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← Return to Lumbar Steroid Injection vs Facet Nerve Block
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Lumbar Steroid Injection vs Facet Nerve Block
Spine Health | Last Active: Sep 20, 2022 | Replies (39)Comment receiving replies
I’m scheduled for an upper back nerve conduction study, then a lower back nerve conduction study, then a ‘medical branch block’ over a 10 day period at the end of this month.
I had 3 epidural injections scheduled years ago with another doctor. The 1st injection went okay. When I returned for the 2nd injection I told the doctor I didn’t have pain relief from the 1st epidural. The doctor was obviously frustrated with me for saying that. When he proceeded with the 2nd epidural, he didn’t prep my back with a numbing agent, or what ever is used and it was so painful I screamed so loud that people waiting in the lobby told me they could hear me when I left the facility. It was so painful, I was devastated! I never went back for the 3rd epidural or to that doctor. I don’t know what the difference was between the 1st and 2nd injections, but I wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone! Based on the doctors behavior after I told him the 1st epidural didn’t provide relief, I felt he changed or simply didn’t provide the prep I received for the 1st epidural. Now I’m afraid of and have anxiety about the prospect of injections in my back.
What has your experience been with the facet and nerve block injections? Are the procedures themselves painful? I’ve been told the nerve conduction studies are similar to acupuncture. I’ve had acupuncture and tolerated it well. It’s the injections I’m wondering about!
Replies to "I’m scheduled for an upper back nerve conduction study, then a lower back nerve conduction study,..."
Hi, I am new to the process of Cervical Block procedures. I had my first Cervical facet injections in c5 c6 and c7 four weeks ago they used lidocaine. The pain relief was gone for about six hours it is only a test. It was very successful for me. The insurance company requires a repeat test which I will be having in three days.If that is also successful I will be having a Rizotomy. My experience with the first one was amazing. It not only relieved my neck pain but also shoulders,arms,wrists and fingers.
The injections were three on each side and the pain was mild and the procedure took about thirty minutes total. I am not nervous about the second procedure at all.This is the first time in my life that I am looking forward to having someone stick me with needles. Best wishes to you.
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I actually have personal experience with this. I had a great Pain doctor. On the first epidural, I felt no pain and had no sedation. On the second one, it was excruciating. He acknowledged my pain as he was doing the procedure and apologized saying that sometimes what he is doing actually rides against the nerve or something like that. He said he could offer me light sedation for the next one and it was perfect. I was fully conscious but didn't feel anything. I was just too scared of the excruciating pain (and I screamed, too) but he acknowledged it and apologized profusely. He at no time became frustrated with me or told me the pain was in my head.
Please see a different doctor!
Easy for me to say. I started seeing a new one and for my first injection I wanted light sedation. I was wheeled into the procedure room and they started the medication in my arm like usual. The next thing I know I wake up in a different room. I was totally under anesthesia and had no idea how I got from one room to the next. When I saw the nurse practitioner after the injection a couple weeks later she said she heard the epidural didn't work for me and I said no it didn't but maybe we needed to try a different dermatome. She said no, it didn't work because I was mentally ill and I was feeling pain on the wrong side of my body and I should be having excruciating pain in my neck. I think I was in shock. She said after my insurance approved it, they would contact me for the next epidural. It wasn't until I got home and was crying for days that I realized that if my pain was in my head, why was she scheduling me for another epidural. I haven't recovered from that and am afraid to get any help for my pain because what if it is because I am mentally ill and that's been the reason for my pain the last 13 years?