the pain is really starting now and not like the rapping around the chest,it's a litttle different, little lower all around the ribs plus right kidney and tightening of my stomach back is in bad shape too. plus have one spot i quess it is about one thumb from center of chest going towards the left a type of pressure not sure if it is lungs or heart, anyone have this after an thoric t7-8 esi, and if so did it go away, if it continues or gets worse what should i do. is this normal as the doc said pain may get worse for 72 hr.
any help would be most app. d

kind of feels like a bit of paralizist (sp) ?

Deb,

I've only had lumbar and cervical ESIs -- never thoracic.

Does the pain feel like what you had BEFORE the epidural?? By that I mean the pain distribution pattern??

Are you in more pain NOW than before the epidural??

I wish they'd make it illegal to do these things without fluoroscope

If the pain distribution is way different than what you normally experience and if the pain is so bad that it's scaring you, get yourself to the emergency ward.

It could just be that you've worked yourself up because of all the warnings. It could be that he nicked a nerve (I still don't understand how they can do these things blind safely.)

Or it might be that the steroids are just swirling around in there and kicking *** on all the germs and all the inflammation.

Honey, if you're really scared, go to the ER. Or page your doctor (did he leave a page number??). If you don't have anyone to drive you -- friend, neighbor, child, spouse -- call the police or the fire department -- they'll take you.

Did they give you a written sheet of directions on what to do for complication and what to do for after-care?? Take another look at that and then decide what you're going to do.

There's no shame in going to the ER if you're worried about the symptoms that you're having.

BIG HUGS. I'll be praying for you.

Barb

Deb,

I have to agree with Barb here. I almost said something yesterday about NO fluoroscope and going blindly in. It makes me too! There is NO WAY those injections should be done without it. Anyway, I am sorry, but if it gets to be too much...get to the ER. But as Barb said too...those injections will usually cause an increase in pain anyway...but since you are speaking of the thoracic I would not hesitate in going to the ER. I don't mean to scare you but if bad, please go. And big hugs too!!!

Both Barb and Kathi gave you some good suggestions, Deb.

I hope that the pain you're feel decreases soon.


I read in another of your posts about your ESI what your doctor said:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ad.php?t=32818

He didn't mention the third alternative, though. Because he did not use fluoroscope, he doesn't know whether the needle targetted the pain point. If the ESI does not help, it could be because he guessed - in needle placement.

nad know writen instructions=---will let you all know how i fair tommorrow i am sure it will be better atleast t the point it was thank you all for caring. he did say that it was one ofthe 1st he has done at this area (sfterhe said he has done atleast 500) for spmereason i don trust him don't know why as i am not the most trusting person..... you areall so kind if wed is worse i will go to the dredded er i will pray that u all are doing welll and pain free goodnight (i hope) i have top drive my daughter to sschool at 730. and no i really don't have anyone at this time to count on deb

I hope that your pain decreases, Deb.


I wouldn't trust the doctor either; it takes a lot for me to say that, but, it was foolish for him not to use fluoroscope - even more so since your ESI was one of the first he's done in the area of your ESI.

I'd trust my best friend with a needle and taking aim before I'd trust a total stranger (white coat or not) opting not to use fluoroscope.

If he did get the right area, it was by luck, not experience.

Deb,

I, too, hope your pain decreases. But I must say...Bobbi is right. Please, please be careful about this if there is a next time. Honestly, I would find another doc that uses fluoroscopy. There is too much of a risk without it. So, hang in there and again, I DO hope you get to feeling better.

well my 72 hrs are over and i didn't have to go to the er, pain was bad, but lately it is always bad, this was just a little bit different so it did scare me a bit which i hate to admit.

well anyway the doc said that if the pain didn't go away by now that he wouldn't do another at that area he would then suggest surgery, but don't think i am up to that one, it is quite invasive and very dangerous, i will be seeing him again on monday and will tell him it didn't work, but that now i want to try the lumber.

I know i must be crazy but if there is any chance that it will work there i am willing to give it a shot (no pun intended). thats even if he will do it, he may just telll me to go to a surgun , easier said than done, as i said before i don't want that surgery and there aren't many doc. willing to go there.

I only did the thoric 1st as that is the most painful, i am in constant pain unless i am lying down inclined, but today laying down didn't even work, lots to think about. the doc felt so good about how the shot went in i hate to disilution him, when i told him that my 25 fent. patch wasn't working anymore after 3 months and wanted to up it, he at 1st didn't want to as he felt this shot would work and then i wouldn't need the patch (oh how i wish). but when i expalined to him that if it didn't work it would be too late in the week to let him know and that by then i would be out of the 25 (even though they really don't cut it anymore) i didn't want ot chance it , so he agreed. To tell the truth even the 50 isn't working to well right now, but that could be from the extra pain. well sorry for this being so long, and i thank you all for caring---i willl let you know if anything changes and what happens on mon. good health and a painfree weekend to all deb