lumbar epidural steroid spine injection

Hi. I just had One recently. I’ve had one in the past before. I will say that the one in the past I had worked better but this was a very acute situation that had occurred to an injury that was already there. It got very inflamed probably from me doing too much. I will have to say the epidural did not work as well this time I feel but at least it put me back at where I was before the acute injury. I also have been doing aqua therapy. Which I am going to rejoin the Y and continue doing my exercises in the pool there. I really haven’t had a lot of side effects from my epidural‘s. There is a little lump where it was done the last time. But it could be some scar tissue. I also had had some surgery they’re done at some other time for a different situation and the shot going through that area may have aggravated the scar line and created some extra tissue. But the tissue doesn’t hurt.
I do wish you well if you do decide to proceed with the shot, and wish you well in general. We are all unfortunately in the same group of people who have spine health issues. Take care.

I developed chronic pain in both my lower and upper back
in mid-June. Did PT for two months for lower back with little relief due to upper back pain. Saw a spine specialist/surgeon who referred me to a pain specialist I have had three epidural shots, with little side effects, but only minimal and short-term improvement. My pain runs from my neck to pelvis so probably hard to focus shots. I do think they have muted the pain, but overall disappointed. I am in PT for upper back on pregabalin and a muscle relaxer. Hard to know whether shots or medications are helping the most.

I had lumbar epidural last year for stenosis. It did not help alleviate the pain. Some people it helps and others it doesn’t.

I recently had a cortisone shot in the spine to help with the pain in my pelvis leg and buttocks due to a pinched nerve on my lumbar due to physical therapist giving me intense PT for almost 3 hours in one day at a rehab.
Medical malpractice!
PTs want to bill
by the hour and don’t take into consideration the age of the person or the outcome of so many hours of PT in one session.
The cortisone shot helped more than the epidural.
I asked my orthopedist if acupuncture may help and he said to try it.

I've had chronic lower back (L5-S1) pain for years. Just got steroid injections 10 days ago... so far no pain! Sure hope this is he solution I've been looking for. Good luck to you.
Retired Prof.

The steroid epidurals work for me from a few weeks to up to a month or more except for two times where I had no choice but to lift or crouch. Shot wore off almost immediately. Have learned must take it easy and not aggrevate your back for a few days and from then on still try to protect your back from any strenuous activity. Blessed relief for me. Then suffering waiting for proper time before I can schedule another epidural when the low lumbar pain comes back. I average 2-3 epidurals a year.

I have had many. Shattered my L4 4 yrs ago. So far they have been working on my low back and Rt leg pain. I also get Radio frequency injections. The epidural is not painful. Some Dr's may give you something beforehand to take the edge off. The RF they give me light sedation. I am awake but can't feel alot of the pain.

suerc:
You write that ----" I am awake but can't feel alot of the pain."

I had one & did feel pain, and am wondering exactly how much pain you did feel?
Aren't you numbed in the area of the injection? I must have another & am worried that
it might be as painful as the previous one. Can you be totally sedated>
Thanks

When you are awake some Dr's will order some muscle relaxers to take the edge off. You may feel a pinch when the needle goes in then the fill you with novocaine in that area. After that you don't feel much. Talk to your Dr. Some will order a light sedation.

Don’t do it. It caused adhesive Arachnoiditis. This is an untreatable incurable very painful disease. The pain is like stage 4 cancer. Awful. The dr user depo medrol which is a toxin. Stays in your body. Don’t take the chance. They never tell you this could happen