3rd epi injection and no relief - Pain Management Message Board

mom2threekids · 04-24-2009, 06:32 AM

Hi everyone. I am so confused/scared/lost right now. I had my 3rd epi injection 2 days ago and have yet to feel any better. I am actually in more pain every day. I am by no means saying my doctor screwed up or he is the one to blame for my pain. I was hoping this was the 'fix' I needed to avoid surgery for several years.

How many of you actually felt better or even got reliefe for a short period of time? How many of you got worse? Is it normal for these injections to just not work for some people?

I am a mom to 3 babies under 6. I have a 6yr old, a 3 yr old and a 7 month old baby. I cannot live like this. My husband can only do so much. My house if falling apart. I am unable to be social any more. I can't bend over the tub to bath my kids without being in severe pain. I cannot blow dry my hair-that is just a joke. Anything that requires me to hold my arms up just knocks the breath out of me. I can see that my left arm (my baby carrying arm) is so weak. I feel like I could drop my baby. I have been propping her on my hip and locking my wrists together to ensure a good tight hold and now my lower back/hip area is just screaming at me. Grocery shopping is so draining for me. Pushing the cart with groceries and 3 kids is just down right painful. I have constant muscle spasms. My trapazoid muscles are always rock hard and my left shoulder just about touches my ear most of the time. Before I got the injections all of these things would happen but now it is so intensified. Do you think trigger point injections would benifit me?

I take 60 lortabs each month and 90 somas. They help but I feel like I need them all day every day. Before I could get away without taking so many pills. Do you think I should ask for an increase in meds? My next appointment isn't until May 6th and I know I am going to run out of lortabs early unless I take a few days without taking them. For the past two days I have taken 2 every 4 hours! For my last 2 injections they gave me toradol which worked great and then then next time they gave me a steriod pack to take for 6 days. It also worked great. But I am maxed out on those drugs for another 2 weeks.

I am very scared that this (my pain) is just going to escalate and get worse. I was told by my family doctor and by the pain doctor that I have to have suregery at some point-but what is that point? I have so much numbness in my hands esp on the left side and so much weakness on my left side as it is. I just don't know how I cant have surgery with no family within 800 miles and 3 little ones and a hubby who's in the military. What else can I do to help with the pain? I am not a canadite for physical therapy because of how comprimised my spinal cord is. The doc is afraid it may do more damage. BTW I have some herniations in my c-spine. I have DDD and spinal stenosis. The report also stated straightening of the lordosis whatever that means. c6-7 is the worst of my neck problems. The disc is pushing on my spinal cord.

Any advice? Would more medication get me through at least the summer? I would like to hold off any type of major surgery until after my baby is walking. But if that is not in my best intrest I guess I would have to make arrangements to have family come stay with me. How long is the recovery for c-spine fusion? Could I be recovered in a few weeks? Recovered enough to perform my daily activities and take care of my kids without the help of someone?

I know there are so many ?'s here and this is so long and I am sorry. I just dont know where to turn. My mom had c-spine fusion 15 yrs ago and still is in constant pain. I dont want to be in her shoes. She cant even drive! I know no 2 people are alike but shes all I have to 'compare' my situation to. Thanks so much in advance

Amy

nancyjo · 04-24-2009, 08:23 AM

Hi Amy---

I am so sorry to hear you are still in so much pain! I know it is very overwhelming, particularly with little ones to look after.

I also have similar problems to yours in my C-5,6, and 7 discs, but I've never had the series you just completed. (The only procedure I've had was the series of two SI joint injections).

However, I HAVE had trigger point injections when my neck and shoulders were totally frozen like yours are and they helped tremendously. The only "downside" is man, do they hurt!!! It's a good thing the doc had me sitting down, that's for sure. Still, the relief was immediate, so it was worth the pain.

You definitely should call Dr. Patel's office to let them know what's going on so they can decide what needs to be done, plus they need to know you've had to use more pain meds than usual the last few days. That way it won't come as a surprise to them when you need a refill before the month is up.

Keep us posted on how you're doing...hang in there!!

