cervical esi
 

Hello all,
I had my first cervical esi done two days ago. It was an interesting experience to say the least. The procedure went well I think, no major pain getting injection. Later that day my arms felt really tired. I usually have left sided neck pain, left shoulder and bicep pain. After the injection my right side of neck and right bicep hurt worse. Strange isn't it? Doctor said if I would get pain relief it would be at about day 5-7. Hope everyone is feeling better.
Artic
two moderate disc bulges c5-c7
moderate to severe neural foraminal stenosis c5-c7
osteophytes everywhere

I hope it works !!!--It has helped alot of people i know some first shot did the trick a few people need a 2nd.

Believe me, if the FIRST doesn't work, the SECOND one won't work either. they do NOT build up in your system. So if this one doesn't work, do NOT let them do another. They are not good for the body, and they are just money-makes for the doctor. Read the medical journals and you'll see for yourself. ;)

I do hope it works for you though. Best of luck and God bless. Hugs, Lee :)

Hi artic
 

Hello and welcome to Neuro Talk. I agree with Leesa. please evaluate carefully the amount of relief, or no relief you get from ESI shots. Do not be talked into more, if the first round doesn't work. Ususally the second round does not either. There are other more effective, less dangerous injections out there through pain management. I sure wish you all the best as you go forward with treatment. ginnie

alternative to esi
 

Hello,
No relief from neck or arm pain with esi. Ginnie, you spoke of other less dangerous injections that are available. What would that be? My meds are lyrica, tramadol and flexeril. Not alot of relief there either. Tramadol takes about two hours to get into my system. Not really very effective. I did not want to do the whole pain contract thing because of my work. I know people abuse the system but for those of us who have legitimate conditions a pain contract is just that, a pain. Neurosurgeon wants to do two level acdf with instrumentation. Not happy with that idea. It seems nothing is easy with spinal conditions. Anyway, hope everyone feels better.
Artic

Hi Artic
 

When the ESI injections do not work the first time, most doctors want to keep at it. Very expensive to insurance and out of pocket, a real money maker. Also the risk with them is there. I am not a big fan of them Artic. My own experience with them wasn't so good. I am fused C3-7.
Between my fusions, I had something called a Ketamine infusion. This is done with a pain specialist however. They use a floroscopy and a thin cath into the places that are damaged. There was no pain at all for me, before, during or after, and it provided about 4 months of relatively pain free existance. I had several of them. The final one didn't work, and it was at that point, my pain specialist after viewing on the floroscope just what my cervical spine was doing, said I should go to to a neurologist again. These shots, any of them, (facet blocks as well) are a temporary fix Artic. They are all worth a try to stay out of the operative theater. That really is a last resort.(surgery)
I didn't have to sign a pain contract with my physiatrist at all. She really did get me on a better track after my fusion. I still get help when needed with medications. Tramadol didn't do squat for me either.
I sure hope you can find some resolution. I really believe if you find a pain specialist, it would help you. They are not all jerks. I interviewed 4 of them before finding my current doctor. It was worth the effort to do this.
I hope you have a good weekend. I am here anytime to talk to. ginnie

I was never offered Ketamine infusions, but I would SURELY ask about that before allowing them to do ANY more injections into the spinal canal. All those are, are money makers and just "bandaid" fixes. Perhaps the ketamine infusions weren't even available when I had my problems -- it was awhile ago.

Tramadol didn't do squat for me either. LOL All it did was make me have a real MIGRAINE! Good Lord, that was awful. :eek:

Ask about a long-acting Opiate -- although if he has you on Tramadol, he probably won't give you any. But you DO need something long-acting! You need something that lasts at LEAST 8 hours or so. I'm on OpanaER and that works quite well. It does last close to 8 hrs and I sure appreciate that!

