Spinal Pain

ebatts · Mar 06, 2012, 04:30 PM

Three years ago I was involved in a pretty serious car accident. I was lucky to walk away without broken bones, but have suffered chronic pain from my cervical spine to my coccyx. Two weeks ago I got my first epidural injections done, and it was awful. I have another set next week and I'm still as scared as I was the first time.

Leed · Mar 06, 2012, 06:44 PM

Hi ~ I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I know all about spinal pain as I've had it for 26 years, and it's getting pretty darned OLD.

Did the first epidural work? Have you gotten any relief? If you have NOT, then the second one won't work either! Medical journals say that if you do NOT get relief from the first one, do NOT let the doctor do another one. Contrary what the doctors tell you, they do NOT build up in your system. Don't buy into that. So if you didn't get any relief, don't let him do another one! These injections CAN do some harm to you.

If you're not seeing a Pain Management doctor now, ask for a referral to one. If you ARE seeing one, as him what else he can do besides these injections.

I wish you the very best. I hope he will find something to ease your pain. You might ask him about the Spinal Cord Stimulator. Those can REALLY help spinal pain. God bless. Hugs. Lee

ebatts · Mar 06, 2012, 08:21 PM

I did get a bit of relief from it. I'm supposed to be getting a tens unit, too. I've been to several doctors. After physical therapy failed to help, my chiropractor said this would be the next option.

sabby · Mar 07, 2012, 07:03 PM

I love the tens units. That and some heat and ice intermittently does give some relief and makes things a bit more bare-able. I hope it help you loads!

ebatts · Mar 07, 2012, 08:32 PM

I hope so too sabby!

Leed · Mar 09, 2012, 01:26 PM

Ebatts -- PLEASE don't go to a CHIROPRACTOR!! You could be doing more serious damage to your spine!

Have you had a diagnosis as to your spinal problems? Have you had an MRI or CT scan??? If not, ask your Doctor to have you get one, and see what the problem is. You need to know what your diagnosis is before EVER letting a Chiro work on your spine!!!

My Neurosurgeon told me that ANY spinal patient should NEVER let a Chiropractor work on their spine, unless they want to end up paralyzed or in a wheelchair. Just one wrong move, and you could end up totally disabled. They don't have the advanced training in the central nervous system that neurologists/neurosurgeons do. So until you know what your diagnosis is, don't let any one manipulate your spine!

Best of luck -- and if you don't understand your MRI, you can bring it here, and someone here can translate it for you. God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee

ebatts · Mar 10, 2012, 01:09 AM

I had an MRI done and that's how we (eventally) got to the injections. I have it on a CD, and it does look pretty normal, but if someone wants to give it another look I'd be more than willing to share

Leed · Mar 11, 2012, 02:03 PM

Hi Ebatts ~ Can you post the REPORT of your MRI?? That would be more helpful, cause the CD's aren't very clear most of the time. LOL
I'd rather read the report, cause generally I can translate those.

Thanks, Hugs Lee

ebatts · Mar 11, 2012, 02:17 PM

Unfortunately it didn't come with a report, just the CD full of pictures! LOL I actually was sent to a hospital to have the MRI done, so they just scanned me and let me go.

Newland · Mar 12, 2012, 04:12 PM

Your scan had to be read, there is a report. The doctor doing the injections must have it, just ask for a copy.

Have they offered you sedation for your injections? These treatments are supposed to make life better, if it is causing you anxiety speak up. The sedation meds help while it is being done which reduces the anxiety before further injections.

The goal of pain treatment is to reduce the neg impact pain has on our lives, swapping physical suffering for mental suffering is just plain frustrating. Been there, done that.

I get injections fairly regularly. They sometimes help a great deal, sometimes help some, sometimes they pretty much flop. I did them once w/o sedation and when my Doctor asked if I wanted to repeat them when the pain returned I told her no, and why. Then she told me about the sedation option.

ebatts · Mar 12, 2012, 08:00 PM

There isn't a sedation option because the procedure is only about 5 minutes, start to finish. They gave me something to squeeze, and I squeezed it until my knuckles were white. It only hurts while the needle is going in and a few seconds after. I just try to stick it out the best I can. I'll try to get a copy of the report. Might be good to have for my own records, anyway.

avoice · Mar 13, 2012, 07:37 AM

Sorry your going through this. I know have a spinal cord stimulator. No one will ever touch my back again.

Mar 13, 2012, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebatts

Three years ago I was involved in a pretty serious car accident. I was lucky to walk away without broken bones, but have suffered chronic pain from my cervical spine to my coccyx. Two weeks ago I got my first epidural injections done, and it was awful. I have another set next week and I'm still as scared as I was the first time.

Im so sorry that you are in chronic pain, ebatts. I hope the injections help relieve it soon!

ebatts · Mar 13, 2012, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avoice

Sorry your going through this. I know have a spinal cord stimulator. No one will ever touch my back again.

I remember you saying it was your best friend last night. I'm getting my tens unit on Thursday. Have you ever used one?

Quote:

Originally Posted by karrin

Im so sorry that you are in chronic pain, ebatts. I hope the injections help relieve it soon!

I hope so too, karrin!

honeybee777 · Mar 15, 2012, 10:33 AM

ive got major back issues to ebbats! Spinal tumor, dengerative bone or disc desease, scoliosis, herniated disc, the list goes on and on, I hate the chronic pain Im in everyday, hope you feel beter, what is the ten units?

ebatts · Mar 15, 2012, 02:09 PM

bryan239 · Apr 09, 2012, 09:59 PM

I hope you get some answers and something to help stop the pain. I had my lower back fused due to Spondylolisthesis. They took L5 out completely and parts of L4 and did a bone graft from L4 to S1. I have 2 rods, 6 screws and 2 screens in me and this was done on 3/12. My best advice to you is to stay active and keep your body strong. Im only 28 and I have both hips replaced (one hip replacement has failed so they have to replace it again) but ALL of my doctors believe that the only thing that is keeping me together is that I am very physically active and my body is strong. Like you and others here, I live in pain every day and I know its hard to live with it. What helped me was I just accepted it...I know the pain is not going away but I am not going to let it control my life. It sucks being young and in pain but, just dont give up!

avoice · Apr 13, 2012, 08:24 AM

Yes i used to use a tens unit it did work for me. So that's why I ended up getting a implant. It's been my best option. Not many pain worked for me.

Travelinglady · Apr 20, 2012, 06:33 PM

I was quite surprised when I had my first spinal epidural (in my cervical area) and it actually hurt! I wasn't expecting that. But I went ahead and had two more. The first actually hurt the most, maybe because I wasn't expecting it....But I had each shot given by a different doctor and maybe some were more skilled than others.

I would like to hear what else you've had done to help with the pain. Do you take pain meds? I'm taking a bunch now and they aren't totally satisfactory. My next step is trying physical therapy. I have osteoarthritis, and as a result have stenosis and impingement on my spinal cord. All three areas of my spine are painful, alas.

kindachaotic · Apr 21, 2012, 03:31 PM

(((((((Payne))))))) I'm sorry you hurt. Maybe the PT will help.

Menu

Spinal Pain

My Support Forums