Steroid shot

[coyote]

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.

[Idealist]

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...

[izzy]

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

[coyote]

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................

[fiberowendy2000]

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!

[coyote]

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