I am shedule to get a L5-S1 epidural steroid injection. Anyone out there has ever taken one? How was it, did it hurt, how long does the shot takes?

babyray

The epidurals may or may not take a while depending if they sedate you using a line into your vein. My epidurals hurt sometimes a little, but have done me no good. They do help my private pain doctor make his boat payment. Usually they give you a series of these florescope guided injections. The streroids you get can cause mood swings. Some people get great relief from symptoms for a while. You may be black and blue for a few days. There is not scientific proof these injections help or hurt the vast majority of patients. They are a big source of income for pain doctors.

I have had this done twice by civilian pain management doctors, the most recent was two weeks ago. You will not be able to drive yourself home, so get someone to help you. John999 is right. They work for some people and don't work for others.

First time (2006)
I was awake during the whole thing. DDD was diagnosed initially and had two really bad herniations. I was sat in a small room and changed into the gown. I was told to lean forward and a nurse held onto me. The betadine sponge was cold. The local anesthetic felt like a bee sting for five seconds. The only thing I felt was a bit of liquid running down my back. After about 20 minutes, I was wheelchaired to the car. Went home, still in agony from my discs. The whole thing took about an hour, minus filling out papers. Over a few weeks, things got a bit better.

Second time (2009)
They knocked me out this time. Went to a different hospital where my girlfriend works and she picked the anesthesiologist she likes the most. I preregistered online, so I did not have to fill out a mountain of paperwork. I was in a private room and got on a bed after changing into the gown. A nurse put an IV in my arm. I was wheeled into the operating room. They asked me to roll over onto a funny looking bed. When I was facing down, the bed started changing position so my booty was pointing up in the air. A nurse injected something into my IV and next thing I know, I was in recovery dozing on and off. Then I was back in the private room with my girlfriend. Everything from the waist down tingled and was numb because he also mixed in a narcotic called fentanyl. Eventually my legs woke up. After a while, they gave me some orange juice and eventually asked me to walk around the room. The whole thing took about three hours. Wheelchaired to the car and I slept all the way home. By the time I got home, all the numbness wore off. The next day I was pretty sore, but stayed in bed watching prison break on dvd. The next day after I felt a lot better. I'm two weeks out and feel better than when I went in, but still am sore depending on how I move. If I need another one, I will definitely be going back to the same doc.

Hope this helps.

This help, thx alot.
babyray

999, tnx alot.
babyray

Glad to help. My only recommendations are:

- If your doc is not going to knock you out, find one that will.
- Fill out all of the paperwork honestly, especially the part about allergies.
- They will tell you not to eat after a certain time the night before.
- Try to take a dump first thing in the morning before you go. You will thank yourself later.

I have had three.....going back in a little while for more. The three I have had they numb the area, the first two were done with no problems. The last one was done with a guy who was new at it.....he bent two needles and it really hurt, I almost vomitted. The next ones I am going for the Doc said he will be doing sitting up......that will be different.....It depends on a lot of stuff. How much pain tolerance do you have? How much experience the Doc has, etc.

Good Luck....if you want more of my experiences pm me your number.

With cervical and lumbar problems, I've had around 20 or so steroid injections. I try not to keep a count anymore. I know that a good Dr. should do everything reasonable conservatively speaking to hopefully avoid putting a knife to your back, but I do think, due to my experiences, that the shots are used as a formality, thus helping pay the country club dues. I have had one session that I was fully awake and did not even know she had started the shot. I knew it the next day though. Ive had a couple that were a little painful but nothing compared to the pain I was already having from my disc. It does make a difference in who or how experienced the person is. Ask your refering Dr. who he would go to if it was him getting the shot. The whole process is about an hour, the actual shot is usually less than 5 minutes.

Hope this helps,

Blackbird

Got your pm, will call you around 6 pm tonight.....

My doctor is reccomending this epidural for me also and I am wondering if your doctors started you off with any pain meds first. My doctor has mentioned nothing about pain medication just straight to the epidural steroids. This seems odd to me. Any thoughts on this anyone?

I was schedule for one tuesday but cancelled it at the last minute. Reasons, I read on line that if you have heart disease, don't take it. So, I call my heart doc & left a message. If he says it's ok I will want them to give me a sedative or I will not take it. The pamlet they gave me said that they only numb the area.

babyray

I have had both the series of epidurals(3) and a second series of (3) facet blocs. The doc numbed the outer skin area before using the larger needles. He did it under fluoroscope to proper position the needle. A little uncomfortable but not too bad. However, the shots were of little benefit to relieve the pain of my L5-S1. My younger sister had an epidural two months ago and it really helped her for about 5-weeks.

If medically/financially possible, I recommend having them sedate you. This way the only thing you feel or know about is the IV going into your arm. I had one a couple of weeks ago and it really has helped. I plan to have another one in a couple of more weeks.