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Epidural Injections
I have seen many people post that they have had no success with epidural steroid injections. I was just wondering of those who have had little to no success:
1. Was your injection done by an anesthesiologist?
2. Was it done by guided fluoroscopy?
3. Was in done under some sort of sedation?
I have been going to pain management clinics for about 6 years now. I have has wonderful relief from these injections. They are a TEMPORARY relief to the PERMANENT problem of chronic pain. They are temporary though. They can last as little as a week or as long as a year. They are used to relieve an acute problem for a time period to get me through until my medication works better or allow my PT to help correct the problems. I was told even with guided fluoroscopy the injection can miss the perfect target but still give some relief. My doctor is well trained and has done several on me and I always get some sort of relief. I have even gone into his office and begged for them because they work so well. But like he told me they are part of my over all plan to attack my pain and work to get me through a crisis of pain until I can get back to exercise. They are not a miracle cure and there is no miracle cure presently for my chronic pain. I keep positive and through his plan and my cooperation, education, medication and willingness to follow his plan to the extent, I do feel better. If only for a temporary time, I take the temporary time.
I'm just wondering if those of us who have found success with them are getting a better injection, better treatment or if it is all by the grace of God a lucky shot.
What do you think? I'm curious to hear.
Thank you for this site to post and ask questions. It has helped me in just this one day of reading and posting.
❤️Bekie
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@docb99 I'm sorry you didn't get an appointment at Mayo. Cleveland Clinic is patterned after Mayo and supposed to be similar and also very good from what my doctors have told me.
I'm sure that is frustrating not to get in. You could also look at the Mayo Hospital System hospitals. They are located in various towns in MN and WI and may have some Mayo trained specialists. They do sometimes make referrals to the main Rochester Campus. I had helped a spine patient who was seen in Mankato, MN, and she relayed her experience.
I have had two, fluoroscopy guided, that lasted six months each. I was very happy after 30 years of pain. These were done at Mayo Rochester by an MD that has been doing these for more than 20 years. Experience is key for these injections.
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3 ReactionsI recently received an injection in the SI joint for moderate to severe lower back pain with no radiation. It seemingly helped for a couple of days but that is in question. My results thereafter were negligible to none. To me the cost and risks do not support these injections even though I know some people may experience some short-term relief. I have personally talked to two or three people whom I know who have had these and none of them have had any results worth the risk and costs.
I have severe spinal stenosis from two herniated discs in my lower back. This condition has left me with steadily growing weakness in my right quad muscle which prevents me from walking up stairs when leading with my right leg. Had a laminectomy which has not been successful in alleviating the problem. Am now considering regenerative medicine via stem cell injections of Whaton's Jelly taken from the umbilical cord of birth mothers. Does anyone have recommendations on whether this therapy actually works? Are the Wharton's jelly cells pluripotent? I have read conflicting information on this question and am led to believe pluripotent cells are, by far, the most effective.
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2 ReactionsI went to a pain specialist in two practices. One said I was only his second patient that he could not help. Ok had over 30 epidurals.
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Were they successful in relieving pain or decreasing nerve compression?
Have you tried stem cell injections?
Has anyone tried stem cell injections for their spinal stenosis pain? Am considering umbilical cord derived Wharton's Jelly as doctor is proclaiming high probability of improvement from this procedure. Would greatly appreciate hearing from those who have tried this path.
@rono2410 To me, this sounds too good to be true. I know of one patient who was wheelchair bound because of spinal cord injury and she went to another country thinking stem cell injections could repair the damage. That was a few years ago, and she remains in the wheelchair. That being said, Dr. Bydon, a neurosurgeon at Mayo Clinic, is researching stem cells for treating spinal cord trauma and has had some success with it, but not with every patient. The success of one patient of his was impressive and now that patient can walk again after being paralyzed.
I am a Mayo spine surgery patient, and I had pain all over my body caused by central canal stenosis compressing my cervical spinal cord. Decompression surgery fixed that pain. If the compression advances, a spine condition gets worse and causes more disability. It makes sense to decompress the problem to prevent further damage and before the damage becomes permanent.
I know we always wish to avoid surgery, and I too hoped stem cells could fix my collapsing disc, but that wasn't possible, and surgery to remove it was the best choice.
Have you had a consultation with a spine surgeon about your condition?
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2 ReactionsI don't know about stem cell.