darn it, my back hurts again

poet_kelly
on 11/21/11 1:50 pm - OH
I had epidural steroid injections just over a month ago and within two days, my back didn't hurt at all.  It was such a huge improvement.  Those injections are supposed to provide relief for quite a while, I think.  Several months.

My relief lasted about one month.  For the last few days, it hurts.  Not as bad as before the injections, at least not yet.  Back then, the pain was waking me several times a night.  It's not that bad now but it hurts.  I'm so unhappy about that.

I'm not sure how often they will even do the injections.  When I used to get them in my  knees, they would only do it once every three months.  But getting them done often is not feasible for me anyway.  I have to have someone take me to get them because I can't drive myself home, and even though my insurance covers them I have a kinda big copay for that.  So doing them once a month or something like that just would not be possible even if I wanted to and the doc would do them that often.

I'm so disappointed the pain is returning so soon.

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com          Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor.  Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me.  If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her.    Check out my blog.

 

SweetGirl11
on 11/21/11 4:39 pm
Kelly, I'm SO sorry you're in pain again!  Back pain is horrible.  My hubby has chronic back pain that radiates down his legs.  He tried an epidural steroid injection, but it didn't provide much relief.  I'm supposed to get them in my neck because I have herniated discs.  I said NOOOOOOO.

Michelle    (OH member since 2004 - new user name)

HW 285 / SW 270 / GW 140 / LW 135 / CW 185

RNY 6/8/2009  
Starting size 26/28, now size 12/14

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  -Hebrews 13:8

poet_kelly
on 11/21/11 6:47 pm - OH
They sound really scary, at least they did to me, but really were no big deal.  They sedated me for the procedure and I was not asleep but I was very drowsy and very relaxed.  It really did not hurt.  I felt a little pressure and that was it.

The pain is not too bad right now but I am assuming it will get worse.  In the past, it has at times been so bad I could not stand up or walk or even move, really.  Once I was out somewhere and managed to drive home but then could not get out of the car.  Every time I tried to move the littlest bit the pain was excruciating.  I ended up having to call my partner at work and he had to come home, go into the house and get me some vicodin, then I had to sit in the car until that kicked in and I could move again.

Has anything helped your husband?  Has he tried acupuncture or anything like that?

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com          Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor.  Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me.  If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her.    Check out my blog.

 

(deactivated member)
on 11/21/11 11:17 pm
You were so lucky!  I can't believe that you were sedated for the procedure... I'm so envious.  I had injections in my back twice... first we tried injections in the facet joints, and secondly we did the epidural when the first ones didn't work.  BOTH TIMES I was wide awake despite being terrified and totally stressed about it... they did not even give me any sort of relaxer.  Literally, they had me come in, lie down on a table on my tummy, then told to stay still while they did the injections using x-ray for guide.  

They hurt INCREDIBLY and it was severely traumatizing... and even worse than that, neither set of injections did a think to alleviate my pain.  I am glad you got some relief from them, though... I know that for some people they are a godsend, it just didn't turn out that way for me.

I am not sure what I would have done if they HAD worked... not sure the trauma of the procedure would have been worth doing it again even with significant relief.  I'd have had to find a new pain management guy because there was NO WAY I was doing that fully awake again, nuh uh...


tori
poet_kelly
on 11/21/11 11:23 pm - OH
I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience.  I think health care providers don't always realize how traumatic medical procedures can be.  They asked me if I wanted sedation and I said oh yes please!   I was really scared and stressed about it too, and I wanted sedation so it wouldn't be traumatic for me.

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com          Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor.  Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me.  If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her.    Check out my blog.

 

SweetGirl11
on 11/23/11 7:36 pm

The shots didn't really help.  The most help he had was from a combination chiropractor / physical therapist.  Unfortunately, Workers Comp decided they didn't want to pay for the treatments anymore.   :(    And the stupid thing is, he can't use our regular insurance to pay for these treatments because it could jeopardize his case (he is waiting for a settlement).  So he is in pain almost all of the time.  Pain meds only provide very temporary relief.

Michelle    (OH member since 2004 - new user name)

HW 285 / SW 270 / GW 140 / LW 135 / CW 185

RNY 6/8/2009  
Starting size 26/28, now size 12/14

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  -Hebrews 13:8

poet_kelly
on 11/23/11 11:22 pm - OH
I went to a chiropractor when I first started having back problems.  I had seen a chiropractor in the past when I had a very stiff/sore neck and it helped immensely.  Well, when I went for my back, after the first adjustment it did feel better.  Not all the way better, but some better.  Unfortunately, the second adjustment seemed to make it significantly worse.  The chiropractor didn't want to treat me again after that and I didn't want him to treat me anyway because I was afraid.

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com          Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor.  Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me.  If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her.    Check out my blog.

 

Price S.
on 11/21/11 9:28 pm - Mills River, NC
So sorry you are in pain.  I had one cortasone injection in my knee and it did nothing.  they said they wouldn't do but a few of them anyway.  The joint fluid injection I had did help but it took a full 4 weeks to work at all and now I have good and bad days. Better than nothing but still not good.  Knee replacement is scheduled tomorrow. 

Is there a permanant surgery solution to your problem?  If not, I would try acupunture.  I haven't done it myself but have used it on my horses and it was wonderful for them. 

    LW-Apple-Gold-Small.jpg image by PlicketyCat  66 yrs young, 4'11"  hw  220, goal 120 met at 12 months, cw 129 learning Maintainance

Between 35-40 BMI? join us on the Lightweight board.  the Lightweight Board
      
 

poet_kelly
on 11/21/11 9:33 pm - OH
I would try acupuncture but I  am thinking I could not afford it.  I haven't really looked into it though so I guess I don't know that for sure.

I don't know about a surgical solution.  My doc has never mentioned surgery.  And I'm not sure it's bad enough for me to consider surgery on my back.  I've got to figure something out, though.  The pain is not very bad right now but I'm assuming it will get bad again in time.  And before these epidural injections, it was worse some days than others but it hurt every day and it did limit my activities.  I could not bend over to pick up something on the floor.  When I went grocery shopping, I could not pick up itmes from the bottom shelves at the store so sometimes I could not get the items I really wanted.  And it did wake me several times every night for several months.

Hmm.  Maybe I should see a pain management specialist?

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com          Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor.  Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me.  If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her.    Check out my blog.

 

Price S.
on 11/21/11 10:30 pm - Mills River, NC
Are you seeing a back specialist?  they may be able to give you a range of options.  Have you ever had PT because of it?  A pain specialist would maybe be another way to go. Mobility is so important for so many things, from digestion to depression.

    LW-Apple-Gold-Small.jpg image by PlicketyCat  66 yrs young, 4'11"  hw  220, goal 120 met at 12 months, cw 129 learning Maintainance

Between 35-40 BMI? join us on the Lightweight board.  the Lightweight Board
      
 

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