I'm broken
 

So I have had back problems for ever about 3 years, ever since I took a horse ride, the next morning I woke up and couldnt move... so dealing with pain ever since then.

I went to physical medicine today, the Dr poked and looked at me, asked me a whole bunch of questions. Her diagnoses is 2 things:

Dics bulge and Degeneration Sacroiliac Strain in both sides. So I have to get Epidural Injections. She wants to do 3 of them... So hope that works I don't know what the plan B is..All I know is I am pain 24/7 and if I wake up and it doesnt hurt it only takes me standing for 15 mins for it to start to hurt. :(

Has anyone hah the epi shot in your back? Does it work? Has anyone had these problems or have them now?

BUMP! I hope you find what the cause is so you can get some relief.

:D: They found the cause, next step is Epidural shots :(

I'm so sorry. That's terrible for you to live with, especially, when you're so young. I hope the shots make everything better for you.

I've never had them but see a lot of them in the injured folks that I work with. For some they help; some they do not.

Have you done physical therapy - the whole bit? Usually epidural injections are done after all conservative measures tried.

I hope you feel better.

I get spinal injections every six months - six in my lower and six in my upper. They really help the pain. If it gets bad in between the injections I use Lidoderm patches. I am about due for the injections again.

Thanks guys, Ya I have been a little depressed about this. I have done it all phy therapy, chriopracte...etc etc.

I am on Hydrocodene and Flexerial (sp) right now without those I would not be able to do much of anything, sometimes my back wont hurt till I stand for about 15 mins, then it will start to hurt :( Im kinda nervous about the Epi shots, but like Ringo1 says it works for some and not for the others. So we will see. I have to make an apt for my First shot.

Since you girls have had the shot I have a ? The Dr said I will have to take a day off work and get a ride home..?? Does it knock you out or something?

I have had epi series 3 different times.... Ususlly after 2nd injection feel much better!!! I have Sciatic nerve problems too painful for sure good luck!!

Wow! Im sorry you have all those issues as well!! Thats horrible. I will def try with the ice, i have an ice pad thingy already! It sucks, i started to get depressed about it, i think someone that deals with that much pain stars to get in depression!

Boy is that the truth. I was very depressed for a long long time. I was a 30 mile a week runner. Then suddenly....nothing. It took me about 2years to come to terms with it.

I cannot imagine falling off a horse! That must have been horrific. I hope that these shots help you, and that you can eliminate some of the pain; as there is nothing quite like it. :rolleyes: The ice packs numb everything especially the disc area. So give it a shot!
And.....Please feel free to pm me anytime if you need to vent or just to chat.

I've suffered with back pain for about 10 years -- nothing like what you and some of the others are going through, though. I'm usually ok as long as I'm sitting or moving around -- but if I stand or lay down flat for any length of time - boom! Muscle spasms or sciatica, or both. Last year we got an adjustable bed - actually two separate frames and mattresses that can be adjusted independently, so I can raise my head and knees to relieve the pressure on my spine. I haven't slept this comfortably in years and I don't start my day with a backache anymore.

I also have a TENS unit - I would use one of the long, narrow electrode patches across my lower back where the pain was the worst -- and it helped mask the pain enough that I didn't need painkillers. But I really haven't needed it since we got the bed except when we are traveling and I have to sleep on a flat bed.

I can relate to the depression -- before we got the bed I wondered if I would ever have even a single day without pain. I've never had pain bad enough to need the shots. I've had several friends have them, though. Some have had wonderful results, some not so much. I hope you get some good relief from them.

I see that you are in southern California, you are near one of the Top Spine & Nerve Dr's in the US. Dr Filler is in Santa Monica . I am looking into seeing him for same reasons. Have you researched about the Epi ? One thing I know is this should always be done with Fluoroscope or guided needle picture so the needle goes into the sac & not the nerve. The space they are aiming for is Very tiny & is Easily missed when done without pic and can hit the nerve directly causing irritation & more pain. Also, have you tried Accupuncture ? as it is very good for calming spastic nerves. As boopster said that Tens unit is a really neat thing.

Sorry to hear that, hope you get some relief. I can understand just how you feel, been dealing with some bad back pain myself now for about 3 weeks, all I did was bend over to pick something up! Good luck!!

I had surgery in June 2009 for a ruptured disc on the left lower area. I just rolled out of bed one morning and felt it pop, the pain was horrible from then on, i went from a little over 100# to 82# in about 2 weeks when i had my surgery, after surgery was instant relief.

Around Sept. i noticed pain from my lower back down my right leg, in Dec i had an MRI done, i have a herniated disc on the same disc as before but on the right side. I had 2 of the epi shots in Jan and they have helped tremendouly, i just hope it continues for a long time. I know the shots don't always help everyone but am greatful they did me.

To answer OP question, YES you will need to rest the day of the shot, no it doesn't knock you out but you don't want to over do yourself, as for driving yourself home, i would have someone drive you the 1st time and see how you do, if you do ok then i think you should be able to drive yourself for the others, depending how far it is. I stressed myself out so much the 1st time by just not knowing what was going to happen and had heard it hurt like heck to get the shot, and it did hurt some, mainly alot of pressure, but the 2nd shot i was jokeing with the Dr and tech's that they all needed to experience it with me just 1 time since none of them had ever had the procedure done before. It is all done so fast that it's over before you realize it and so far i do not regret having it done.
Hope it helps you as much as it did me and you get some relief from the pain.
Back pain is almost as bad as a toothache. Good luck!!