BlueSteam
05-05-2006, 10:36 AM
I'm scheduled to have a one of these and it was suggested thru another board to seek advice from you folks about the safety of these injections. I do have pretty severe DDD and athritis also. I have read the Burton Report and now I really don't want it. I believe the pm dr will be doing this at C-7? I have had neck, arm, and shoulder pain with severe headaches. I started on topamax about a month ago which helps with the headaches. Because this is a work comp claim I think I am going to have to have a lot of evidence showing that this will be a bad thing for me before they will give me the OK not to have it done. I can't imagine doing something that could cause me more pain or do more damage. Other than the Burton report is there anything else in peticular I could look into or does anybody have any other advice? Now I'm starting to shake in my shoes. :confused: Kissa-- any advice you have would be great. Thank you.
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SpineAZ
05-05-2006, 10:32 PM
:wave: I went through two series of the 3 epidural injections. These were done in 2004 and 2006 at the C6-7 level. In 2004 the ESIs worked exceptionally well :bouncing: and I was pain free for over a year :D . When the pain came back I did a second series of 3 ESI in Feb/Mar of this year and while it took the edge off of the pain it did not relieve it as it had the first time around. If it had, I'd do a series of 3 every year to avoid surgery.
My doctor's theory is that in 2004 I had the protruding disc but the MRI did not show any spurring. The lastest MRI, from 03/2006, shows spurring at C5-6 and C6-7.
So after all this :eek: I am actually headed toward a C5-7 ACDF on 5/18. Like I said, if the injections had continued to work I would have stuck with them....much less troublesome than surgery.
My doctor's theory is that in 2004 I had the protruding disc but the MRI did not show any spurring. The lastest MRI, from 03/2006, shows spurring at C5-6 and C6-7.
So after all this :eek: I am actually headed toward a C5-7 ACDF on 5/18. Like I said, if the injections had continued to work I would have stuck with them....much less troublesome than surgery.
BlueSteam
05-08-2006, 11:19 AM
Thanks Kross--I do have spurring, so I wonder if it will even work. I also have athritis and ddd in there. I realize there is no miracle anything, but I'm so tired. I personally know people with athritis and then people with buldging discs, but not all of it put together. So far the best thing that's helped is the topamax and I'm not sure how much longer I can handle being on that. I hope your surgery goes well, maybe you will be pain free!!!
dennisgb
05-08-2006, 12:09 PM
Kissa,
I had the injections at C6-7 prior to my surgery. I had all of the problems you describe, herniated disk, bone spurs, etc.
I got about a month of pain relief from the injections.
The problem is that if spurs are pushing on the nerves, you only get temporary relief.
Dennis
I had the injections at C6-7 prior to my surgery. I had all of the problems you describe, herniated disk, bone spurs, etc.
I got about a month of pain relief from the injections.
The problem is that if spurs are pushing on the nerves, you only get temporary relief.
Dennis
ember919
05-08-2006, 11:02 PM
bluestream,
i've had three injections with all mixed results. one gave me relief for over a year -- not a complete loss of pain, but certainly an improvement. the second made my symptoms worse. the third was again helpful, though only for a month or so.
if you're in a lot of pain, you should certainly consider giving it a try. a pm doc is likely to be most experienced. if you have concerns or questions, be sure to ask questions and address them beforehand, might give you a little more peace of mind.
i've had three injections with all mixed results. one gave me relief for over a year -- not a complete loss of pain, but certainly an improvement. the second made my symptoms worse. the third was again helpful, though only for a month or so.
if you're in a lot of pain, you should certainly consider giving it a try. a pm doc is likely to be most experienced. if you have concerns or questions, be sure to ask questions and address them beforehand, might give you a little more peace of mind.
BlueSteam
05-09-2006, 10:46 AM
Thank You--I feel a lot better!!
BlueSteam
05-09-2006, 10:48 AM
Dennis---do you also have athritis and ddd?
dennisgb
05-09-2006, 11:09 AM
Dennis---do you also have athritis and ddd?
Did have.
They took the discs out and scraped the spurs, etc, when I had 2 level ACDF surgery.
Dennis
Did have.
They took the discs out and scraped the spurs, etc, when I had 2 level ACDF surgery.
Dennis
ember919
05-09-2006, 06:20 PM
bluestream,
ditto for me. if you poke around in the threads a bit, i think you'll find that your problems - ddd, arthritis & bone spurring - are pretty common. physical therapy, medications and injections are among the options your doctor will typically try first in an attempt to provide you relief without surgery.
ditto for me. if you poke around in the threads a bit, i think you'll find that your problems - ddd, arthritis & bone spurring - are pretty common. physical therapy, medications and injections are among the options your doctor will typically try first in an attempt to provide you relief without surgery.
