Successful spinal stenosis injections

@cantab I'm glad that your pain was reduced by a spinal injection. Often these are done as a diagnostic when a surgeon is trying to figure out where the pain is being generated. The injection reduces inflammation which can reduce pressure caused by stenosis. It may be a temporary effect. I had one of these spine injections in my neck and I was pain free for 6 days, and then pain started coming back slowly over several weeks. I also had pain in my legs and body and it was being generated by my neck from spinal cord compression because of a ruptured C5/C6. I had a fusion surgery that corrected it an I am pain free now.

Is your doctor suggesting surgery or are you waiting to see what your results are from the injection as time goes on?

I’m 90 years old so surgery is out. I had a single injection previously which had no effect. I also have peripheral neuropathy but no associated pain just numbness.
I am also taking Cymbalta which I’ve been taking for a while which did a little reducing a burning sensation. But I’m keeping it because it’s a good antidepressant and makes me mellow. Probably anyone with our problems should be prescribed one automatically.

@cantab I understand. Hopefully, your injections will offer longer relief. My elderly mom had them and she would have them about 3 times a year and they did help. She hasn't been doing them for awhile. It may be better controlled with medication now.

Thanks! Bravo for mom. What medication does she take that replaced injections?

Have severe stenosis in L4-L5 and have had one major flare-up that required ER visit and prednisone pak. Diagnosed since with spinal stenosis due to arthritis, slight slipping of vertebrae’s, ligaments thickening in the anterior area. I am now managing okay with limitations, PT, Tylenol and bio freeze. I know my options of spine injections, and the minimally invasive surgery and then the fusion. Just wondering at what point one begins the injections & surgical journey. I am 71 and do get the sciatica butt and leg nerve pain upon rising this is managed with decompression exercises from PT and helps. I’m walking 1 mile with the nerve pain starting and I rode my ebike 14 miles-yes I was pedaling the entire time:-) my question is when do I start the injections? Now while I’m beginning to manage my new lifestyle and the pain or when it becomes difficult to manage? I know according to insurance I need to have injections before surgeries. Wait as long as I can or start the journey? I always have tenderness and I seem to be managing with exercise, Tylenol and bio freeze when needed.

@lchop
I also suffer from the same issues. I did have surgery 5 yrs ago. Haven't been the same since. My surgery was to replace disks L2-L5. I did have stenosis which wasn't addressed and now have horrible bilateral neuropathy. I've had multiple steroid injections and RFA, which did very little. The newest recommendation is SCS, which I'm afraid of. I can't comment on stenosis surgery, but explore all options before. Good luck to you.

@jant4 - I moved your post here so you could chat with others talking about steroid injections:

- Successful spinal stenosis injections https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/successful-treatment-for-a-type-of-spinal-stenosis/

What kind of timing does your doctor recommend for your particular situation?