spinal injection

Yesterday I had my 3rd injection since I had my surgery 1 1/2years ago. My
question is if there is anyone that must take these injections on a regular
basis? After my surgery in jan 2007 my back never really quit hurting.
after about a year I had all the pain I could stand and went back to my
surgeon. he says my problems are in different locations from where he done
the surgery and wanted to try some injections. the first lasted about a
month and I did not go back for this one for about 2 months. the pain was so
bad that I could not even stand long enough to fix a meal for me and my
husband. I just cant stand or walk. the shot helps but only temporary. If
any of you are familiar with this please let me know your schedule and your
other treatment. I also take oxycontin, tramadol. and celebrex for pain.
they ease it somewhat but not enough that I can function when I am at my
worst. I am so depressed with this pain I need some advise.
thanks
janice

--
Janice

no advise since I haven't had to go thru that, but wanted to let you know
you are in my prayers and thoughts and very dear to my heart.

--
Love and hugs to all
Love Squirrely

> Yesterday I had my 3rd injection since I had my surgery 1 1/2years ago.
> My
> question is if there is anyone that must take these injections on a
> regular
> basis? After my surgery in jan 2007 my back never really quit hurting.
> after about a year I had all the pain I could stand and went back to my
> surgeon. he says my problems are in different locations from where he done
> the surgery and wanted to try some injections. the first lasted about a
> month and I did not go back for this one for about 2 months. the pain was
> so
> bad that I could not even stand long enough to fix a meal for me and my
> husband. I just cant stand or walk. the shot helps but only temporary. If
> any of you are familiar with this please let me know your schedule and
> your
> other treatment. I also take oxycontin, tramadol. and celebrex for pain.
> they ease it somewhat but not enough that I can function when I am at my
> worst. I am so depressed with this pain I need some advise.
> thanks
> janice
>
> --
> Janice
>
>

Janice, am so sorry that you still have so much pain. I don't have any
experience to share with you since I've only had injections in my shoulder,
hip and neck. I pray that yours will help you; maybe the third one will be
the one that really works. Just don't wait so long to go get it, okay?
Gwen

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

"jb" <jsbolick@charter.net> wrote in message
news:lbQfk.82$KI7.33@newsfe08.iad...
Yesterday I had my 3rd injection since I had my surgery 1 1/2years ago. My
question is if there is anyone that must take these injections on a regular
basis? After my surgery in jan 2007 my back never really quit hurting.
after about a year I had all the pain I could stand and went back to my
surgeon. he says my problems are in different locations from where he done
the surgery and wanted to try some injections. the first lasted about a
month and I did not go back for this one for about 2 months. the pain was so
bad that I could not even stand long enough to fix a meal for me and my
husband. I just cant stand or walk. the shot helps but only temporary. If
any of you are familiar with this please let me know your schedule and your
other treatment. I also take oxycontin, tramadol. and celebrex for pain.
they ease it somewhat but not enough that I can function when I am at my
worst. I am so depressed with this pain I need some advise.
thanks
janice

--
Janice

Janice,
I don't know firsthand, but my cousin had a series of three shots about
a year ago. Prior to that she had two disk surgeries. I don't know if
they are the same as you had. She had to go to the hospital and they
injected her spine while using a fluoroscope machine according to what
she told me. She is back to her normal routine now and hasn't
complained of pain that I know of.
I hope you will get some relief by getting the injections.
Ann

Janice,
You sound like you are frustrated and doubting where you are going with
this. Pain is wearing and you need help. I would talk once again with the
specialist and then get a second opinion. Ask for rehab - I have discovered
with the neurological problems that I have (which they are comparing to a
spinal cord injury) that ab and balance exercises are mandatory for
recovery - however they must be balanced very carefully with the level you
can handle - this means a professional pt not just a fitness trainer at the
gym. The rehab doctors etc should also be able to offer ideas for further
pain control - whether it be meds or relaxation or accupuncture or whatever.
For my pain (neurological on my right side from waist down) we now have a
combination of gabapentin and keppra (a med for epilepsy which seems to work
well with the spasming). Relaxation, ice, gentle exercise, pt can all help
although I know the pain doesn't always go away even with all this.
Following his schedule of the injections on a regular basis might help but
if you are feeling it is not helping it might be time for a second or even a
third opinion.

I wish I could take away the pain but I can tell you I emphasize if that
helps. The rehab doctor helped me incredibly by getting me into neuro
physio rehab - it hasn't allowed me to cut back the pain medication but has
given the pain meds a chance to work.

