Injections in neck....
 

I have messed up dics in my neck my pain dr wants me to try some type of injections in my neck to prolong having surgery. Has anyone had these ? If so is it painful, did they help?? The dr says they give me an iv to relax me, still I'm scared.

Could be steroids, could be something else. If I were you, I would know exactly what it is and the risks and benefits.
If the benefits outweigh the risks in your mind, then you can make an informed decision. It does not sound like you have enough information to make an informed decision. Get more information - that is the best way.

They called and scheduled me for the 26th and yes they are steroid injections I have to have two sets of them. They said they would give me something that would make me not aware of what was going on but I'm still TERRIFIED! Any suggestions on these types of injections and do they hurt????

Quite a few of the members in other forums get various injections for pain relief.
steroids, botox, Novocaine types.

Spinal forum, thoracic outlet syndrome forum, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, chronic pain...

most Drs use a imaging of some sort so they get it in exactly the right place- You might call and ask about that part.

are you worried about the needle itself or that they might inj to the wrong area?
If they use the imaging, the location part should be fine.

It is the needle lol I wont lie I'm a BIG OL BABY!!! They are suppose to give me an IV with something in it so maybe it will help.
Oh and I love your running horse...I have horses and before all of this rode all the time I miss it sooo much.

HI,

I have had two epidurals and you are usually put out for me. They can't risk you moving or jerking, especially in the cervical area.

I woke up and felt fine. You will be ok :wink:

Don't worry about it, it's not a big deal.
I've had seven so far, the last one was for seven injections all together. Mine are facet joint injections, not an epidural.
I take a strong pain tablet an hour or so before, and that is all I have. This just helps to dull the anaesthetic needle scratch.
When he injects the steroid you will feel a bit of pressure-may be a bit uncomfortable but doesn't hurt.
He positions the hollow needle with the aid of an x-ray monitor.
This last lot lasted about seven weeks, and has worn off now, so back to the daily battle to get on top until the next injections.

Well I had my first injection on the 1st of July and it was not as bad as I thought it would be. The only problem is i think I'm worse now then I was before I got the darn thing. I can turn my head from side to side a little better but as far as pain goes no better maybe even a little worse. Anyone else have this kind of reaction???

Balmy,

It is VERY common to have an increase in pain for a few days. Give it about two weeks for the steroid to kick in. But what kind of injection did you have? I am like Peter, I get them for the facets as well as nerve root blocks. If it was an ESI, I have never had that done in my cervical spine. Hang in there and give it a little more time.

I had that same reaction with every steroid injection that I've ever had. I've had 8 and, unfortunately, they only amplified my pain for about 2 weeks (sometimes to the point that I couldn't move my head at all) with no improvement after the initial swelling & irritation wore off. I've been to many different doctors trying to find a treatment that would work and each would inform me to "try the epidurals with me...your last doctor must not have done the job right." I will give my second doctor credit, though; at least, he didn't cause spinal fluid to leak (which causes the worst headache ever, just fyi) like the first doc did on his second epidural. In addition to the steroid epidurals, I've also had 3 facet injections with similar results, several trigger point injections, and an occipital nerve block (that one makes your eyes water involuntarily--it's like having a wasp sting you right on an exposed nerve). I was fully awake for all my procedures without a sedative (a choice I made so that I wouldn't have to find a ride to & from my doc who is 140 miles away from where I live). The procedures really aren't that bad...that is, until the novocaine wears off &, if you're one of the unlucky like me, you find that your pain has intensified rather than vanished. Anyway, I'm sorry that your results ended up like mine. In some people, it can take up to a month before they notice improvement after these epidurals. I sincerely hope that you are one of those people! I know I wish I was.