BlueSteam
05-10-2006, 10:45 AM
My dr told me that surgery was not an option for me because I had the ddd and athritis. He said he would end up doing my entire back. Now I wonder if I really had better get a second opinion. If he would just do something with my neck for now I would think I was in heaven. We tried physical therapy which included the typical traction, masage, etc and every time they touched my neck I ended up with a migraine. My dr even had me go to a chiro 3 times a week which I feel hurt me further. (that was before my new pm actually looked at my mri and saw the bulges). I guess when I go in on Fri. I will ask what is actually causing the nerve problem, and then see what happens. I am feeling a lot better about the injection. It could be the answer, and it is possible that it could cure the headaches and get me off of the topamax--which would be really nice. That stuff is not fun at all. Thank you--you guys are great!!
dennisgb
05-10-2006, 04:33 PM
My dr told me that surgery was not an option for me because I had the ddd and athritis. He said he would end up doing my entire back. Now I wonder if I really had better get a second opinion. If he would just do something with my neck for now I would think I was in heaven. We tried physical therapy which included the typical traction, masage, etc and every time they touched my neck I ended up with a migraine. My dr even had me go to a chiro 3 times a week which I feel hurt me further. (that was before my new pm actually looked at my mri and saw the bulges). I guess when I go in on Fri. I will ask what is actually causing the nerve problem, and then see what happens. I am feeling a lot better about the injection. It could be the answer, and it is possible that it could cure the headaches and get me off of the topamax--which would be really nice. That stuff is not fun at all. Thank you--you guys are great!!
Once you follow this course of action, if you don't get relief, go back to your GP and ask for a different referral, a spine surgeon or orthopedic spine specialist/surgeon. The issues you have are the same as many of us here, and most of us have had the surgery.
Dennis
Once you follow this course of action, if you don't get relief, go back to your GP and ask for a different referral, a spine surgeon or orthopedic spine specialist/surgeon. The issues you have are the same as many of us here, and most of us have had the surgery.
Dennis
BlueSteam
05-12-2006, 11:32 AM
Thanks Dennis--I'll go ahead and give my pm a chance to help me first and see what happens. You guys have made me feel a lot better about everything. I won't say I'm not scared stiff, but I have a better outlook. I have such a fear of needles!!
ember919
05-14-2006, 03:10 PM
i don't know if this will make any difference to you at this point (i think you saw your doctor friday?), but if yes, perhaps you can still ask your doctor about it.
my first two injections were as you've described - needle(s) stuck into my neck. i was well sedated the first time, so had no memory of the injection itself, only before and after. the second time, i was only lightly sedated, so aware of everything, and it hurt a lot.
my third injection was handled differently. a catheter was inserted into my upper back and snaked up under the skin to the cervical area. the steroid 'cocktail' was then injected through the catheter. again, i was knocked out for the few minutes it took to do this, so have no memory of the procedure.
based on the concerns you've expressed here, the catheter method might be an option you'd feel better about.
just thought i'd throw that into the mix. regardless of what you do or don't decide to do, i hope you get some relief from your pain soon.
my first two injections were as you've described - needle(s) stuck into my neck. i was well sedated the first time, so had no memory of the injection itself, only before and after. the second time, i was only lightly sedated, so aware of everything, and it hurt a lot.
my third injection was handled differently. a catheter was inserted into my upper back and snaked up under the skin to the cervical area. the steroid 'cocktail' was then injected through the catheter. again, i was knocked out for the few minutes it took to do this, so have no memory of the procedure.
based on the concerns you've expressed here, the catheter method might be an option you'd feel better about.
just thought i'd throw that into the mix. regardless of what you do or don't decide to do, i hope you get some relief from your pain soon.
BlueSteam
05-15-2006, 12:34 PM
Ember--thankyou for your reply and everyone else--one thing I was wondering about, on another board in the pain management, someone mentioned the risk of getting headaches from the injection--did that ever happen to you? Headaches were something that I have suffered from because of the injury and are now trying to get me again. I suppose I will have to go up on my dose of topamax. Something I don't really want to do. I am really hoping the injection will take the headaches away for good, not cause them. I will also admit to feeling a little bit better and doing some things I shouldn't have and probably brought it all on myself :p Thank you for writing, you won't believe how much more at ease you are making me feel :angel: Angela