L2-3 done on 12/6/02.
I regret the day that I agreed to have this surgery.
Fifteen inch scar from the very top of butt crack (sorry), to the bra line.
BAK cages, rods & screws.(Titanium)
My pelvic bone was used for grafting.
Praying that the other two discs in between, won't have to be fused later, as I was told it was a possibility, due to the other two discs in between, not being in that great of shape.
Doc didn't want to fuse four levels, unless it is really necessary.
I would hate to repeat the surgery, as the recovery period, is so very painful.
I also have a free fragment in my T11-12 area, that I'm still refusing surgery for, at this point in time.
That surgery is way too dangerous for me to consider, until if affects my being able to walk.

Hi guys!

Karen,
I'm not sure what is going on with my pain yet. I have researched it so much as far as facet pain and believe that is my problem as I know what disc pain is like and this just isn't the same. What is your pain like????
I have never had a discogram nor do I ever want to! I didn't think that the facet blocks were all that bad. I have a high tolerance for pain but they really weren't too bad.

Christina