Epidural Cortisone Injection (UPDATE)

Has anyone had one of these. If so, can you tell me your experience

I am having one due to 2 herniated discs and a tear in one of those discs

thanks

UPDATE - So I had the injection yesterday. They gave me a "mild" sedative (versed) and I have NO recollection of the procedure at all, my last memory is of them swabbing the area with Iodine and me saying that it was cold...the next thing I remember is sitting in a wheelchair waiting for my mom to come into recovery...wierd !!!

I am still having a lot of pain but hopefully in the next few days, the cortoisone will kick in and give me some relief

Message edited 5/21/2010 9:56:32 AM.

Re: Epidural Cortisone Injection

My father has had 3 of these over the past year and they have provided immense relief of his back pain. He seriously went from being almost non-ambulatory to playing golf and kayaking again (he also had mult. herniated disks)

Re: Epidural Cortisone Injection

I get them in addition to other procedures for my particular problem. They are helpful and IMO worth a shot. You might need more than one though to get better relief. good luck!

Re: Epidural Cortisone Injection

i just had 3 of these done. the first 2 helped for a short period of time, the third did nothing for me. (which is why i am no longer a candidate for the 4th shot... you can get a maximum of 4)

i'm now scheduled for surgery the beginning of june to remove the herniated part of the disc. but i've been dealing with the nerve involvement since december and nothing has corrected it.

Re: Epidural Cortisone Injection

I had those for a neck injury and you definitely need to get more than 1. It does work.

Re: Epidural Cortisone Injection

I have a friend who has had these and they worked.

I had a similar one in my tailbone area and it helped a bit.

Re: Epidural Cortisone Injection

thanks all, how is the actual experience of the shot?

thanks

Re: Epidural Cortisone Injection

is that the same thing as a lumbar epidural?

if so, then I've had a couple.

I'll give you my experience as far as I remember (it's been over a year... but I need to go again!)

I got into a hospital gown (keeping on bra and undies) and was asked to go on my stomach and they propped me up with a wedge pillow on one side. They set up xray machines underneath me and took a few pictures. Then they showed me the screen where I could see the injection....

They cleaned off the area and then did some small lidocaine (sp) injections... those just felt like tiny pinches - not painful at all really, but they did make me sort of jump. The epidural needle is freakin' HUGE, so if you're scared... don't look. You won't feel it AT ALL though! When they did the injection, I could feel it going down my entire leg which was WEIRD - but not painful. It's just a really strange sensation and feels "heavy" as its going in. That's basically it! I've had a couple and one time they injected into the wrong spot but it honestly was no big deal at all. They put gauze & tape over the spot and then you're pretty much finished!

The first time, nobody told me that they didn't want me to drive home beforehand... but at the appt, they asked if someone was there to drive me home (and nobody was!) So I did drive home myself... but it's not recommended because you can have some numbing all the way down to your feet which obviously isn't good for driving! The other times I've had DH drive me home.

Any other Qs... feel free to FM!

They REALLY helped! I think I did 3 and then got PG, so I had to stop... but my pregnancy was much better than I thought it would be! Since having the baby, I really know I need to go back!

Re: Epidural Cortisone Injection

bump - did that info help?

Re: Epidural Cortisone Injection

I agree that you will probably need more than one. I had one, but my disc was beyond repair and I needed surgery instead.

The injection itself wasn't terrible...but not really pleasant...I wasn't jumping up and down with the thought of doing it again.

Re: Epidural Cortisone Injection

Posted by maybeamommy

bump - did that info help?

Re: Epidural Cortisone Injection

My husband is having his second one tomorrow. First one did not help much.

Re: Epidural Cortisone Injection (UPDATE)

bump for update