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Getting guided epidural steroid injection in 10 days
Have had my harrington rod 52 years now, had it when I was 16 and now 68. From 60 degree C curve to 10 degree with 7 fused. NOW...L5 - S 1 has a mess going on after MRI showing severe arithritus, stenosis and 6 bulging discs. I did a clinical trial for cancer sur vivors weight lifting last fall and that was a mistake - dead lifted 130 pounds - you can imagine now. SO I have been in 2 different PT programs - hurt more. Medical Marijuana - zip pain reduced. Muscle steroid injections helped but will only do them evert 3 months and prednisone helps but can't stay on them. Gabapentin only use at night because I am still working and get dopey. I ice it at night and helps but daytime is very hard. Walking - ugh and that is my thing with my dog for exercise.
SO finally they signed me up for the pain mangement people to do the guided injection which will be tricky they said with my rod. Just a longer path to get there. Yippie.
WHO has tried these - results ? I think this is my last option. I am trying not to walk hunched over .
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bdiververison, I haven't had the epidural, but my best friend, Mom, did and she had good relief. It is interesting that they will take a longer route to dura. I don't think this is your last chance, though.
I don't know of any other ways to overcome the pain when I walk for 5 mins. I pray it works, but if there are other things, I am all ears. Thanks
There are many more surgical remedies you might venture into. Some people even have their harringtons removed. But it sounds like reduced space at L5-S1 is causing your pain. An epidural would reduce the inflammation and might help. There are microdiscectomies, laminectomies, designed to give more space to the spinal cord. Sometimes the ligament is stretched and they can remove part of the ligament. You might want to see an orthopedic surgeon for a fuller assessment (eventually). One of the more exciting new developments is the artificial disc.
Are they imaging your spine with CT?
Sometimes a vertebra will slip slightly forward over the next vertebra usually because the disc isn't patent, compressing the central canal. https://spineconnection.org/back-pain-conditions/spondylolisthesis/ It usually worsens when a person walks for say five minutes. They bend forward because that opens the space in the central canal.
Wishing you luck with this epidural.
Oh yea that sounds true to me - walking pain and bending forward to compensate
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2 ReactionsI have a number of problems and fusions in my cervical and lumbar regions. I still have awful pain. They have tried epidural shots 11 different times and they have never helped me. However I know people who have had great success with epidural steroids.
I hav also had ablations in both areas. The cervical lasted 6 months. The lumbar did not work. They tried a technique called ViaDisc on my L5 S1 and it failed. My next step is Spinal Cord Stimulator.
Good luck. I sincerely hope it works for you!!
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3 ReactionsHey,
I did the epidural steroids as well as the rhizotomy - where they burn the nerves. It’s all done under ultra-sound guidance. Once they numb you with Lidocaine, all you feel is some pressure.
I was going every 2 weeks and getting no results towards the end. I was working and would die every time I had to walk down to an exam room. This did nothing for my mood while in with my patient.
We moved back to GA, where I went to the ortho I saw before we moved. Tried PT x3 - could not walk without a walker by week 3. Went back to doc - was on table in 4 days. CT/MRI done in those 4 days. Showed my ‘severe’ stenosis at L3-4. It was so bad, he had a special machine brought into OR to monitor the signals when he released the narrowing.
I had a fusion in FL 2 yrs ago. That was a complete disaster. The rods were all undersized and broken, the screws were also undersized and stripped. Then there was a collection of liquified bone graft & glue, with almost no bone growth.
My 3 hr surgery turned into 7+ hrs, because he had to do a complete take-down of the previous surgery and redo it, before he could start on the reason I was there.
Bottom line, if you have stenosis - a narrowing of the canal, there is really nothing besides surgery to get the signals flowing.
I too walked draped over the shopping cart - it opens the intra-vertebral disc spaces. It’s ironic, I could not walk >5 minutes either.
Good luck.
K
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2 ReactionsRight now I am doing the steroid shots about every 9 months for the past 3 years with my pain med doctor. Just had 2 shots done last month. Normally the shots worked very well for me but not this time. A lot better but I still have pain. The MRI showed my lower spine is very crooked at L4-L5. Looks more like the letter L. Plus have bulging discs. All caused my arthritis.
I was told to see the spine surgeon to get any real relief. I had to postpone due to the cancer I contracted. The surgeon will straighten out the spine with pins. I have read it doesn't always cure the back pain. So I am so uncertain to go through that surgery. I am 74 years old with pretty bad COPD. Not in the best of health as well. I just finished going through 3 cancer surgeries and treatments. Last biopsy showed no cancer. Due to the cancer, the PA for the surgeon who I talked to said come back in 6-9 months before they will even discuss the surgery.