Epidural to Relieve Arachnoiditis Pain

Janet, I have had more epidurals for my back pain than you can shake a stick at. Most have not provided any relief. But the procedure, as a rule, is no big deal. I have had epiduras in out-patient surgery centers and right in the back of the Doc's office. Had them in my L5-S1 and even in the sacral space, They have not helped me. However, many peope do get relief, usually temporary, from them. Worth a try.

Just because you didn’t experience any severe complications doesn’t mean that they don’t happen, and quite often actually. I was given an epidural steroid injection. When I was only 16, I shouldn’t have even been offered it, because what I had was so minor. She ended up puncturing the Dura and caused trauma to the layers around my spinal cord, I felt electric lightning bolt of pain, and that pain never stopped. It’s been 25 years of constant, severe debilitating pain. She gave me adhesive arachnoiditis that day, and I lost my entire life. These injections aren’t even curative, they’re just like a very , very risky Band-Aid… And why would you want to risk something so catastrophic, just for a few weeks of pain relief? These injections are not FDI approved for a reason, because the medication is toxic to your CSF, and is very dangerous to use in this way. But doctors continue to administer them, because they are very very lucrative, and in the end, it always comes down to money and greed.

I’m not saying that this exact thing is going to happen to the OP, but I am saying that it is possible. When you tell someone that a procedure is safe, just based on your own experience, you were doing a disservice to that person because everyone’s bodies react differently to medication’s and procedures. That’s what people don’t get when they ask others for advice and that advice is just anecdotal, that does no one any good, because you’re only describing your experience, which has nothing to do with the person asking the question. This person should be given all of the information, all of the risks, including the very severe, very catastrophic ones, and be able to weigh that themselves the risks against the benefit, and make their own medical decision. But just telling them to go for it based on the fact that you did it and you were OK is really terrible advice

Everyone’s body is different and every doctor is different. I have had about 20 epidural and blocks in my back over the years and never got any relief. I also have 5 levels of scar tissue in the lower part of the spinal canal. Because I never got any relief I will not take any more. I have had them from at least 6 different doctors so it just will not help me but I know people who get blocks that it helps on a regular basis. The block was not a problem for me. I just want you to do your research before you start getting them. Look at the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and Arachnoiditis Hope web pages for answers. Look for research for your disease and then make your decision. It is your body and you need to make the best decision for you. Blocks are done every day all over the world and people get relief. You need to find help for your pain. Praying you find relief.

Hello,
Sorry for my delayed response to your comments.
I did decide to go forward with the epidural because I am so desperate for pain relief.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be an agonizing procedure for me. My doctor gave me
a sacral epidural that caused me to scream with incredible pain as the needle entered
my back. I begged him to stop the procedure, but he said he already had 60% of the injection complete and wanted to continue.
By the end of the injection, I was sobbing and shaking uncontrollably.
Long story short, after all that, it offered no relief whatsoever.
It was a very hard "lesson learned" and I will just need to continue on my search for relief that doesn't involve touching my spine in any way........no surgeries, no injections.
Thanks for responding to my question from back in January, though. Sadly, just a week after my injection, my husband, who suffered from Parkinson's had two falls at home and was very disoriented. He was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed additionally with dementia. He developed COVID and was then sent on to a SNF. After that, I had to have him stay in assisted living. He went downhill very quickly, falling almost every day for two months. He passed away in early April.
I'm struggling to recover from this trauma, but I know it will take a lot of time and prayer on my part.
Janet