Seeking information re epidural injection for spinal stenosis pain

@shrinkette You will not get an infection from a properly administered cortisone injection. The problem with arthritis is it continues to progress. The injection is temporary but sometimes causes relief. You won't know unless you try it. One of my knees was great. After 2 injections, no more pain and still going strong after 10 years. The other one progressed to surgery as did my back.

@bajjerfan Same here, little to no help with 2 epidural injections for my back. But I have heard of success stories.

I also have spinal stenosis first diagnosed about 3 years ago. Having numbness in my leg and foot following a couple of surgeries, the pain in my back was making it progressively more difficult to walk with increasing problems with balance. My doctor suggested an MRI and was able to pinpoint the stenosis in my lower back. The left side was worse than the right. I tried one steroid injection. It helped almost immediately but not as much as I hoped. My doctor suggested getting a second injection. I did, which was about three months after the first. That made the difference. I was pain free enough to work on the exercises suggested. Nothing high impact. A little over a year the right side pain increased. I didn't let it get as bad as the left side had gotten. Another MRI indicated the progression of the stenosis on the right side. I have only had one injection and have been doing good ever since. There are things I am careful about doing, and other things I avoid. I enjoy working in my garden but I have to pace myself. After overdoing it, I do deal with some pain in the evening but after sleeping, I always wake up ready to go again. The injections are not for everyone but if you have a doctor you trust, they should be able to give you some good advice. I hope you get some relief soon.

@jmhwmt51 Thanks for your feedback. My doctor said that since I have episodes of pain that’s not considered severe nor is it consistent he suggested continued PT and felt that presently, I’m not a candidate for an injection. We should wait and see.

My experience was similar to what some others have described. I would have some pain relief for a maximum of five days. Also, my insurance required a $250 co-pay for each injection. It did not seem worth it to me. Wish there were better treatments. I am now undergoing presurgical testing. I had a laminectomy and fusion lumbar spine, a number of years ago. Now the metal is a problem-screws broken, etc. ugh! Jenelle

@shewhowatches1 Jenelle, welcome to Connect. It sounds like you are about to have revision surgery. I hope that goes well for you and fixes the issue with the broken hardware.

Thanks for the welcome, Jennifer. I wish I had found these boards sooner. They are very helpful. Jenelle

@jackiet
I had the MILD done on 3 levels last August. I have stenosis in both legs. The surgery improved the left leg but not the right. I did not see any improvement until 5th week. Then after a vacation I regressed.

Basically the MILD will clean up stenosis in the central part of the spinal canal, which is mostly ligament and possibly disc and bone spurs.

They go around the nerve making space as they can.

It does not do anything for the nerves that get pinched leaving the spine through the vertabre. This is may be your issue also.

It is called foraminal stenosis, if you have your MRI results. The foramen is just the hole where the nerve exits. If this is narrowed you get the sciatic pain.

It can be narrowed from bone spurs, arthritis, disc degeneration,alignment issues etc. Just think of it as pulling a big rope through a small hole.

Sometimes this can be fixed with surgeries not requiring a fusion. Personally I am not so lucky, So it is just live with pain until I am ready for fusion. My wife has had 6 fusions so I am familiar with the problems of fusions and once you have one you can't go back.

You really need to do research on this stuff for yourself as you are your best advocate. Or get help from someone who can help you. Everybody's back problems are unique as are the solutions. And different surgeons are better at different options.

I would never let a Pain Doc do a MILD unless he was a neuro or orthopedic surgeon. A physiatrist is not equipped to recommend surgery or Opioids. My wife is on opioids and I wish I new then what I know now.

It sounds like you have been down some non-surgical treatments and need to look at some more non-surgical and surgical possibilities.
Don't be in a rush.

Feel free to ask me any questions, I have been down this road for 10+ years now.

I am a week out from having an injection and immediately had some relief. During this week I have experienced some residual pain but nothing like before I had the injection. I am hopeful and since I do not want to have surgery at age 78 this was my best option.

I have had 2 epidural injections since my stenosis diagnosis in 2017, and there was no relief either time. I pray it works for you.