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Old 09-13-2019, 09:28 AM
 
5,463 posts, read 9,606,657 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikala43 View Post
My husband just had the steroid injections into his neck vertebrae. He's not here so I'm doing this from memory.

He rolled an ATV which caused OA to his neck, which was also pinching the nerves. Very painful and restrictive, worsening over the 4 years since his accident.

They did an MRI, and also used xray (?) during the procedure to guide the needle from the side of his neck.

Within a week he was feeling 70% (or more) better. He is back to lifting weights and such.

Hope you can get the same results or better.
I had the same procedure done as well. The vertebrae in my neck are worn and caused the disk to bulge out putting pressure on a major nerve from the neck and radiating across the shoulder and down the arm to the wrist. The damage to the vertebrae was probably caused in part from decades of operating heavy equipment. A nerve conduction test was done by a neurologist several weeks before which confirmed the problem. The MRI scan was done a few weeks before the procedure. An x-ray device (sort of a curved thing) was used during the procedure to guide the needle in real time. They used the images from the MRI scan as a guide to determine the target location. The procedure was probably one of the most painful things I've ever experienced.

It took a few days to begin to notice the steroid gradually taking effect, and a few weeks for it to be more fully effective. I felt 100% pain free. The effect would last about a year before needing to go back in for another round. I had it done a couple of times after the first one.

Unfortunately, the hospital stopped providing that particular procedure. They claimed there weren't enough people requiring that particular procedure to be cost effective enough to continue. BOOO! I think there are specialists that do it in their private practice though.
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Old 09-15-2019, 06:02 AM
 
Location: Bella Vista, Ark
77,772 posts, read 104,325,455 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NightBazaar View Post
I had the same procedure done as well. The vertebrae in my neck are worn and caused the disk to bulge out putting pressure on a major nerve from the neck and radiating across the shoulder and down the arm to the wrist. The damage to the vertebrae was probably caused in part from decades of operating heavy equipment. A nerve conduction test was done by a neurologist several weeks before which confirmed the problem. The MRI scan was done a few weeks before the procedure. An x-ray device (sort of a curved thing) was used during the procedure to guide the needle in real time. They used the images from the MRI scan as a guide to determine the target location. The procedure was probably one of the most painful things I've ever experienced.

It took a few days to begin to notice the steroid gradually taking effect, and a few weeks for it to be more fully effective. I felt 100% pain free. The effect would last about a year before needing to go back in for another round. I had it done a couple of times after the first one.

Unfortunately, the hospital stopped providing that particular procedure. They claimed there weren't enough people requiring that particular procedure to be cost effective enough to continue. BOOO! I think there are specialists that do it in their private practice though.
Our younger daughter had the same procedure. It didn't really help her much.
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Old 09-15-2019, 06:30 AM
 
Location: Coastal Georgia
50,117 posts, read 63,519,992 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NightBazaar View Post
I had the same procedure done as well. The vertebrae in my neck are worn and caused the disk to bulge out putting pressure on a major nerve from the neck and radiating across the shoulder and down the arm to the wrist. The damage to the vertebrae was probably caused in part from decades of operating heavy equipment. A nerve conduction test was done by a neurologist several weeks before which confirmed the problem. The MRI scan was done a few weeks before the procedure. An x-ray device (sort of a curved thing) was used during the procedure to guide the needle in real time. They used the images from the MRI scan as a guide to determine the target location. The procedure was probably one of the most painful things I've ever experienced.

It took a few days to begin to notice the steroid gradually taking effect, and a few weeks for it to be more fully effective. I felt 100% pain free. The effect would last about a year before needing to go back in for another round. I had it done a couple of times after the first one.

Unfortunately, the hospital stopped providing that particular procedure. They claimed there weren't enough people requiring that particular procedure to be cost effective enough to continue. BOOO! I think there are specialists that do it in their private practice though.
Hubby had this and he said it was very painful, too. Now, when he has it he goes to a different doctor who performs it with sedation.
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Old 09-15-2019, 09:01 AM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nmnita View Post
Our younger daughter had the same procedure. It didn't really help her much.
I'm sorry to hear that. I know sometimes what works out for some people doesn't help much for others. There are other options to help subside the pain, such as medications, or surgery to trim or repair the disk. Some of it may depend on the skill of the physician. After the hospital discontinued providing the procedure, and the pain started increasing again, I felt like I was stuck with no options. One thing I underwent was through physical therapy by slowly stretching the vertebrae with a machine. Prior to the stretching, a gel was applied and a device was used to warm the area, sort of like ultrasound, but it had a warm feel to it. Then careful massaging the area was applied. Hot and cold packs were also used. The finally, the stretching. When the session was over, I felt much better, but the relief only lasted for a few hours. Unfortunately, gravity (in part) and the muscles tightening cause the vertebrae to compress again.

Ultimately, I opted to try medical cannabis. I was surprised at how well it worked for me. It was enough to provide some welcomed relief. While it's not a sure cure and doesn't necessarily work for everyone, it worked well enough for me. I only use it when I know for sure the pain is increasing. I had to try different strains until I found what worked best for me which is low in THC and high in CBD. I can feel the effects of the THC which is very mild and doesn't make me feel like a useless zombie. I also use a topical lotion that's high in THC, and lower in CBD. Because it's a topical applied to the skin, there's no woozy feel to it at all. What I can feel is the pain gradually subsiding. I only use medical cannabis when there's pain welling up. Following that, I'm relatively pain free for several weeks. When I do use it, it's a small amount, around 3 puffs. I use a vaporizer for buds because I don't want to inhale combustible smoke particles that pipes or joints contain. The only downside for me was experimenting to find the right strain the provided the results I wanted, namely to ease the pain and still allow me to function normally. The majority of states allow medical cannabis, but it's still prohibited in some states. In my opinion, it's worth a try in that there's nothing to lose by it. It can take time to find what works best for you.

