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Seeking information re epidural injection for spinal stenosis pain

Posted by shrinkette @shrinkette, Jan 15 1:05pm

Has anyone experienced relief in pain after a steroidal injection in back due to spinal stenosis impingement on nerves.

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jackiet | @jackiet | Jan 19 4:30pm
In reply to @jlssurplus "@jackiet I had the MILD done on 3 levels last August. I have stenosis in both..." + (show)
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@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.

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@jlssurplus Absolutely. Research and advocate for yourself always.

That being said, I have to report that my research differs from yours. Mine discovered that the best doctor to perform the M.I.L.D. is usually an interventional pain management specialist. Why? Because they originally adopted and standardized the procedure and perform it frequently and routinely. It's not that a neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon can't do it well; they certainly could. But their surgical focuses are different. Check out ChatGPT or other similar sites.

According to my pain management doctor, the M.I.L.D. treats stenosis by scooping out the ligament around the spine. He does not promise pain relief, just an ability to stand and walk for longer periods of time.

Since my last post I am seeing improvement in my ability to walk without having to stop after a few yards. The procedure was done December 12. I am hoping that improvement will progress. I am curious to know in what way you experienced regression after you had the procedure. My problem is not so much in the legs. I had it done on L.4-L.5 where I have moderate spinal canal stenosis and severe right neuroforaminal stenosis. I do not have sciatica.

I did a lot of research before choosing my pain management doctor. He did his residency at Yale and an additional fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. Thirty-eight years old and really smart and compassionate. He will be doing another minimally invasive procedure on me in future--It's called the Intracept procedure for Basivertebral Nerve Ablation for arthritis.

As for not being in a rush. By dear, I will be 90 in April and I don't have time to mess around. Certainly not going for surgery. Just want the remaining years on this planet to be as comfortable as possible.

Thanks for your concern. I wish you and your wife the best of health possible in this new year.

Jackie in Buffalo

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judymehaffey | @judymehaffey | Jan 20 12:28pm

Ten years ago, after several sets of injections, I finally had complete relief tat lasts for over 8 years. Eventually the pain started coming back. It felt different then the previous pain and until it got unbearable did I discover it was indeed the return of the stenosis pain. Two trials of the injections failed to produce any relief so I tired the MILD procedure. So far, a week later, I have had no relief.

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