Keep us posted, okay? Keeping you in my prayers. Hugs, Lee :)

pain management
 

Hello
Thanks to ginnie and leesa for your caring comments. I am currently seeing a pain management dr. My first appointment was for an emg. The study came back abnormal of course. I have cervical radiculopathy at c4-c6. I have not asked for narcotic pain meds and dr does not offer any. I think she is waiting for me to ask for them. I am mid fifties and this situation with my neck is hard for me to grasp. I have worked hard my whole life and now I am struggling to live with physical pain. The mental aspect is also wearing me down as I feel my life slipping away from me.
Realizing my own mortality is a real eye opener. I must sign pain contract to receive narcotic pain meds. The terms such as random drug testing and pill counts make me feel like a drug seeker. I have no problem passing drug screening yet its just one more thing to deal with. I have less energy these days as my condition seems to leave me drained. When I was younger I would hear older people talk about death as a relief, I could never understand this line of reasoning. Now I am understand their position from a different prospective. As I am typing this my arms are tired. I know there are many on this site that are far worse off than I am.

God bless you all
Artic

Hi! First comment posted.. I'm thinking about your personal comments. These spinal conditions do change your life! I had to accept that it's time to adapt to the situation. I know what you mean about hard work, physical and emotional pain, the changes to your body,the idea of getting old and dying, and coping with pain meds-man, it goes on and on. Of course others are worse off but you are dealing and adapting to your situation and problems. Stop stressing about what others think- do what you have to do. The girls on this site are great at explaining and sympathizing with various conditions. Once this spinal stuff starts rolling, it's a game changer! Out of time, have to go; i'll be back. sfink

Hi sfink
 

Welcome to Neuro Talk. You are right about what you said. when you get spinal problems it is a game changer. It seems in my own life, most folks that I know don't get it. It is only here, where there is some empathy for what you go through. I hope you are OK, and I am glad to see another post. ginnie

Hi Artic
 

I deal with pain management as I mentioned. I was drug tested the first visit, and none after. I use the medications, as without them, I sit like a bump on a log doing nothing much. In my own situation, I refuse to give up my life to be sedentary. Rather pay the price and take the meds. so at least I can do a few things. I know giving in, and getting the meds. isn't easy. I too was active all my life. I need to have some activity to remain mentally OK. I hope that you are OK, and can find a happy medium. ginnie

Back for a minute! Ginnie reminded me of a little thing that went down Aug.26,2011 in Jefferson University Hospital in Philly. I'm sitting in my wheelchair at the waiting area of PT. 5 of us lined up waiting for our sessions. We all had the same ACDF done. It's quiet because we're all smashed on pain killers. An old tall black man walks into the room, walks right up to and me and says,"They won't get it, until they got it!"-then politely turns around and leaves..mmmm. Ok, he saved me a lot of time trying to get others to understand what's going on with me. Forget about it! Round up your posse of spouse, family, friends who you love and who love you back. If you condition gets bad, these are the folks who will help you! No one understands chronic illness and pain till they have it! That's enough for now, exit stage right. sfink

Its a mental thing!
 

hello all
Those of us with spinal conditions generally live our lives in seclusion. After a while no one wants to hear about our condition. Our condition can not be visualized, therefore we receive no sympathy. Sometimes I just want to vent to family knowing they can do nothing to help, I am ok with that. I would just like a sympathetic ear sometimes. The whole pain management thing is strange to me. Over the years I have tried different pain meds for conditions from tooth aches to kidney stones. They all make me sick, I literally throw up within twenty minutes of taking narcotic pills. I try to live my life as best I can but I do understand when others want to just give up. To me its a mental thing. Trying to adjust my life to a condition of worsening pain and debilitation. I feel like I am being pulled along a road to a destination I dont want to go to. I realize now, that things I thought were important are really not. Some reading this would think I am depressed, I really am not. I am just adjusting myself to situations I cant control.
Thanks to all who have respond and God bless us all.
Artic

