Connect
← Return to Epidural lower back spine injection recovery time/and side effects
Discussion
Epidural lower back spine injection recovery time/and side effects
Spine Health | Last Active: Jul 26 12:04pm | Replies (51)Comment receiving replies
It is hard for me to empathize with so many of you. I have had these injections since about 2008 and I have never had a negative reaction. I have had injections and ablations in my lumbar, thorax and my cervical. I have received pain relief from as little as 3 months to as lengthy as 18 months. I am beginning to wonder how much is dependent on the doctor who is doing the procedure. As far as cost, Medicare and my supplement pays for it; except Medicare will no longer pay for the anesthesia.....it costs $100. I was going to say no to the anesthesia but my pain management doc recommended that I not do that. He said that it would be quite painful and that I would be moving around quite a bit. And that would make it difficult for him to guide the injections.
Replies to "It is hard for me to empathize with so many of you. I have had these..."
LOL - My Pain guy told me most people do this without anesthesia. I said "I'm a baby with pain" and he said "Do the anesthesia!" He didn't want me moving at all when he did this. Shot #1 did nothing at all - except the 1st 2 days were almost pain free. BUT - that was the Lidocaine, not the steroid. Yesterday he did the shot caudally, telling me it works better. His post procedure instructions say pain could be worse for a day or two - He Was Right! THe caudal shot has no Lidicaine - he said that would cause numbness & possible paralysis in legs. This has to work, and last at least 2 months, as I have a much anticipated trip to europe - 8 hours on a plane, and getting up to the Arctic circle to (hopefully) see polar bears. If pain like this, I don't know that I can handle the trip. Cancelled this same trip 5 years ago due to COvid.
Connect
I have had 2 injections: the first one last 3 months with no pain; the second one worked a little for 3 months. I have my 3rd one coming up this Wednesday; I hope it works like the 1st one.