Anyone had bupivacaine injections in preparation for spinal epidural?

What is bupivacaine injection? Is it like lidocaine, so you won’t feel the pain of the needle in your spine when they do the epidural? Next week I’m scheduled for a cortisone shot in my lumbar spine and dread the pain of the injection. I’ve had an epidural last year, but it did not relieve the pain from stenosis.
Now, i have severe pain in my groin and my buttocks from a pinched nerve in my spine from strenuous PT after surgery. No meds are helping and I’m afraid that the cortisone shot won’t help either.

Would appreciate all responses. Much thanks.

Its been a battle for sure.

Bupivacaine is a little bit longer acting anesthetic in the same class as the lidocaine. So the job of these drugs is to numb the area, thereby reducing some of the pain. Sometimes in combination with steroid which reduces inflammation at the area. Sometimes they add controlled substances to these products as well but usually that involves having a pump installed in your back to control dosing. I don’t know if any of that was helpful for you, but I do wish you luck with your injection and I do hope it relieves your pain or makes it much more bearable at least.
I am having an epidural today and I hope it gives me some relief as well.

I just had my first bupivacaine injections yesterday. These medial branch nerve blocks were to see if an epideral session would be useful. The bupivacaine was supposed to last for six hours with me monitoring my back every half hour to see if there was any pain reduction.
The outcome: Absolutely no pain reduction!
Now I'm supposed to go back next week for another session. Not sure what I will eventually do.
Retired prof.

I’m sorry to hear that your medial branch blocks were not effective. Where I go for pain management, it doesn’t even have to be six hours that you get relief. They just want a period of pain relief and for me to qualify that I did have pain relief. But you have to go by your pain management clinic standards. It might be worth it to try the next set of blocks to see if it works. I just had epidural and epidural worked some but not as well as the last epidural on the other side of my back. We are all looking for resolution for the pain that we live with. Sometimes it takes finding the right thing or the right combination of things. I have been out of work for five weeks and going back. At this point in my life I have just learned that I have to live with a certain amount of pain. But I’m not giving up. There’s still more to try. I believe you were going to go away. I hope that your pain does not overshadow the time you are away. Sometimes taking our mind off of it, and trying to enjoy ourselves, takes away a little of the pain. Try to have a good time and when you get back you can resume your battle with your pain. Best wishes & safe travel.

Thanks for your concern and recommendations here. I appreciate you following my progress. I intend to stay with the plan and go in for my second treatment this Friday.

retired Prof.