Spinal steroid injections

The above should have read that I can take medications including over the counter and get some relief but the soreness and stiffness will not go away.

I had a sacroiliac joint injection, which had the side benefit of relieving the pain in my hip. Didn't completely take away the pain in my lumbar and sacroiliac, but it's been a blessed relief. It's been about 5 months, and I'm just beginning to get an increase in pain. I'm a big fan of it. Even a month of that kind of relief would have been well worth it for me.

@chuckiepoo1 I have had injections for many years now. I am a “frequent flyer.” For me they have been life changing. I have spondylolithsesis and osteoarthritis, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. I am 73. I have lived with pain since 1976 when I attempted to pull my then one year old son out of a high chair table, and the slippage began. I had chiropractic intervention for years and wore a fitted back brace. In 2016 I started receiving the epidural injections. It was miraculous/life altering for me. I have had SI joint injections as well. I refused a fusion more than once as I am a retired educator and never chose to find the time. I recently had epidural injections ( Monday). The comment after a year of not having/needing any was , “ Irene I don’t understand how you are walking- I don’t understand how you are able to walk-I don’t understand how you tolerate so much!” With that said, I will also say I have a serious and debilitating lung disease ( never smoked) - twas my retirement gift after 43 years of teaching. I think because I continually put one foot in front of the other as much as possible, I have been able to “pull this off.” My recommendation to you is to try the shots. If you continue to have pain going forward, consider the fusion. In hindsight I should have had it years ago. It is problematic for me now because of my lungs. Good luck! irene5

Irene 5, thank you so much for your comments and recommendations. They are most helpful and I'm leaning toward the injections.

They really have been a great help for me!

I agree totally, have been getting epidurals for years, I cannot imagine not having this available. Chuckie I hope you will give it a try. Good luck…

I am 76 years old. And also have the typical L4, L5 and S1 arthritis, and shrinking disk problems. I had the steroid injections for several years, but stopped years ago. Now, I see a chiropractor monthly. He manipulates my spine and puts me on a spinal stretcher. He calls it "decompression". The goal is to keep the vertebrae limber. I walk 2-4 miles 6 days a week. I am a side sleeper and use the knee pillow. Knock on wood. I take a Tylenol upon wake up and am good for the day.

I have been having injections for over a year. I have had branch blocks, epidurals, and radio frequency ablation’s. I have gotten relief from those. Not perfect but definitely better. I’ve had some trigger point shots but I don’t really feel like they work that well for me. I am going to get a DEXA scan to make sure that all the steroid injections are not affecting my bones. That is one thing I would recommend. I wish you all good luck with becoming as pain free as possible.

Cervical fusion June 2021, the first couple months after surgery everything looked good, no discomfort or pain, then on or about the third month discomfort set in, I could not get comfortable, had a CT, MRI, X-rays done p,
According to neurosurgeons PA it looked liked a screw (screws) were backing out, it was suggested I go to pain management, I had 4 injections, No Help.
Returned to neurosurgeon second time and one of the other PA’s says one area looked to be clouded, send me for more injections, no help.
Went back to see neurosurgeon ( made it a point to only see him)
He reassured me that all the hardware was intact, no loose screws.
Discomfort and pain were constant except when sleeping, I got relief while in bed (with help of sleeping pill).
The surgeon told me that it could take 2 years before I would get relief. My goal in life is to get relief when June 2023 rolls around.
I’ve been going to pain management after going to a different Neurosurgeon for his thoughts, he also says he didn’t not see anything wrong “BUT” he says he would not of done the surgery the way it was done. Now I’m overloaded with competence.
The only relief I get is massage, a deep tissue massage, Not necessarily the Myofascial kind as suggested as I can’t find anyone in central Florida that accepts medicare insurance, and reading most websites for those who do myofascial they don’t like dealing with medicare.
So my wife has been doing some type of deep tissue massage which gives me some relief.

Irene - also a 73 year old retired educator here with osteopenia, osteoarthritis, and spondylolisthesis. Also trying to avoid fusion and have had 3 injections ( last one in October) and getting another next month. Very interested in your comments since I’ve been concerned about too many injections due to the osteopenia and what effect they may have on bone density. I recently moved to my current home and haven’t seen an endocrinologist yet (for thyroid as well as osteopenia) to get input re injections. So am curious as to whether or not you’ve gotten advice about this.