Feedback on my Epidural

@labgirl Hi Janet. I appreciate you sharing your experience here. I was wondering if you had an inflammatory response to the epidural injection? Perhaps you could be sensitive to an ingredient in it? I say that because I had one epidural injection in my neck done as a diagnostic, and I had an immediate pain during the injection that started causing burning electric shock pains stabbing into my fingers. I didn't have that pain before the injection. A few years ago, I also had an allergic like reaction to a Covid vaccine and went to the emergency room. After they infused antihistamines, I was fine in 20 minutes. The vaccine had polyethylene glycol in it that had been reported to bother some people, and I have wondered if that is also used in epidural steroid injections. It's a hunch or guess on my part, but something to ask about if you are considering an injection. I won't do any more spine injections, and at this point I don't need them anyway.

Jennifer

I had two treatments that helped. I was put under anesthesia for them…completely asleep. I wasn’t allowed to drive. Had to be driven home. No pain since I wasn’t awake when the shots were administered. They worked well for almost two years and I’m just starting to feel pain again. I have “severe” stenosis in L 4 and 5 according to my orthopedist. He only wants to perform a laminectomy. I really don’t want surgery on my spine. I also have peripheral neuropathy in my feet. Can’t get any relief from it

I have had a few injections over the years, most caused no or very little pain.
But one doctor gave me two injections, one on each side of my spine, that felt he reached inside and pulled my nerves out all the way to my toes. I literally screamed as loud as I could, it was so painful.
My friend who had driven me was in the waiting room, said she didn’t hear anything, so his treatment rooms must have been soundproof!
I believe, from what I heard from my next doctor, he didn’t use any numbing agent, so he could tell it was in the right place.
I would advise getting referrals from friends or online reviews before subjecting yourself to treatments.
My first epidural was done by a doctor referred to me by a physician friend in another city. This doctor said if this gives you no relief, don’t get another, it’s a waste of time and they aren’t good for your bones. I should have listened, as they’ve rarely helped. But chronic pain makes us try what’s available. I wish you the best in your search for relief!

I, too, was advised by my very first pain doc back in 2016 to have epidurals for the lower back pain that I incurred due to a bad ski fall. The first set lasted about two weeks. Then, he tried another set of shots. The relief lasted about two days. I told him no more. Eight years later, and I have been to more pain docs tah I can recall. Invariably, they want to stick it to me again. I let one guy try what he called a caudal epidural. This was, essentially, a set of two shots in the area around the last S joint. The med is supposed to diffuse upward into the area where i was having problems (L5-S1). Big nothing.
I'm not saying that epidurals don't work for some, but if the first one is a flop, just walk away. There is faint chance that subsequent ones will help,

There are different types of epidurals: caudal, intralaminar, and transforaminal. Until I received the transforaminal type, I didnt feel relief of my nerve pain. Also get full dose of 80 units. 40 units didn't help much. There are also 4 different types of steroids that can be used. I do better with a certain one. 30mins prior to the injection I take Zanax for anxiety which helped alot but now I take Valium which greatly reduced any pain or guarding or spasms. Additionally the Dr always uses a topical. I get great relief but sometimes it can take up to 2 weeks to feel the full effect, Hope this helps everyone.

The doctor did use lidocaine before administering the injection. I don't know the exact type of injection it was (as you described above), but I do know that it was 5cc and was injected at the S joint.
I won't be getting any more such injections, that's for sure!
Thanks for responding~

I was very interested to read your response.
Although I didn't mention this in my post, I, too, screamed at the top of my lungs during the entire injection. There was only one other time in my 71 years that I screamed like that, and that was when I underwent a CT angiography of my spine. Both procedures were brutal.
No more epidurals or injections of any type into my spine unless I'm anesthetized in advance.
Thank you for responding; I wish you the best~

I really don't think my pain during injection was due to an inflammatory response. As soon as the 5cc were pushed into my spinal cord and the needle removed, the pain abated.
As I've written to others, there will be no more spinal injections for me.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

I too had a bad reaction to a diagnosic c7 epidural shot, before the injection I only ever have pain in my scapula down my right arm and into my first 2 fingers, the pressure and pain from the injection caused me to pass out briefly, it gave me no pain relief at all, all it did was cause instant burning electric shock like pain and really restricted movement in my neck and thoracic spine
I ended up having a c6/7 spinal fusion 3mths after this procedure. Then 5mths after surgery pain had intensified and spread and I was diagnosed with CRPS, my pain specialist seems to think my CRPS was caused by needle sensitivity rather than the surgery.
I’m now 12mths post surgery and have been diagnosed with ipsilateral CRPS (my whole right side) and nerve studies now show permanent damage in c7 nerve ( that’s where I had both the epidural and the fusion) but pain specialist refuses to try any type of nerve block injection as he feels I could have the same type of needle sensitivity.

Funny thing you mention which I never really though about, is I also had an allergic reaction to the Covid vaccine, ambulance ride, 2 adrenaline shots and an antihistamine infusion…

Has anyone out there fallen on their back and buttocks and had pain sitting, like me. It's been going on gor 8 years after a bad ski fall, It feels like I am sitting on two hockey pucks, one in each butt cheek. In addition to may back pain, for which I have had epidurals, nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulators, now on pain pump. Nothing has ver affected the "pain in the buttocks, sir" For every effect (butt pain), there Is a cause. I would love to find a kindred spirit who has had a similar experience. And, if so. what was done for you?
Thanks! Everyone have a blessed day.