What am I in for with epidural injections?

Has your condition been diagnosed by a physician yet?

Considering an Epidural but uncertain to try it.
I manage the pain in my lumbar region. Pain is mostly in the morning when I get up from bed. I sleep with pillows under my knees.
I use a heating pad which is my best friend. I do stretches daily and walk at least 2 miles daily.
I’m fine during the day after I use heat and stretch. But it takes at least 2 hours with my morning routine and then walking routine.
I avoid oral pain killers but when needed I take Aleve. Any advice?

Considering an Epidural but uncertain to try it.
I manage the pain in my lumbar region. Pain is mostly in the morning when I get up from bed. I sleep with pillows under my knees.
I use a heating pad which is my best friend. I do stretches daily and walk at least 2 miles daily.
I’m fine during the day after I use heat and stretch. But it takes at least 2 hours with my morning routine and then walking routine.
I avoid oral pain killers but when needed I take Aleve. Any advice?

Considering an Epidural but uncertain to try it.
I manage the pain in my lumbar region. Pain is mostly in the morning when I get up from bed. I sleep with pillows under my knees.
I use a heating pad which is my best friend. I do stretches daily and walk at least 2 miles daily.
I’m fine during the day after I use heat and stretch. But it takes at least 2 hours with my morning routine and then walking routine.
I avoid oral pain killers but when needed I take Aleve. Any advice?

@shrinkette
I have had over 6 injections. They helped some at first but then stopped working. Over time, injections can cause issues with joints so not good to get too many for too long. It sounds like you are able to manage well without them. After my injections stopped helping, I moved to lumbar decompression and fusion surgery.

Gokhale Primal Posture Method was a great help managing my severe spinal stenosis.

@shrinkette
I have had over 6 injections. They helped some at first but then stopped working. Over time, injections can cause issues with joints so not good to get too many for too long. It sounds like you are able to manage well without them. After my injections stopped helping, I moved to lumbar decompression and fusion surgery.

Unable to find out more info regarding this method. Could you please explain.

Did the surgery help?

@tct
Yes. I had/have severe central canal stenosis (have a congenitally narrow spinal canal to begin with), degenerative disc disease, cervical myelopathy (spinal cord compression injury), neurogenic claudication and small fiber neuropathy. I have had ACDF surgery on C5-C6 (2022) and C6-C7 (2025) and decompression/fusion on L3-L5 (2024).

Before my lumbar surgery, I had significant pain, numbness and weakness from low back, hips, buttocks, thighs down to my feet, especially if I stood or walked more than 5-10 minutes. This improved/reduced significantly after surgery. I need to maneuver a little differently with the fusion and get stiff in my hips if I sit too much but have no regrets about getting the surgery.

Due to my narrow spinal canal from birth, I will most likely need more surgeries throughout my lifetime. My pain started in my early 40s (soon after having my one and only child at 40) and I am not in my mid-50s.

It is critically important to research orthopedic spine specialists/surgeons with excellent reviews and ratings. Meet with a couple and only work with one that is respectful, a good communicator, and highly qualified/experienced doing the procedure needed.