Steroid shot
 

Friday I got my first steroid shot in my spine. I have one completely collapsed disk, two herniated ones, three fused vertebrae in my neck (arnold chiari malformation)
The steroid shot was like a miracle! I had two days no pain in my lower back! Today is the third day, and I have only twinges. I am still having leg spasms while I sleep, but the improvment is immense.
I wonder what took so long for the doctor to think of this?
I'm hoping that this will have a positive effect on my Fibromyalgia. The low back pain was a constant thing and couldn 't have helped the Fibro.:)

Good for you, Coyote! I'd never heard of doing that before. One of my surgeons talked once of possibly giving me a steroid shot in the side, but said the chances were fifty-fifty that it might actually make the pain worse. I didn't have to think about that one very long...

shot
 

Hi there...
Glad you have relief from the steroid shot!I have Fibro,arthritis and several
herniated disks etc....Also anklosing spondylitis.

I have had steroid shots in my arm several times within the past few yrs.
Also have been given the depo packs a few times.
No dought it took the edge off the pain...also gave me energy!Actually drained my sinuses too which have been stopped up for yrs.
The down fall was weight gain.And when it wore off I knew it!

I was wondering about where your injection was given?Was it at the tender points?
One DR wants to perform a spinal nerve block.I have heard many outcomes of that procedure...so am reluctant to proceed.
Any advise? Izzy:)

The shot was given right in the spine in the area of the collapsed disk. They x-rayed the area at the same time, to make sure they got the right spot.
They didn't call it a spinal block. I'd hate to give advice in case it turned out to be bad advice................

I had the epidural done as well and unfortunately it didn't work for me. I have had to go up one procedure radio frequency abalation AKA rhizotomy. I don't recommend the procedure and should only be done as a last resort before surgery. It is very painful to have done and the recovery time is long. I had it done almost 6 weeks ago and my muscles are still unhappy with the procedure (I had the nerves burned from L3 to L5). My left leg gets fatigued and painful if I push to hard.
So I hope you have better long term luck with epidurals than I did. I too started out great but after the third one, which lasted a week, I had to go for the RFA...esh!

That Rizo......procedure sounds very unpleasant. Thanks for the info. I hope you are feeling better soon.
Take care

Great part about it is I get to do it all over again today. I had the left side done back in September, I think, and now the right side is being done today.
Eventually I will make it to do the darn gym and loose all this weight.:rolleyes:

How are you making out Fiberowendy?
I had my second shot yesterday, but unfortunately, I fell at work on the stairs about two weeks ago. So, I don't know if the pain that returned was from the fall or from the cortisone wearing off.
My Physical Therapist noticed some improvement even so.

In the past I had multiple epidurals, several times a year for many years.

I can't even remember what's what with my spine. I just remember I have 2 herniated and 1 bulging disc in the lower back and 2 bad discs in the neck. I've had steroid injections twice in the cervical area. The most painful shots I've ever experienced.

I had the epidurals for probably 10 years until a new pain clinic doctor suggestsed trying sacroiliac injections instead. Those finally relieved my lower back pain.

But I still have horrible tailbone pain which nobody can seem to figure out. I had an MRI last week and my doc is referring me to a spine doctor to see if someone new can do something. My pain doctor just shrugs his shoulders now and says there is nothing he can do for my tailbone short of the pinpoint injections. If he gets the right spots, they help.

Hi everyone,
I am not trying to alarm anyone but I had at least 8 steroid injections and 2 myelograms along with one RF and this year during my fusion had my dura nicked and had bleeding into my spinal fluid and as a result ended up with a bad case of Arachnoiditis and I am a nurse but I never knew the possible dangers of these proceedures and now it is too late for me but I think everyone should be aware of the possible risks. There are thousands like me so you may want to read this article so you can be informed.
http://www.spineuniverse.com/display...rticle180.html

Ms. Mary Claire Walsh
SpineUniverse Staff Writer

Best Related Articles • Pain Syndromes and Disorders: Arachnoiditis to Myofascial Pain
• Spinal Cord Stimulation: Is it Right for You?
• Role of the Pain Management Specialist
Arachnoiditis is a debilitating condition characterized by severe stinging and burning pain and neurologic problems. It is caused by an inflammation of the arachnoid lining - one of the 3 linings that surround the brain and spinal cord. This inflammation causes constant irritation, scarring, and binding of nerve roots and blood vessels.
The predominant symptom of arachnoiditis is chronic and persistent pain in the lower back, lower limbs or, in severe cases, throughout the entire body. Other symptoms may include:

- Tingling, numbness, or weakness in the legs
- Bizarre sensations such as insects crawling on the skin or water trickling down the leg
- Severe shooting pain (which some liken to an electric shock sensation)
- Muscle cramps, spasms, and uncontrollable twitching
- Bladder, bowel, and/or sexual dysfunction

If the disease progresses, symptoms may become more severe or even permanent. This disorder can be very debilitating, as the pain is constant and intractable. Most people with arachnoiditis are unable to work and have significant disability.
Causes of Arachnoiditis
There are 3 main causes of arachnoiditis:

1. Trauma/surgery-induced
Arachnoiditis has long been recognized as a rare complication of spinal surgery (particularly after multiple or complex surgeries) or trauma to the spine. Other similar causes include multiple lumbar punctures (especially if there is a "bloody tap" with bleeding into the spinal fluid), advanced spinal stenosis, or chronic degenerative disc disease.
2. Chemically-induced
In recent years, myelograms have come under scrutiny as being a possible cause of this condition. A myelogram is a diagnostic test in which a radiographic contrast media (dye) is injected into the area surrounding the spinal cord and nerves. This dye is then visible on x-rays, CT, or MRI scans and used by physicians to diagnose spinal conditions. There is now a concern that exposure (especially repeated exposure) to some of the dyes used in myelograms may cause arachnoiditis. Similarly, there is concern that the preservatives found in epidural steroid injections may cause arachnoiditis, especially if the medication accidentally enters the cerebral spinal fluid.
3. Infection-induced
Arachnoiditis can also be caused by certain infections that affect the spine such as viral and fungal meningitis or tuberculosis.

Treatment
There is no cure for arachnoiditis. Treatment options are geared toward pain relief and are similar to treatments for other chronic pain conditions. Some examples include the following:

- Pain medications such as NSAIDs, corticosteroids (orally or injected), anti-spasm drugs, anti-convulsants (to help with the burning pain), and in some cases, narcotic pain relievers. Some of these medications may be administered through an intrathecal pump which, when implanted under the skin, can administer medication directly to the spinal cord.
- Physical therapy such as hydrotherapy, massage, and hot/cold therapy.
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) - a treatment in which a painless electrical current is sent to specific nerves through electrode patches that are placed on the skin. The mild electrical current generates heat that serves to relieve stiffness, improve mobility, and relieve pain.
- Spinal cord stimulator - a device that transmits an electrical signal to the spinal cord for pain relief.

Surgery is not recommended for arachnoiditis because it only causes more scar tissue to develop and exposes the already irritated spinal cord to more trauma.
Living with Arachnoiditis
Unfortunately, this condition can cause serious disability. It is never easy to live with chronic pain. Not only does it adversely affect your body, it can also cause mental stress as well. Sufferers of arachnoiditis are encouraged to join support groups or find other therapeutic outlets for stress. Treatment methods should be focused on pain relief and maintaining quality of life. More research is needed about this and other chronic pain conditions so that someday a cure may be found.