I have had 7 steroid injections in the past several( 8) months no pain for just 24 hours! after that the pain was very severe, and i had pain where i never had it before the shots. i could not stand or walk for 2 weeks it was so bad at times , hot flashes that woke me from sleep if they didn't the pain in back and leg would. I couldn't stand up in morning or walk from pain and cramps it took at least 30 minutes of walking to ease the pain in leg and back, I wasn't told about these side effects and when i asked the doctor he said he doesn't know why i had them,also my face was very red and i had hives. the drs, think this is an easy fix ,but it doesn't work for everyone ,steroids can be very dangerous. the last dr. i saw said no more steroids for you.and i still don't know the reason for my pain, which is in my hip area and down my thigh. good luck to everyone having issues with back pain ,hope you find relief and better yet a good doctor you can trust.!!
What kind of doctor are you going to? Have you gone to a neurosurgeon or a orthopedic surgeon? If not, you should start with a specialist who can give you more options in terms of diagnoses and pain relief
Hi, i am going to a spine surgeon and i also saw a neurosurgeon and a physiatrist. so far no relief, i have just started physical therapy. i am told differant things from each.one dr. said to have rhizatomy ,another said not to, so i decided to be my own doctor for now. the injections did not help at all. but maybe the therapy will.
thanks for responding, hope your well. Patricia
Thank you ,you are right ,the physiatrist and neurosurgeon said do not have the rhizotomy done.! I feel bad that it seems to be all about money with some doctors. they also said i had way to many steroid shots from the spine surgeon in to short a time.
thanks for your advice. Pat
sure enough 3 a year MAX they say as it can cause tissue damage, my anesthesiologist did 4 cervical injections, but the last 2 were 1/2 doses and no more till next year,Maybe they did some nerve blocks or used some different injection Meds to be able to follow protocol on that one. I can't see them intentionally OD you on steroids for liability reasons, but if so that's why NO MORE I suppose. As you found out they are not working for you, I had been using a walker to get around after a bad fall and neck injury, and after my first one, I started using a cane and ditched it in 2 weeks or so and got strength and feeling back in my hands and arms also my right leg, so they do work on some people and the Doc depends on the outcome also.
Have a good one and take care
You said they still don't know what's causing your pain. Have you had a recent MRI or CT scan? With the brief description of your symptoms, it sounds like you have a nerve irritation or compression in your lumbar spine that is causing the referred pain to your knee and thigh. If it is the front of the thigh, it is often a L3 or L4 nerve causing the problems. (maybe both!)
Regarding the number of steroid injections, the 3 per year (and some doctors say 3 within a six month time perriod) is fairly arbitrary. It depends where it is being injected, what specifically is being injected, the amount, etc. If you are having diagnostic nerve blocks, they may or may not add some steroid to the numbing agent. But there is no reason to give more than is absolutely necessary for the purpose.
If one is having an ESI they are usually given in a set of three. If the first two have no effect, there is no point to give a third one.
Hi, good to hear you are doing somewhat better. the injections were all the same steroid 3 shots dec-jan. then I got 4 more facet injections same steroid again this april. well its done and i can't change that,just hope for the best.!
You said they still don't know what's causing your pain. Have you had a recent MRI or CT scan? With the brief description of your symptoms, it sounds like you have a nerve irritation or compression in your lumbar spine that is causing the referred pain to your knee and thigh. If it is the front of the thigh, it is often a L3 or L4 nerve causing the problems. (maybe both!)
Regarding the number of steroid injections, the 3 per year (and some doctors say 3 within a six month time perriod) is fairly arbitrary. It depends where it is being injected, what specifically is being injected, the amount, etc. If you are having diagnostic nerve blocks, they may or may not add some steroid to the numbing agent. But there is no reason to give more than is absolutely necessary for the purpose.
If one is having an ESI they are usually given in a set of three. If the first two have no effect, there is no point to give a third one.
thanks, all the info i get helps ,after going to 3 differant doctors and hearing differant diagnosis's its hard to figure ,im just glad i didn't get the rhizotomy that the dr. that gave me the steroids recommended. take care thanks again
the pain and burning in thigh was caused from the steroids, shown to me after another mri and i was told it was from the needle , before the steroid shots there was no pain in my thigh. and i do know it is l3-l4 where there is a problem ,surgery there later. and spinal stenosis.
Steroids definitely cause side effects. I had 4 epidural steroid injections last year and only received a few days of pain relief but I got a period (3 years after menopause, gained 10 lbs, developed a hump on my back, was more prone to hives, had horrible hot flashes and my blood pressure became high for the first time in my life. The thing is when my L-5 is very inflammed, predisone can make the pain manageable but I hate the side effects because that is a steroid too. The doctors never tell you the side effects.
The Following User Says Thank You to sawa108 For This Useful Post: patjerseylady (06-30-2012)
You said they still don't know what's causing your pain. Have you had a recent MRI or CT scan? With the brief description of your symptoms, it sounds like you have a nerve irritation or compression in your lumbar spine that is causing the referred pain to your knee and thigh. If it is the front of the thigh, it is often a L3 or L4 nerve causing the problems. (maybe both!)
Regarding the number of steroid injections, the 3 per year (and some doctors say 3 within a six month time perriod) is fairly arbitrary. It depends where it is being injected, what specifically is being injected, the amount, etc. If you are having diagnostic nerve blocks, they may or may not add some steroid to the numbing agent. But there is no reason to give more than is absolutely necessary for the purpose.
If one is having an ESI they are usually given in a set of three. If the first two have no effect, there is no point to give a third one.
Hi, I have a question , like i said i had 7 steroid injections from dec to april that would be 5 months that i had them, they were 2 in december 80 mg of depo-medrol plus lidocaine and then 1 in janurary the same type and amount of medicine.
in april i had 4 facet injections of depo-medrol 40 mg at L4 -5 ,L5 S1
would that be counted as 7 injections . or not . like i said in my last post ,my new doctor said no more ,ive had to many!!
