Hello
My name is Rick I am a Rt, 63 years old, two children 27 and 34 ,both move out, well moving some 200 lb oxygen units in a nursing home I developed back pain, my reg Dr, said i had a bursitas and gave me a cortisone shot, a week later I was back and he gave me a patch conductive test and told me I had a pinched nerve, I went to a Othopedic ,they did a MRI on my back and told me it was normal, I went to a hip Othopedic ,because thats where my pain was and he gave me a shot for tendenitas, well to make a long story short the group that did my MRI had to call the Back Specilist and told him I had a broad based dics buldge L4-5 impingement on a L5 nerve and a mild herniation on the L5-S1-so I have had three opinions, one being epidoral shot to calm the nerves down another a Facet injection and the last Dr told me a Nerve block ,meanwhile I have trouble sitting for any lenth of time and have mild leg weakness, pain is also mild-it seems like it improving ,going on four months , my question is which do I go with ,the nerve block or the others? I am really confused
THank you all

Would a specialist you've seen be doing the procedure or a PM (Pain Management) doc?

I'd go over the options (all that were offered to you) with a doc and ask about the pros of each procedure and what makes it a plus (with your spinal condition) over the others.

I'll give it more thought. I'm sure there are others here who will offer far better insights than I have at this wee hour .

I have what is called sciatica (pain running down my leg from a trapped nerve). This sounds like it is what you may have.

They (PT) told me that the treatment options may be either of those three that you have described but they did not say which one would be more effective for the pain.

Below is some websites I found off the internet. Hopefully this should be of some help.

Information on Epidural;

http://www.neurologychannel.com/epidural/index.shtml
http://www.spinalmedicine.com/ask/q021121.html

Information on Facet;

http://www.classichospitals.com/article.asp?article=294
http://www.mayfieldclinic.com/PE-FACET.htm
http://www.spineuniverse.com/article/article1176.html
http://www.wiganleigh.nhs.uk/Library...injection.html

Information on Nerve Block;

http://www.spineuniverse.com/display...ticle1970.html
http://www.thephysiotherapysite.co.u...ve_blocks.html

You will be able to find out more information on these three procedures by using the Google website http://www.google.co.uk/ and typing them into the search engine.

I cannot answer directly what the best one would be for you as each, I would imagine would be more suitable for a particular case. It would be best to ask your specialist about which he/she thinks would be best.

Good luck with your treatment.

Thanks for that answer, I took some Predisone last night and the pain has reduced today, but your right ,I am not rushing on this decision, as long as I feel some improvement over time, I think i will give mother nature a chance-
one Dr told me that 80% of this cases are gone in 90 days---my response to him was, there is no time limit -some people 6 weeks some 12 weeks some six to 12 months---- everyone heals differenty-but I would have to say the first 10 weeks my pain was 8 out of 10---but know it about a three, with mild nerve poping in my feet--thanks again

Ice heat repeat, acupuncture with electric stim followed by strong cupping, chamomile tea and meditation (you can get easy to follow guided ones on CD online for les then $10) then once things stabalize start doing gental yoga and get a massage. I know one guy who was paralyzed from an epidural shot and another whoes problem was made worse due to a nerve block.

Best of luck to ya
,Mike