[jrae]

has anyone had injections in the neck or back, like along the spine for pain management?? have they worked? were there complications or problems?

and when do you know that the physical pain is making your mental illness/health worse and decide to get the injections or other course of treatment?? like when to decide enough is enough...

I have had three separate injections in my back because of pain, they helped a LOT.

[Travelinglady]

I've had steroid injections in my back. They were helpful. I take pain meds, though. My physical pain definitely causes me to get depressed. Are you still able to ignore the pain and keep active? Are you feeling depressed, you think, because of the pain? I hope you get better soon.

[Chyialee]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

I've had steroid injections in my back. They were helpful. I take pain meds, though. My physical pain definitely causes me to get depressed. Are you still able to ignore the pain and keep active? Are you feeling depressed, you think, because of the pain? I hope you get better soon.

Ditto to all you said, Traveling. The results of rhe injections can be quite variable, and they tell you that @ the doc's office. SOme of the inj series' I've had have helped a good bit, sothers have done little or nothing.

Mine must be done under partial anesthesia (Versed & Fentanyl IV) otherwise when the needles hit those nerves I come straight up off the table. Literally.

Will your care provider give you a med or two for relaxation & pain before you have the injections? Most people I've heard talking @ the Pain clinic find it really helpful; a few have said they'd rather not have themeds.

Good luck. Pain is a depressive situations all by itself; dealing with it effectively is a challenge but so necessary for a brighter life, amirite?

Best,
Chyialee

I use to get cortozone shots but is just accelerates the deteriation of the bones in exchange for a temporary alleviation from pain. It was not worth it. I don't get shots anymore and PCP are taking people off of pain meds... so i drink.. by the way Happy St. Patricks Day to you... and i shall have a medicinal beverage... blessings (all things are good in moderation)

[Chyialee]

Originally Posted by omegalamed

I use to get cortozone shots but is just accelerates the deteriation of the bones in exchange for a temporary alleviation from pain. It was not worth it. I don't get shots anymore and PCP are taking people off of pain meds... so i drink.. by the way Happy St. Patricks Day to you... and i shall have a medicinal beverage... blessings (all things are good in moderation)

I dont drink, Omega -- but I may make an exception n have a wee drinkie tonite in memory of my late husband (Irish to the core he was, yes -- or as much as a man born in the US-Midwest might be ). My fiance will understand -- they knew each other after all, yrs ago.

Yes, "good in moderation" indeed. Hoowever, sometimes moderation-be-blasted: In the words of Robert Heinlein (lazaraus long): "Moderation in NOTHING! To enjoy the flavour of life, take BIG BITES!" lol

I remember that when I indulge in ice cream / or tiramisu. Rarely, but with hearty enjoyment (I have 2 helping if i can! heh heh).

Happy wearin' o' the green to yez. Am Swedish & Scot my ownself -- but prob after being married for decades to the descendant of proud Kerrymen, I'm at least a lil bit Irish by now? heh

Pain-free shamrocks to all,

CHyia, in the land of sunshine, roses & back spasms oh well!

[jrae]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

I've had steroid injections in my back. They were helpful. I take pain meds, though. My physical pain definitely causes me to get depressed. Are you still able to ignore the pain and keep active? Are you feeling depressed, you think, because of the pain? I hope you get better soon.

the pain I have now comes from injuries due to a car crash a few months ago. and I still have injuries and pain basically from head to toe. so unfortunately, I am not able to be active. which really sucks cuz I love basketball

and unfortunately, the depression was there before the car crash. and now the two are double-teaming against me, which makes for one heck of a not-good situation.

the injections that the doctor has recommended for me would be done in the soft tissue around the vertebra, in the spine, which makes it really close to the spinal cord. which in itself, is scary and risky. these shots would have an anesthetic and a steroid in them. and it would be two different procedures, injections in the neck and injections in the low back.

that's why I was curious about others experiences with these types of injections. I know there are risks involved, including making the pain worse or even numbness or paralysis. so I have to figure out what to do...

[jrae]

Originally Posted by Chyialee

Ditto to all you said, Traveling. The results of rhe injections can be quite variable, and they tell you that @ the doc's office. SOme of the inj series' I've had have helped a good bit, sothers have done little or nothing.

Good luck. Pain is a depressive situations all by itself; dealing with it effectively is a challenge but so necessary for a brighter life, amirite?

Best,
Chyialee

thanks for the message. yeah, it's a tough situation I am in. the depression was there before the injuries and pain, and it was fairly disabling then. now add in the injuries and pain, and I feel like I'm drowning. just not able to handle it all.

and I'm just not sure what to do. the pain may not be extreme, but it's not like I want to wait until it gets that bad. and I already know the injuries and pain are having a negative affect on my mental health/illness. but there are risks to the injection procedures and I certainly don't want things to get worse (as in more pain or worsening of injuries).

but at the same time, if I'm worse off because of the injuries and pain, as in unable to do things that I enjoy and love and things that need to get done, wouldn't it be worth it, maybe? if the injections were to most any other location on the body instead of right next to the spine, maybe these decisions wouldn't be as hard...


and p.s. - happy st. Patrick's day to you guys too! since I don't drink any alcohol, I will have my own 'drink' today instead! (a glass bottle of mountain dew )