MVA-motor vehicle accident-soft tissue trauma, Rx & type treatment/s

Hello @123zale, welcome to Connect. Thank you for taking some time to share a bit more about yourself. It sounds like you have had some long-lingering issues resulting from your motor vehicle accident.

I would like to invite recent members @jjwest, @marcia_pez, @bernese53, @cowboy1997, @blindeyepug, @edieguinn, and @sandytoes14 who all have also discussed spinal stenosis to weigh in on injections, coping mechanisms and other treatments.

I would also like to invite @robertlclark who has lumbar stenosis and also experienced burning pain in his buttocks and legs as a result and may be able to offer suggestions on what has helped with the pain.

@123zale, you asked specifically about epidural injections, do you have any concerns or hesitancy to try this treatment?

The epidural injections plus physical therapy helped me so much in terms of the severe pain in my right leg due to a herniated disc at L5. If the first epidural injection does not work that much in terms of pain, keep going! Ultimately, I wound up having three epidural injections, but they worked! I also opted for sedation during the procedure but lots of people don't!

I had a series of epidurals not for stenosis but scoliosis. unfortunately they didn't work for me. However I opted against sedation. Over is minutes. Not at all painful.

Thank you for reply & information. Awaiting Medicare approval for epidural and I am neutral on concerns and hesitancy. Have two appointment for second opinions with previously seen neurologist, MD and DO doctor that has treated me and given me muscle injections with and Rx for trigger point massage. Trigger point massage following shoulder injections last July August (6 months ago) I feel have been helpful. Awaiting approval for MVA insurance company approval at this time to have message on buttock area.

Hello @123zale I have spinal stenosis and three bulging discs. I did some extensive physical therapy, lost some weight and am now almost pain free as far as my back goes. I want to put off surgery as long as possible. I had been in horrible pain, but opted for therapy first before injections. I have a friend who did injections. Took her three times, but finally it worked. If mine goes back to being really bad, I will probably do the injections. I keep up with my back exercises and stretches every day. I have found that once you do physical therapy, you must incorporate it into your daily life for it to keep working. Best of luck to you. I am so, so sorry you are having such pain. I pray whatever avenue you take, you will find relief.

Thank you for reply. I have had 3 or more muscle injections in shoulders and both sides of buttocks, previously. Physical therapy was good years ago for cranial spinal stenosis and before 12th session I was hit in rear-end MVA. about 60 physical therapy sessions have reduced pain for short period of time, as have chiropractic, acupuncture, applied relief therapy (ART) and a therapy performed with stainless steel shapes pressed against scare tissue and muscles, with feeling great for 5-10 minutes to 30 to 45 minutes after leaving provider. It seems three (3) epidurals are necessary.

Any good results with one sessions ?

I was ready for cranial epidural, and showed up on schedule, like 18 months ago and MVA insurance company denied approval to proceed with procedure. Big disappointment. I did have concerns about cranial epidural that day in traveling to have procedure performed. Turning my head to right still and issue, especially when driving and making a left turn to see cars coming from my right side.

A few days ago following a lumbar MRI, the orthopedic MD showed me the right curve in looking a my spine in MRI of the last few virtabrae and said I too had scoliosis, in addition to spinal stenosis above this area. Thank you for your comments, and sorry the procedure did not work out for you.

I use 4 to 8 Tylenol 3 with codeine daily, 2 to 4 ibuprophen 800 mg for inflammation, and gabapentin 100mg 3 times per day, and 300 mg at bed time, and predneson 1mg 3 times per day. This treatment Rx plan and home exercises along with chiropractic treatments help me to barely manage, except with flare ups, with or without extra activities.

what exactly do you mean by "weigh In?"

Spinal stenosis in lumbar region. I also have MS, so sometimes hard to say what causes the weakness in my legs. I went through several months of physical therapy to strengthen my core muscles but I hit a period of weakness and just couldn't keep up. I definitely believe the PT helped with strengthening but it alone wasn't enough for me. I trip a lot-my feet don't move in sync, and I can't seem to lift one or the other high enough-and that just hurts all kinds of muscle groups. I had 3 injections two weeks apart, each one helped a little more. The first two were painless and afterward I felt just a strange sensation for a while, almost like buzzing. The third one was painful during the injection, which I felt in my buttock and down my right leg, cramping and burning, but I could tolerate it. I had a hard time sleeping that night, took 4 ibuprofen, and finally fell asleep. Miraculously, when I woke up I was pain-free. That lasted about a month. Doctor said no more than 3 injections in one year. I have heard that some people get up to a year's worth of relief from the injections. I think they are worth trying. You can tolerate any discomfort and you might not have any at all.

I am searching for answers just like you are. I have been taking opiates for Neuropathy foot pain, severe foot pain, and unfortunately just as I was told, eventually the relief from opiates disappears. I still take them because some days they help a bit, but have not looked into any kind of injections. The company Medtronics, has 2 devices, one attaches electrodes to your spinal cord and you have a controller that puts an electric charge to the spine. A friend of mine has done this and it helped about 60%. They also have an implanted morphine pump that puts morphine directly into the spinal cord allowing relief without massive amounts of pills. I questioned the Neurologist about the morphine device and he called it "the last choice" option. This is what I am aware of.