Gentle hugs,
Kelly

"jb" <jsbolick@charter.net> wrote in message
news:lbQfk.82$KI7.33@newsfe08.iad...
> Yesterday I had my 3rd injection since I had my surgery 1 1/2years ago.
> My
> question is if there is anyone that must take these injections on a
> regular
> basis? After my surgery in jan 2007 my back never really quit hurting.
> after about a year I had all the pain I could stand and went back to my
> surgeon. he says my problems are in different locations from where he done
> the surgery and wanted to try some injections. the first lasted about a
> month and I did not go back for this one for about 2 months. the pain was
> so
> bad that I could not even stand long enough to fix a meal for me and my
> husband. I just cant stand or walk. the shot helps but only temporary. If
> any of you are familiar with this please let me know your schedule and
> your
> other treatment. I also take oxycontin, tramadol. and celebrex for pain.
> they ease it somewhat but not enough that I can function when I am at my
> worst. I am so depressed with this pain I need some advise.
> thanks
> janice
>
> --
> Janice
>
>

I had the injections. When the first one wore off (about 6 weeks later), it
felt as though someone had slugged me in the back. When the second one wore
off (about 4 weeks later) I hit the floor. It was just as though someone had
sledge-hammered me in the lumbar region. I obviously did not go back for the
third one. So I have no advice for you, sweetheart, just compassion. I hope
they find a decent answer for you.

DeeTee

"jb" <jsbolick@charter.net> wrote in message
news:lbQfk.82$KI7.33@newsfe08.iad...
> Yesterday I had my 3rd injection since I had my surgery 1 1/2years ago.
> My
> question is if there is anyone that must take these injections on a
> regular
> basis? After my surgery in jan 2007 my back never really quit hurting.
> after about a year I had all the pain I could stand and went back to my
> surgeon. he says my problems are in different locations from where he done
> the surgery and wanted to try some injections. the first lasted about a
> month and I did not go back for this one for about 2 months. the pain was
> so
> bad that I could not even stand long enough to fix a meal for me and my
> husband. I just cant stand or walk. the shot helps but only temporary. If
> any of you are familiar with this please let me know your schedule and
> your
> other treatment. I also take oxycontin, tramadol. and celebrex for pain.
> they ease it somewhat but not enough that I can function when I am at my
> worst. I am so depressed with this pain I need some advise.
> thanks
> janice
>
> --
> Janice
>
>

On Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:24:13 -0400, Kelly wrote
(in message <h9Tfk.10644$nD.8511@pd7urf1no>):

> I wish I could take away the pain but I can tell you I emphasize if that
> helps. The rehab doctor helped me incredibly by getting me into neuro
> physio rehab - it hasn't allowed me to cut back the pain medication but has
> given the pain meds a chance to work.

I like Kelly's idea of a rehab doctor, Janice. Reading your post I was
thinking a surgeon may not be the best doc for treating ongoing pain w/o
cutting. It's possible yours is one of th rare ones who deals a lot with
other therapies, but mostly the surgeons think in terms of quick answers. I
didn't think of a rehab doc until Kelly mentioned it, but that is a specialty
that tends to treat the whole patient for a problem, trying a variety of
therapies to get at the most helpful.

((((((((((((((((((Janice)))))))))))))))))))) all of my spinal nerve stuff
has been treatable - of the slipped/bulging disc sort, but it's taught me
just how miserable tat sort of pain is. May you find some effective help
soon!

--
Nann
remove the Gator cheer to email me
Change everything. Love & forgive.

I get these and they last me a long time. I have been told that everyone is
different in their response to the inj.
I had two a couple of years ago and it was wonderful. I could walk again I
could actually sleep through the night without waking up in pain. Now I see
my spinal doc for the first time in two years. The shot lasted almost a year
I have had to wait until our new ins kicked in before I went again. Now I am
in very bad pain and having trouble fuctining again so I am hoping I get the
response that I did this first time I went. I have a buldging disc and
alkolosing spondylitis (sp?). I am with Kelly on this and the rehab stuff
sounds pretty good to try even for myself.

I am hoping you are getting the responses that you are searching for...
RhondaM


"jb" <jsbolick@charter.net> wrote in message
news:lbQfk.82$KI7.33@newsfe08.iad...
> Yesterday I had my 3rd injection since I had my surgery 1 1/2years ago.
> My
> question is if there is anyone that must take these injections on a
> regular
> basis? After my surgery in jan 2007 my back never really quit hurting.
> after about a year I had all the pain I could stand and went back to my
> surgeon. he says my problems are in different locations from where he done
> the surgery and wanted to try some injections. the first lasted about a
> month and I did not go back for this one for about 2 months. the pain was
> so
> bad that I could not even stand long enough to fix a meal for me and my
> husband. I just cant stand or walk. the shot helps but only temporary. If
> any of you are familiar with this please let me know your schedule and
> your
> other treatment. I also take oxycontin, tramadol. and celebrex for pain.
> they ease it somewhat but not enough that I can function when I am at my
> worst. I am so depressed with this pain I need some advise.
> thanks
> janice
>
> --
> Janice
>
>