"adapt to the situation"- diversion
 

I'm back! Yeah, I get it- I live as a hermit also. I do my stuff each day; set my goals each morning and try to accomplish at least one of them. Rarely leave the house. these computers are really helpful, they enhance communication so much..Chronic constant pain is brutal, no relief. Meds suppress it, I'm thankful for that, but it only lasts a few hours. I generally keep music on at all times-50% traditional blues,25% oldies from 60's radio and 25% classic rock from Elvis to 1975. Any kind of diversion is helpful. I try to spend time each day one of my grandkids(ages 22, 11,10 and 2) Man , that's funny just typing it out! I teach them about life, God and doing positive things ect. We have fun and I adapt to each one. The traditional things I did with them before I got sick are over , so I try to adapt to what I can do with them. Girl scouts, cub scouts, outdoor playground, blocks,matchbox, wii, anything. I've found building on Minecraft with my grandson is fun. I wear a TENS unit about 12 hours each day and that's about diverting your nervous system from sending pain signals. The last 10 years of working before disability were all about "adapting to the situation" The current condition I'm in is the same. Is it great? No. Will I survive? Yes. More stuff later- gotta go.... sfink

This really is a "journey" of sorts, but one that most of us would rather not take! Having been on this journey for 28 years, I'm wondering when it will end. LOL My mother never told me that getting old was this painful! :D

Artic is right in that most of us live our life in seclusion. There isn't much we can do, and most of our friends have "flown the coop." :( I long for the days when I could ride the lawn mower and get some sun -- plus get some satisfaction of seeing how good the lawn looked afterwards. ;) No way can I tolerate that anymore. Now I'm lucky that I can ride in a car to get to the doctor's office. :rolleyes:

You people are the ONLY ones who understand. Family are sick of hearing about it, and I really don't blame them. Actually, I'm sick of talking about it. LOL I'm tired of the pain, medications, doctors, tests, and everything that goes with it! There ---- that's my rant for the day! :D

God bless you all, and I pray all of you have less pain! Hugs, Lee ;)

My esi was almost literally a life-saver
 

I was in significant pain last November and December. I had my esi on 12/9 and by Christmas I was able to start sleeping again. Not all night, but a good three to four hours.

Unfortunately, the esi did not alleviate the need for surgery. I had a three level acdf in April. I lost significant hand strength, lost most of my tricep muscle and my trap muscle. The surgeon said I had no choice. The surgery and recovery has been just fine, but I'm sure glad I got some relief for the four months between the injection and the surgery.

hardest part is not knowing what to do!
 

HI all
What bothers me is there are no good answers. The Last dr that gave me esi said I was in a win/lose situation. Surgery might make things better, might make things worse. I guess you just roll the dice and take your chances. I decided I was not going to have surgery unless I could not stand the pain or my neurological situation deteriorates further.
God bless
Artic

Faith and trust or just roll the dice
 

Hi! Yeah, I get it..There are no guarantees with these procedures; there is a lot that can go right or wrong. My neurosurgeon simply said- 1/3 get better, 1/3 stay the same,1/3 get worse. It comes down to how much faith you have in his skill as a doctor; how much do you trust him? To me, waiting till I lose all motor skills or surpass my pain threshold-Wow, that's a risky roll of the dice! I don't think that there is a "normal" after you reach those points. The spinal structure is now different and you have experienced nerve damage and destruction. It reminds me of trying to cement my favorite coffee mug back together after dropping it. Sure, I could put it back together but it just wasn't the same. Once your broken, hard to restore back to "normal". That's my thought about it. Take care, sfink

I won't wait till things fall apart
 

Hi all
I don't like major pain nor do I like major neurological symptoms. I don't plan on waiting until I have unmanageable pain or nerve damage to act. 1/3 better, same, worse are not encouraging either. Since it does seem to be a roll of the dice I'll take my chances and wait it out.
God bless you all
Artic

Hi Artic
 

I did the same thing as you are doing. I watied. I went with pain management until that physician honesly couldn't help my pain or symptoms anymore. Then I had the last fusion. No fun either way. My surgery turned out OK. If you ever have to do it, have hope. ginnie