I had cervical facet injections. It wasn't too bad. Nothing like ESIs - yow.

The Doc did use the x-ray thing of course, and there was some tingling. I think they did 4 levels on both sides of my neck. It's been a while and my memory is not so good.But it did relieve some of my symptoms - as much as I expected, maybe a bit more.

I had to rest that day, then I was fine. I think they called the first round radio frequency - where they test to see if it's going to help. Then they did two rounds, two weeks apart, of the CFJIs.

It's no picnic, but like I said, nothing like ESI, which made me wonder if we're still in the Dark Ages.

* I will not give up the secret Bush's baked bean recipe, no matter what!*

Do ask all the questions before hand - what to de before the procedure, how many times you'll have to do it, what to expect after it, etc. Remember that what you're feeling now is worse than what the needle will feel like, and that's there to help you.

Hi Jillybean: I LOVE your name. Welcome to our little world here at Neurotalks. See, you've gotten some answers already. More will come.

Braingonebad:

What is an ESI? I tried to look for it on a search engine, and had no luck.

Thanks,

Melody

Melody, ESI stands for Epidural Steroid Injection(s).

Not sure why having them done would inspire someone to ponder re: the "Dark Ages," though. But, my doc was stunned when I told her that not all docs use Versed or opt for conscious sedation respective of their patients. Myself: Every procedure has been done w/me consciously-sedated.

RF (radio frequency) is ablation procedure; the tip of a needle is heated to fry nerves, which, most generally, regenerate within (up to) approx. 18 months.

Isn't a nerve block the "testing" phase? to help better discern if someone is possibly a more ideal "patient candidate" for ESI?


Anyway, most of my "discomfort" following procedures has been related to positioning during procedures. The thing that I've found which helps immensely is asking for/having x-tra pillows used during procedures: one at my ankles, along with ones under my chest and stomach.

For me, ice afterward, also helps lessen nerve pain.

I also make sure to have a throw blanket and sun glasses (in case I'm chilled riding home).

Be sure to wear loose-fitting clothes that easily slip on/off, along with, i.e., sandals or some type of footwear not difficult to remove and put back on.

...Which is not the case with me! Years ago I had ESI's frequently in my lumbar spine, and back then they would do them fully sedated. Then they told me some kind of edict came down from insurance companies that would not allow the sedation...said they weren't needed for that kind of procedure. So where I go they no longer sedate you...not even with Versed, nothing.

I managed to handle the pain of the lumbar injections, and subsequently the sacro injections, though extremely painful...they are nothing compared to having a cervical ESI! That's the most painful injection I have ever had. The assistant who works with the pain management doc said people often faint when they do cervical ESIs. Lovely.

So I wonder...what is the point of the insurance company to not allow some sedation for that! Sheesh!

I'm not clear exactly on the difference between the ESI and facet injections.

(((Jillybean))) what I do know is that I hope you get relief!

I could be mistaken, and take no offense if someone corrects me...

I believe that ESIs can be done various areas, including the facets (which mobilize the spine). Like, there can be cervical ESIs, lumbar, etc.

This might be a major stupid comment, but is there any way a person's primary care physician can advocate for the patient???I

I mean, this is 2009. For a doctor to know that a person is going to have a painful procedure, and NOT DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN DO to help that patient!!!. Well, I can just see our Dr. Fred yelling at the insurance company saying something like "What the hel* do you mean, insurance won't pay for sedation??" Are you people out of your mind??"

I've seen our Dr. Fred on his phone. He goes to bat for all his patients. He is the best advocate.

Can't the doctor try and do SOMETHING?

And if not, CAN'T A PATIENT PAY FOR SEDATION (if he can afford it I mean)??

Thankfully I haven't had to have one in awhile. But yes, I was upset as well when I was told that! If and when the next time comes, I am definitely going to talk to my doctor because they are very painful. The sacroiliac injections are no picnic, but then...none of them are.

All I know is that's what they said here. As I recall it seemed as if they were lumping all insurances together by saying "Insurance won't pay for it."

Really, why put anyone in great discomfort if it can be avoided, I don't get it!

I guess I wasn't paying attention. I thought someone said that the facet injections were different from the ESI's.

I've been reading a bit from different pain management sites and I'll be darned if the majority of them DO use sedation for their patients. In fact, I printed several of them and next time I'm near the hospital, I'm going to drop them off at the Pain Mangement Clinic!

Sorry (((Jillybean))). Didn't mean to go so off-track with your thread. As you can see a lot of people have these done and survive. And most of mine have been very successful. Apparently I have a barbaric pain managment clinic here.

What Bobby said. My docs never sedated me for them because I have some weird nerve situation. My left and right arms both seem to have the nerve root coming out of the same side of my neck. There are nerves on both sides, but only one I seem to use. I can only feel it if the needle on the left, so if they sedate me, they can't tell if they're getting the correct nerve. They found that out the first time I had it done.

This may be due to the injury that causes my symptoms, who knows.

So I get 100% impact when I get it. It's painful.


I did have versed for the FJIs, but I didn't notice anything but I was a bit more mellow (like having a valium or something). I doubt that would take awy from the pain of ESI much, but you are supposed to forget later. What good that does I don't know... I didn't forget.



They do not, to my knowledge, do nerve block for cervies - I never had one. I have heard of that for lumbar though. Maybe it depends on why you need any procedure.
Maybe it depends on what symptoms you're having, what spinal issues and so forth.

I was having paralysis and crushing pain in both arms. They went right to the ESIs - 2, 2 weeks apart. It hurt, but it helped. Then I had a vagal repsonse and my doc decided maybe that wasn't such a hot idea to keep doing that, so he tried the FJIs. Didn't work as well, but some. Really, I was supposed to to ACDF back in '03 or so, but I saw how *well* everyone seems to do with that, and figured there probably is a better way to deal....




And maybe the way I've had this done is not standard procedure, but it's how it went for me. I'm not saying I'm normal, or that my docs were always right, you know?

Kind of gets me, when people don't believe it when I say those ESIs hurt. They did, trust me. I would never scare everyone else by saying that if it were not true. I mean, I can honestly say my lumbar puncture was a breeze, so why lie about the ESIs?

I hope that you don't think that I wasn't doubting you. I'm wasn't / am not. I was hopeful that you might relay a bit more info, but don't want to pry, about how your procedure(s) went. I've heard a number of people who experience quite a bit of pain during and following procedures.

The days afterward can be quite discomforting to painful. If the pain doesn't subside within 3-7 days afterward (because there can be a temp. increase in symptoms), it's also something that needs to be brought to the doc's attention.