Scared of pain during L4 & L5 nerve block: Please advise

Posted by marnie51 @marnie51, Aug 30, 2025

I’m 74, female with degenerative disc disease with some spinal stenosis. I have severe arthritis in my lumbar L4 and L5, causing debilitating pain. I’m told I need a nerve block. If that doesn’t work a procedure called an ablation. My problem is pain. I don’t tolerate pain very well and I am scared to death of experiencing any sort of pain during the block. Please advise on anything that might help me.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

Randy Shields | @randallshields56 | 3 days ago

In reply to @jom212 "@vicinsoflo i went through months on pt and injections and they until they don't. You might..." + (show)

I concur with finding another doctor. i was getting injections and Pt when
had the hospital explored better they would have found a ruptured disc was
the problem from the beginning. I went 4 months b4 they did lumbar MRI and
CT. By that time I had just started seeing my old chiropractor and after
pulling me aside after getting my records, He showed me the rupture they
had missed. weeks later and a lot of work he had me walking without all
the pain i had been going through. John also corrected a couple other
issues i had with discs and I am almost 70 and had he not done the work he
did and treatments by his pt staff I would probably not be walking as I do
now. Their compression table and trained staff gave me back a lot of my
life. Wish you only the best for your future treatments. Have a blessed day.