Question regarding epidural??

bearo7 · 04-22-2006, 09:40 AM

Hi I was wondering if someone who has had epidural injections help me with a few Questions.

I have a herniated L3 L4 with a Tear, most of my pain has been in my left hip and upper buttock , not in my back.

Had first epidural injection one month ago (think it was Cadural) not sure of spelling. Pain really bad first day then proceeded to get better, but only lasted about a week.

Had second injection Trasforaminal ESI 4 days ago (Tuesday) , again severe pain that evening but in the lower back, took a pain pill and anti inflamatory and was better the next day. Just sort of rested the second day (Wednesday) Took one anti-inflamatory in afternoon since I was just a little uncomfortable but not to bad.By Thursday feeling a little better did a few things around the house, nothing major a little uncomfortable took one pain pill.

By Friday morning was feeling pretty good, did a little grocery shopping and a little cleaning no pain, just a little discomfort(more like stiffness in lower back when I bent over) Had not taken any medicine. By Friday night noticed a little bit of a thobbing pain in my hip(first time since the shot) but it did not last long and did not take any medicine, just put a little ice on it (as instructed)

But this morning I woke up at 4:00 am in terrible pain in my hip and upper buttock first time since injection ( again this is where my pain had been but had been fine since the injection) However this pain is worse then it had ever been before.

My husband is telling me it is probably because I did some shopping and a little cleaning yesterday (but this was 72 hours since injection and I felt fine) I did not do any lifting etc.

Anybody have any advise on this, or went thru the same experience. Was there something I should have done differently. Maybe the pain was being masked by the anti-inflamatory (but the last one I took was Thursday and this is Saturday.)

Thanks for any help

mmusilli · 04-22-2006, 11:19 AM

Hi... Did your dr recommend a physical therapist? What is his plan for this besides epidural? Usually, they give epidural to reduce inflammation / pain in hopes that you can slowly heal on your own, and get physical therapy. It is important to move around and excercise BUT to do the right things, and not bend over like you said you did. Physical therapist will teach you how to strengthen your "core" which is your stomach, buttock, back, legs, etc so that it supports your spine and reduces load on spine, thus, less pressure on nerve, and herniation can heal. Otherwise, you keep putting pressure on nerve, and it keeps getting inflamed, etc.. What kind of Dr are you seeing? I suggest a spine specialist / neurosurgeon and not ortho or chiro.... Ice is good, as it reduces inflammation.. Your hubby may be right... by shopping you were lifting heavy bags which put pressure on your spine which right now, is very sensitive... SOO.... keep moving, but dont lift anything and no bending over.. Make sure Dr has a plan... Surgery is option but only if PT does not help over 6 weeks...

Maurice

mmusilli · 04-22-2006, 11:20 AM

One more thing... Is your dr prescribing muscle relaxers like Soma or Valium? Flexeril is too weak, at least for me... This along with anti inflammatories will help..

Maurice

bearo7 · 04-22-2006, 11:45 AM

Hi, Thanks for your reply.

Actually I had six weeks of PT prior to Epidural, no relief. Actually I had been doing Pilates 2 yrs prior to Herniation so My Core was pretty good(I would think) The muscle relaxers also did not help( Norflex), The only thing that gave me relief is Lodine(anti inflamatory) but I have been taking since November and am starting to get GI upset. So i really do not want to take them too much anymore. maybe I should have him give me a different muscle relaxor

The ortho dr stated after injections next step would be surgery, which I do not care to have.

I am just suprised the pain I have now so severe was from carrying a few bags which were not heavy and bending a few time.( guess I should have squated) I know they said I can return to normal activities the day after shot, and I did not do this until 3 days after, and the pain is more intense now than before.

Also would you know if warm moist heat would be beneficial

Thanks for your help

Kissa · 04-22-2006, 11:59 AM

Sometimes when we feel good and don't realize it we over do thing which could have possibly happened to you. I agree that you might want to ask for a different type of muscle relaxer, they do not all work in the same way and what might be effective for one patient may not be effective for the next. Be careful with the Lodine, you should mention to your doctor about the GI upset, you may need to be put on something for that. There are other types of anti-imflamatories which are not as harsh that can also be tried.

Warm moist heat can help but be careful if you have any swelling because it does induce swelling. If you have swelling then using ice for 20 minutes every hour will help, once that's down then try the heat.