Originally Posted by braingonebad

Here's my story, and you know I'm no expert but I've been down a similar road.

My pain doc says there is no point in one steroid shot for nerve pain - so did my last pain doc. They are meant to be given in pairs. ESIs, Facet joints, and nerve blocks, all my current doc, would one, two weeks apart.

He did not flinch when I told him my first EMG - left hand - was normal, and my recent one - left arm and leg, were normal as well. He says that happens. Hard to detect a lot of stuff by EMG.

I only saw one neuro surgeon, who said pretty much the opposite - that shots were very little use - which I found to be so not true, they work wonders for me. And that EMGs pick up everything. Also not true, I'm certainly not imagining this pain and loss of use.



I'm not saying you are wrong to trust this dr, just consider the source. His tool is a hammer, your problem is a nail.

I have seen very few people *fixed* by surgery, especially where C spines are involved - go ask in the spinal forum. Please do attempt every other means of addressing this less invasively, and resort to surgery only as a last option.

And you know I'm saying this as a friend.