Hi, Had the epidural shot a week ago. The pain is getting worse. Today it was unbearable. I'm living on Oxycodone. It is horrible. Sad that there is not even anyone to call to complain to. There is nothing more they can do. I go for the next shot next week. I am hoping it means that the shot is hitting the rigth spot. The ortho said it is fused. I don't understand the pain. All they say is give it time and the tests look good. Where do I go from here? It is 14 months post op double fusion. Any opinions welcomed. Thanks. Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.:(

Hessie, my heart goes out to you as I am facing revision surgery next week. I understand the daily chronic pain. I wish I had a magic wand and could take it all away for you. You know I would do it for you in a heartbeat.

My question is have you had a second opinion? I know when we have surgery we put all our faith into our surgeon and sometimes they have a hard time admitting there is a problem after surgery. I just don't remember you having a second opinion and I apologize in advance if I remember incorrectly.

God Bless and may you have a Happy Thanksgiving.

You don't have to agree to another epidual steroid injection. I wouldn't, when they aren't helping and might be causing you additional pain.

Have you researched adhesive arachnoiditis? You might do that before you decide to inject anything else in your spinal canal that doesn't end up helping.

I hope your pain lessens soon.

Hessie, I know your pain. It's no friend to any of us. The EPI's did nothing for me. Have they looked at the hardware to be the cause of your pain? Pepper is right, sometimes our surgeons are only looking at their work and not looking at the whole picture. Like the W/C nurse said to me; "He's in denial when it comes to your pain". I have the picture perfect fusion on x-rays, but have severe pain. To my doctor that can't be. After they discussed my issues with him and sent me to a pain clinic, he has changed his tune. It's like putting a new engine in your car and it doesn't run. Get another opinion regarding your pain. It took my doctor over a year and now he said there were issues not addressed in the first surgery because of the time and space in the area to address at the time of the fusion surgery that now can be addressed in the revision. A lot better than, "I don't know why you hurt". I hope you get some pain relief real soon. Eat lots of turkey on Turkey Day. At the least, it will put you to sleep.;)

Hi, Thanks everyone. I really had two other opinions. I saw my physical therapy doctor. He said I should try the shots. Feels it was my last resort. Then the other opinion I guess was from the dr. doing the shots. He said he may be able to take 50 percent of the pain away. I figured it was worth a try. I figured he did not say that he would take all the pain away. I liked the honesty. I figure I will try the second shot and see if it helps. I did have the shots back in 2001 and they did not help. I had a nerve block after which helped for about a year. All the doctors agree that the hardware looks good. So, at least nothing broken or anything. I can only explain the pain this way..... It feels like when you have a sock on and it is too tight and feels like it is cutting your circulation off. Then it feels like it is hot and swollen but it's not. Then pain down the butt to the ankle. The leg looks normal. Then I have the usual pain across my back. It's hard to believe a little nerve can cause so much pain. Do you ever feel that this is not what you signed on for? The pain was not half this bad before surgery. The surgeon says give it time. I know if the shots don't work that it is probably scar tissue. If they take it out it only comes back. Will keep you updated. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Hessie, I think the other 2 posters meant you should get a second opinion from another spine specialist doctor. The dr. who gives the injections is not qualified to diagnose your spine problems. I would not get a second shot if the first one didn't help....in your case, you seem to be worse so there is no sense in letting them inject you again.

It would be good to make an appt with another specialist and take your latest MRI films with you for a new dr. to look at. He might see something your surgeon has missed. Many surgeons do not want to admit that there might be something wrong after they've operated on you! He may not be looking for something new.

Carol

Thanks. I'm a little slow sometimes. LOL It is so hard to find another neurosurgeon. There are none in my plan. My primary does not know any other then picking out of the book. I want someone who someone tells me is good. Not just someone out of the book. It's hard. I think I will try one more shot. It happens to be on my birthday (Wed). Maybe it will help. I had read that if it hurts alot that it means the meds are getting around the nerves where they need them. Have you ever heard anything like that? Just curious. I'm almost resigned to the fact that I will just have pain the rest of my life. I think I can deal with the pain I was having but nothing new. Today it actually feels a tiny bit better. Nothing to get excited about but better then yesterday and the day before. Maybe that is why they do them every two weeks. I'll keep everyone posted after my next shot. I really appreciate your and everyone's repsonses.

Hessie, may I second cherir's idea to research arachnoiditis, more specifically adhesive arachnoiditis. I joined this board to research my intractable back/bilateral leg pain. I had been to a neurosurgeon, had MRI's, emg's, nerve conduction tests' etc. and lived with advancing disability over the last 18 months. A veteran of this group, Moldova, posted a new topic on October 9th about being diagnosed w/this condition, arachnoiditis. I wondered what it was and started to ****** and investigate AA, and the more I read on nearly every symptom I said, that's me, that's me, that's me...I got out my MRI's after learning what to look for, after joining a support group named cofwa, reading 60,000 posts in that group, and had come to be nearly certain that I was an arachniac, too.
My diagnoses had been DDD and peripheral neuropathy prior to my second surgical opinion on 10/26. I was armed with a clipboard full of my notes. The surgeon had my MRI films up on the viewer and was telling me that he thought a two-level fusion was the way to go and still couldn't find a relation to the leg pain. I politely asked, "Could you put up all the axial views of both MRI's and just see if you might notice any nerve clumping?" Within seconds he said yes and said, "You have arachnoiditis". He said that surgery was no longer an option and referred me to pain management. I'm not happy knowing I have an incurable spinal cord disease, but at least I know what on earth is going on. AA is very much underdiagnosed and many folks with diagnoses of DDD, RSD, CRPS, Stenosis, FBSS, and others, may really have AA. Further surgery and even ESI's or taps could cause further scarring and disability if one has this disease. I am sorry that Moldova has AA, but posting about it here kept me from having a painful, expensive, operation that would have led to more pain and more disability. I am truly thankful for this board. My name is Ernie and this is my first post here. May you all be blessed with low pain days, thanks.

Hi Hessie
I am so sorry you are in so much pain. You mentioned your pain goes down your butt and all the way down to your ankle. Several years ago I had severe pain like that and I went to the ER. It was my sciatic nerve causing the pain. Once I started taking anti-inflammatory meds it healed and stopped hurting. I hope that you have a speedy recovery, Hessie. Please keep us updated.

Mus:)