Janice,
I had 2 injections before I had my first spinal fusion at the L4-L5
area. I was in such enormous pain after that for over a year that they
wanted to do like you and do some more injections to try and alleviate
the pain. Unfortunately for me they finally took an x-ray that showed
them what was wrong. I had broken every screw in my spine so the next
year they sent me in for a revision. To this day I *still* have massive
nerve pain and was just told by my new surgeon that my L4-S1 fusion had
completely failed and I have Chronic Nerve Damage on the right side of
my spine causing chronic pain. I sympathize with you I REALLY do! From
what I remember of my Pain management doc telling me you are only
allowed 3 injections per 6 months or something of that nature. do not
quote me on that things might have changed since 2002. 4 years after
surgery I took myself off all the pain medications. I was on a ton of
them and felt fantastic for the first time up until about 6 months after
I went off them and wound up with some serious nerve pain. I'm now being
sent back to the PM Doc to have nerve blocks done or selective nerve
severing done. and if that does not work then I will be having a spinal
cord stimulator put in. All that I have found out so far on them is that
they are pretty good they reduce the pain by about 50-70% letting you
take less medication. You may want to ask your doctor if that might be
an option for you it may help. And definitely ask your doctor about how
many injections you are allowed in a 12 month time period so you are
well educated. Best thing is to ask your doc a LOT of questions even if
you think they are "dumb" 9 times out of 10 they are valid. As for the
depression because of the pain I know what it's like I've been there!
Best thing to do with that is talk to your Primary care doc about it
they may be able to help you in that respect. talking it out with
someone helped me a lot. I still live with some serious pain issues but
I no longer let it run my life. If you want to talk just email me. I'm
here..

Sorry for the long post guys!

--
SD

jb wrote:
> Yesterday I had my 3rd injection since I had my surgery 1 1/2years ago. My
> question is if there is anyone that must take these injections on a regular
> basis? After my surgery in jan 2007 my back never really quit hurting.
> after about a year I had all the pain I could stand and went back to my
> surgeon. he says my problems are in different locations from where he done
> the surgery and wanted to try some injections. the first lasted about a
> month and I did not go back for this one for about 2 months. the pain was so
> bad that I could not even stand long enough to fix a meal for me and my
> husband. I just cant stand or walk. the shot helps but only temporary. If
> any of you are familiar with this please let me know your schedule and your
> other treatment. I also take oxycontin, tramadol. and celebrex for pain.
> they ease it somewhat but not enough that I can function when I am at my
> worst. I am so depressed with this pain I need some advise.
> thanks
> janice
>

"StrangeDiva" <stranged@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:48819ca4$0$17196$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> Janice,
> I had 2 injections before I had my first spinal fusion at the L4-L5 area.
> I was in such enormous pain after that for over a year that they wanted to
> do like you and do some more injections to try and alleviate the pain.
> Unfortunately for me they finally took an x-ray that showed them what was
> wrong. I had broken every screw in my spine so the next year they sent me
> in for a revision. To this day I *still* have massive nerve pain and was
> just told by my new surgeon that my L4-S1 fusion had completely failed and
> I have Chronic Nerve Damage on the right side of my spine causing chronic
> pain. I sympathize with you I REALLY do! From what I remember of my Pain
> management doc telling me you are only allowed 3 injections per 6 months
> or something of that nature. do not quote me on that things might have
> changed since 2002. 4 years after surgery I took myself off all the pain
> medications. I was on a ton of them and felt fantastic for the first time
> up until about 6 months after I went off them and wound up with some
> serious nerve pain. I'm now being sent back to the PM Doc to have nerve
> blocks done or selective nerve severing done. and if that does not work
> then I will be having a spinal cord stimulator put in. All that I have
> found out so far on them is that they are pretty good they reduce the pain
> by about 50-70% letting you take less medication. You may want to ask your
> doctor if that might be an option for you it may help. And definitely ask
> your doctor about how many injections you are allowed in a 12 month time
> period so you are well educated. Best thing is to ask your doc a LOT of
> questions even if you think they are "dumb" 9 times out of 10 they are
> valid. As for the depression because of the pain I know what it's like
> I've been there! Best thing to do with that is talk to your Primary care
> doc about it they may be able to help you in that respect. talking it out
> with someone helped me a lot. I still live with some serious pain issues
> but I no longer let it run my life. If you want to talk just email me. I'm
> here..
>
> Sorry for the long post guys!
>
> --
> SD
>

Nothing to be sorry for. Sometimes it just takes every word.

Harv