| Injections for sciatica
I have over the last 12 months developed more back problems now including nerve compression in my lower back. I have suffered from localised chronic pain at L4-L5, L5-S1 now for over 8 years but now my bottom and thighs are getting worse and I have had some ct guided nerve root injections. Partly it was to see which nerves the problem was coming from but now I have had the injections to try and treat my problems until my 12 months is up with the private health fund for a pre-existing ailment.
The first injection at L5 worked well for a couple months so I went back to have both sides of L5 done and my specialist did L4 himself without the CT.
My problem is that when they did my left side the doctor had to move the needle a couple of times to get it into the correct space. Now That spot has been sore for a few weeks and doesn't seem to change. I am concerned that when they do these nerve root injections are they doing more harm than good? I don't want to damage the nerves there before they even have a chance to operate. I am worried about these injections as they are more painful than the facet joint needles I have had in the past. And this is new to me.
I really hope it lasts a lot longer this time, I am not keen to rush back for more. My specialist wants to do S1 nerve roots as well, but he will do that himself and he doesn't try to get the needle right in. Just until I feel the nerve twinge, where as the CT guided ones go right into the space in the bone and it does hurt quite a lot.
Does anyone else have this problem and just suffer through the injections? Or am I just worrying for no reason?
I really hope there is some thing positive coming in my future, I can wait a bit but then I am going to the best spine clinic I can find through my health fund and pray that they will do the disc replacement as I am sure the degenerating discs are causing all my problems. But my GP just says that I shouldn't get my hopes up as they may not want to touch me.
When I swim and just let the weight come off my back and my legs just dangle, it is like heaven. I feel that the pressure comes off the discs and it is the only time I am not in much pain. In comparison of coarse.
Please someone talk with me. I haven't had much support lately. I even rang a help line the other day just to share my story a bit with someone who would listen. It is going to be a long year and I have to get through Xmas and newyear yet. That has always been the hardest time of year for me.
Allan
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