There have also been times when I've applied a lotion to my neck, shoulder and arm with 4% Lidocaine, and gently, but firmly massage it in (use latex gloves to apply). That too has been helpful. You might want to have your daughter try that.

In general, I've gone for around 5 years now without resorting a steroid procedure, although there have been times when I thought about it. That can be extremely painful during the procedure. I think a lot of the pain is related to the physician who's doing it. The first time I had that done, the doctor said if it gets too painful to let him know and he'll ease up on it. It was painful but very helpful to minimize it. The other times were horrible in that the doctors wouldn't ease up and just wanted to hurry to get finished with the job so they could leave. They kept saying "Just a little more. We're almost done." That was complete BS. They were nowhere near to being done. They just wanted me to shut up. I just had to endure it as there's no other option when a needle is stuck in your neck and you have to keep completely still. That kind of treatment is reckless in my opinion, and could potentially cause serious damage to the nerves if the pressure from the injection is too much. Nerves are very fragile.
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseas...erve-injuries/

Whatever your daughter decides, I hope it ultimately works out well for her. It isn't fun to constantly feel intense pain hour after hour, day after day, and week after week. I know how that is from personal experience. There are various solutions that can help. It just a matter of trying to see what works best.
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Old 09-15-2019, 09:09 AM
 
5,463 posts, read 9,606,657 times
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Originally Posted by gentlearts View Post
Hubby had this and he said it was very painful, too. Now, when he has it he goes to a different doctor who performs it with sedation.
I wasn't given any sedation, I think in part to have greater reflex and to be able to better communicate how you're feeling during the procedure. However, I was given an injection to numb the area up first before administrating the steroid injection.
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Old 09-16-2019, 07:42 AM
 
13,498 posts, read 18,121,438 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nmnita View Post
OK, I am going to keep this short and simple if I can. Lots of back issues, can hardly walk some days. About 3 years ago had X Rays: it showed mostly mild Arthritis. fast forward: really getting bad so had an MRI last week. Results showed same condition plus bulging disks and some nerve growing together. Shots have been suggested. I would have one and 2 weeks later another. Have any of you had experience with the shots? someone has suggested I see a Chiopractor (spelling) but I am thinking I should try the shots first.
I went the chiropractor route twice...big deal types with fancy addresses, and fancy reps. Each time their sequence of treatments made my back worse.

Injections were helpful a couple of times, but I had waited too long, and not long after the disc broke apart and the rest you do not want to hear.

I do know some men who have used injections and have had wonderful results, but they did not wait until it was late in the game. One fellow had been taking them for several years and continues to respond well with no significant additional deterioration.

So, I would recommend the shots route, and a great deal of caution at this point regarding a chiropractor. If you can find a well-regarded physiotherapist, you might want to look into this, if your doctor has no objections.

Good luck.

Last edited by kevxu; 09-16-2019 at 07:54 AM..
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Old 09-17-2019, 10:36 AM
 
Location: Bella Vista, Ark
77,772 posts, read 104,325,455 times
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Well everyone it has been 24 hours and I do feel better already. Is the pain completely gone? no, but I can bend without a lot of pain and even walk down a few steps and feel only pressure but not much pain. I was not sedated at all and the shot hardly hurt. Yes, there was a feeling of pressure almost felt like they had blown up a balloon in my back and leg and gradually let the air out, but otherwise I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was.
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Old 09-17-2019, 12:17 PM
 
Location: Texas
5,843 posts, read 6,134,509 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nmnita View Post
Well everyone it has been 24 hours and I do feel better already. Is the pain completely gone? no, but I can bend without a lot of pain and even walk down a few steps and feel only pressure but not much pain. I was not sedated at all and the shot hardly hurt. Yes, there was a feeling of pressure almost felt like they had blown up a balloon in my back and leg and gradually let the air out, but otherwise I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was.
That was my experience as well. Had 2 epidural spinal injections in the past year. Both times, they were done by the same Interventional Radiologist in the hospital's outpatient radiology department under fluoroscopy (the only way it should be done, IMO). The shots were not at all painful, and I only felt a bit of pressure when the steroid itself was injected. It was a bit of a weird sensation when I could actually feel the space fill up as he injected the steroid.

Hoping you get some long term relief with your shots.
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Old 09-17-2019, 12:35 PM
 
Location: Bella Vista, Ark
77,772 posts, read 104,325,455 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Texas Ag 93 View Post
That was my experience as well. Had 2 epidural spinal injections in the past year. Both times, they were done by the same Interventional Radiologist in the hospital's outpatient radiology department under fluoroscopy (the only way it should be done, IMO). The shots were not at all painful, and I only felt a bit of pressure when the steroid itself was injected. It was a bit of a weird sensation when I could actually feel the space fill up as he injected the steroid.

Hoping you get some long term relief with your shots.
thanks, already I am feeling better and will have my second shot in 2 weeks. Yes, I had exactly what you had but my doctor, a pain doctor did it. He is also an Anesthesiologist.
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Old 09-17-2019, 01:11 PM
 
5,463 posts, read 9,606,657 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nmnita View Post
thanks, already I am feeling better and will have my second shot in 2 weeks. Yes, I had exactly what you had but my doctor, a pain doctor did it. He is also an Anesthesiologist.
Great to hear you're feeling better. You should feel even better than you do now after a week or two. It's miserable to suffer from constant pain, and such a relief to feel pain-free and normal again.
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