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Anyone had steroid injections into the lumbar area? Relief? How long?
Recently I had X-rays and MRI of the lower back after about a very severe pain for weeks. The diagnosis was osteoarthritis and moderate to severe degeneration of L4, L5 and S1. I can't control the pain somewhat with medications but do not like taking too much of these. My orthopedist has suggested I try steroid injections which may give relief for up to 6 months, but if the relief turns out to be short-term it is not a good option. Has anyone had the steroid injections into the lumbar area? If so, what were the results and how long did the relief last? I am 78 years old and have been very active all my life, and maybe this is the problem. The only other option suggest it was Fusion but I had rather stay away from that as long as I can.
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Six days ago I had a caudal ESI in the sacral area to provide relief from intense sciatic pain radiating from my low back down my left leg and into my foot. The sharp stabbing pain has lessened, although it has flared if I try to stand or walk around too much. Today I'm feeling more pain in the left hip, but I'm not having any pain while sitting like I did before the epidural. I'm hoping that in another week I will feel even less pain. However, for me this is a temporary fix. I see a neurosurgeon next week as my MRI shows severe lumbar stenosis with "cauda equina" compression where the nerves exit the spinal canal. I've been advised it could lead to paralysis if not addressed soon.
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2 ReactionsHad a few lumbar epidurals with no real relief. Had L1-L5 fusion and can walk again at least. I have L5-S1 issues. Will have an epidural for that in a few days. I hope that one finally works.
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1 ReactionI think you are getting much better results from lower back injections for pain relief than other patients. I only get a month or so of relief, and even then it is spotty relief. i think they have recently tried what is called radial nerve block where I lay on my stomach and they strategically inject cortisone, 4 injections, around the L4/L5 vertebrae. Depending on the outcome of the pain relief with that, which is short lived, like 2 to 3 weeks or so, they will move on to a radio frequency ablation. I don't expect the pain relief from that will be as good as what you get. If I were to get 6 months of pain relief, I'd be really happy. I don't know the downside risk to radio frequency ablation, but there is some reported , including increased pain.
Had a cortisone injection into my right sacroiliac joint. No improvement after weeks. Finishing up Gabapentin pills and oral steroids for herniated disk. Again , no improvement. Have an apt on Wednesday next week with neurosurgeon. Last summer had RFA for my left lower back. Kept me out of pain for a year.
I’ve had 2 steroid injections near my lumbar spine with no success. My stainless steel fusion bars prevent the doc from getting to the heart of my nerve issue.
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1 Reaction@jenatsky
HMMMMM!!! Never had a doc say that. I wonder if it will interfere with the Intercept procedure should it come down to that.
@bajjerfan my bars are from 1990 and solid stainless steel not titanium currently used. This is also why I cannot have an MRI of my problem lumbar spine as stainless steel causes X-ray beam distraction hence no picture.
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1 Reaction@wornout
I am looking at something similar for me that you had done-- can you tell me any updates on your back, pain, surgeries, shots etc?
thanks
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1 Reaction@jenatsky
I assume the bars are a physical barrier then. Any chance that a curved needle would work?
@bajjerfan I’m a nurse not an MD and I’m guessing if that was an option they would have used it. In my over 40 years in healthcare I’ve never seen a curved needle.