NancyJo

mom2threekids · 04-24-2009, 08:57 AM

Hey NancyJo. Thanks for the quick reply. This pain just outright sucks doesn't it? I didn't mention my increased pain during my procedure as from what I have observed Dr. Patel doesn't tend to want to discuss or make changes to your meds during that time. I did however ask if I could take more lortabs for the increased pain that I always have following the injections. He ok'd it saying I just have to make them last the month. He said he wished he could give me another steriod pack or more toradol since they both work so well for me but that may compromise my health ie internal organs and suck. So I will not be calling for ealry refills that is for sure! I have only been going to PM for a few months and don't want to screw this up.

I have heard that trigger point injections are indeed quite painful but worth the relief even though it's short term. But I am wondering how do they go about finding the trigger points? Do they just use their hands to feel or is a scan required? I am very thin being 5'4 and weighing 110 lbs so its very obvious where the knots are. They start on my left trapazoid and go all the way down to my lower rib cage area. I looks like I am flexing my muscles! Also what to they inject into the trigger points? Is it just lidocane or another type of steriod?

My last question is have you had any cervial surgery? And if so what was the recovery like? If I get 2 levels fused and all goes well and I heal up according to the doctors schedule how long will it be before I can drive? pick up my kids? grocery shop? Is it 4 weeks? or more like 6 weeks? I am just trying to get an idea of how much help I will need and for how long.

Thanks again so much for your kinds words and quick reply! I hope you get some pain relief from Comprehensive. Do you have an appointment yet?

Amy

nancyjo · 04-24-2009, 10:19 AM

Hi Amy--

First, no -- I haven't had any surgery; being a single mother with a full-time job, that's just not real in my world, you know? I'm sorry I can't give you much info in that particular are.

My previous PM doc shot me up with the cortisone (presumably) in my neck on the spot during an office visit; it was obvious exactly where he needed to inject. That is the great thing about these PM docs also being anesthesiologists: they're pretty darn good at getting exactly where they need to be! That was very evident when I had the SI injections, since the SI joints are very small and require a scan while injecting...man, you can always tell when the hit the spot dead-on, too...yikes! Honestly, I left teeth marks on my forearm to keep from yelping when I got the cervical injection; that's just a really tender area, as you know.

I called Comprehensive but they needed all sorts of releases and things fax'd over, so I decided to return to the practice my former doctor was with. The office manager has recommended a woman doctor who has joined the practice since my previous doc left; I left a voicemail earlier to make an appt., so I'm sure I'll hear back from them soon.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, something I was warned about in another thread is taking place: one of the guys posted that I should ask for straight oxycodone/oxycontin instead of Percodan, citing possible liver damage. I KNEW this was a concern with Percocet, which is why my doctors have always opted for Percodan in my case. I nearly died from hepatitis when I was a teenager, so I have to be extremely careful.

Unfortunately, I got a phone call yesterday to inform me that a recent ultrasound indicates liver damage, so I'm a little freaked out about continuing with the Percodan. My hope is that my new PM doctor will consult with the liver specialist about the best course of treatment for me. Of course I'd love to stop taking the pain meds altogether, but let's face it: that's EASY to say when you're on them, but not so much when you have none and everything locks up!!!

If Dr. Patel has already told you he won't give you more meds this month, I sure hope that epidural kicks in soon to give you some relief!! Try to rest when the baby is resting, and maybe apply some moist heat; I make my 30-mile commute each morning with a moist heat pack on my SI joints and it helps tremendously.

Let me know how you're doing,
NancyJo

ibake&pray · 04-24-2009, 12:36 PM

Amy,

One thing about fusion is that it takes 6 months for you to fuse properly after surgery. And I can guarantee that no doctor will tell you that you can be picking up your little on two weeks after surgery. You may be able to drive after 6 weeks depending how you are-if you move enough, turn your head, etc. So you need to plan for some help longer than that. I had three levels fused.-LL. The othr thing that you may have to live with is that you may have a restriction on the amount of weight that you will be allowed to carry. During the first period after surgery you won't be allowed to carry any thing heavier than a gallon of milk-which is about 8 lbs. It has been 4 years since I had my sugery and I have a permanent restriction of 30 lbs.-which breaks my heart as I have a 2 year old grandson that will be growing fast and passing that weight soon....