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Sciatic pain

Chronic Pain | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (52)

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Profile picture for brennankb55 @brennankb55

@csbarry ~ I had a CSI injection just yesterday morning. It wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't horrible either. I have a great physiatrist who administered it as I've been having excruciating sciatica all down my left leg. However, it's a temporary fix for me. A recent MRI shows I have cauda equina compression, so I'm seeing a neurosurgeon in about a week. Right now, I'm just experiencing injection site soreness, which I expect will be gone in a day or two. But for the past month, I could barely walk even using a walker, and sitting made it worse. My only relief came from lying down on my right side. So I put ice on it after I got home, and took a nap. When I got up, I was able to walk without assistance, even though my pelvis and legs feel weak, there's no longer the shooting, stabbing pain in my butt! The doc said to give it 3-5 days for the steroid medication to work, and not to get frustrated if it took longer than I wanted for it to take effect. But I'm happy already with how it feels. Even if my MRI shows I'm going to need something more permanent done down the road, at least this shot has finally given me relief.

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Replies to "@csbarry ~ I had a CSI injection just yesterday morning. It wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't..."

@brennankb55

I will be 73 in October. My doctor ‘suggested’ an MRI. I told her that the gabapentin has taken away 90% of the pain and each day it gets 1% better! (I’m probably at 92% now)

I told her at my age I’m definitely not having back surgery!

She said in that case if the gabapentin is working and you’re not choosing surgery, then there’s no point for the MRI.

As long as I have decent ‘quality of life’, for the time I have left, I’m good to go!

I don’t have a death wish but I’m like Paul.

To live is Christ, to die is gain!

@brennankb55

How is Caudal different than an epidural that goes directly to the affected nerves?