I have suffered from back pain for many years due to a car accident I was in when younger. I recently started seeing a pain specialist and after the results of my MRI came back they want to do a double epidural steroid injection on my L5 as the inflammation is so severe there is basically choking out my nerves through that disc. (One of at least 5 issues)
I had a ESI a few months after the accident and it did not help. So, a long with what I've read I'm not only skeptical but terrified to have this done. Additionally, living the active lifestyle I have taking several days off is difficult.
Has anyone had this procedure done? Or any experience with something like this?
I also suffered from a ruptured disk below L5 after someone that was helping me carry an electric range dropped his end without any warning. I toughed it out for over a year before I finally sought help and until I finally got the operation, I received several epidural steroid injections. They worked great for a few weeks and then wore off and are not a permanent fix or cure.
During the last procedure while they where inserting the needle under my tailbone they accidentally stabbed some nerve while I was laying on my stomach. It felt like someone was electrocuting me and I must have jumped entirely off of the table several inches. The doctor asked where I felt it and I replied "Everywhere!"
Since then I have injured my back several more times, sometimes because somebody on the other end of a heavy load did something stupid and other times doing something as simple as pulling on a tennis shoe. It has happened on my right side and other times on my left and after 6 months or so it would eventually get better and tolerable.
Three years ago I finally had enough of the constant pain and found a fabulous neurologist who did another laminectomy on L1-L5. The operation worked out great and for the first time in 30 years I was pain free.
Pain free until about a year and a half later while I took my grand daughter to the zoo and used my modified knee scooter after a great toe fusion to push around the over mile distance with several hills and a walk bridge and hurt the side that I was using to push off with. The pain was livable but constant.
I somehow hurt my back again 8 weeks ago while just bending over and pulling a weed out of my yard with the pain at a level 9 out of 10 for the first 6 weeks across my left butt and down my leg to my 2nd toe. The pain is finally subsiding and I no longer am taking Hydrocodone but have been laying flat on my back for the last 2 months doing nothing except respond to GrassRootsMotorSports.com articles. 
I am finally going to get another MRI this Thursday to find out my next course of action. I also have scoliosis (curvature of my lower spine) which I'm sure doesn't help.
Everything I have been experiencing since my first ruptured disk and laminectomy 30 years ago and who knows what last year have all involved bulged disks. Each time they cut out some of the bulged or ruptured disk, there is that much less disk to separate your vertebrae. I have lost 1.5 inches of height but I can't say it's all from my lower back.
Hope they can help you.
Damn Volvo! Hope you feel better soon.
I had a few done. I herniated L5s1 6 years ago. Had a microdiscectomy, took a long time recovering and plateaued after a couple of years. The first shot helped break the plateau. It basically enabled PT to get to a better place. PT was the real ticket, but the shot made a lot of work possible. I tried another shot to see if I could get further and it aggravated things more than helped, but wasn't a diabolical setback, just a couple days taking it easy and sore for awhile.
So, for me, one really helped. The other wasn't too helpful. Your mileage may vary.
My doc gave valium leading up to the first to help me stay calm/still for the procedure. Worth considering.
My best advice is get a good physical therapist in conjunction.
I think the first knocked the inflammation back for me. The second didn't have much more to do and the needed fix was pt and stretching/movement.
The last/best pt place I found was more fitness oriented. I can't say enough how much that helped. Find a GOOD therapist, not one focused on helping old folks walk to the bathroom. I insisted on doing PT in conjunction and it got me to the point I only hurt when I've sat too much or gotten dehydrated. I don't even take ibuprofen for it regularly anymore, just when I'm torn up.
I can't emphasize enough that PT was the answer for me. I will likely need a decompression surgery some years down the road, but for now it got me to a pretty good place. Getting things opened/freed up and in shape to support it. Also keeping it moving and strong.
Good luck. I know well how hard the do-loop of "is this my new normal" messes with you. Keep working and don't give up.
I have a degenerative condition in my L4 and L5 that causes inflammation similar to yours, where the nerves exiting the spine are being compressed. I have had several Epidurals but have not had a great deal of success with them. A couple of times it was like what VolvoHeretic experienced, and I got some relief for a little while, but it wore off pretty quickly. Several other times I didn't notice a significant effect.
I second Apexcarver's note on getting a valium before the procedure. The procedure seemed much less disturbing when I did. Not that there is a lot of pain, other than if the doc hits a nerve, but I was a little nervous about the idea that they were sticking a needle in my spine.
I have had these steroid shots into S1-L5 several times over the last 30 years. They seemed to work until I did something I should not have. I have had to give up running, bike riding, and weight lifting. I have trouble working on my car. The best thing I have found for this is swimming. I have a mask, snorkel, and fins. I rarely use my arms because of shoulder problems. I swim several times a week for at least 1/2 hour. It takes the weight off my back and I get exercise.
SaxyHero said:
Additionally, living the active lifestyle I have taking several days off is difficult.
Taking it easy for a couple days versus potentially a lifetime of disability shouldn't be a difficult choice.
stuart in mn said:
SaxyHero said:
Additionally, living the active lifestyle I have taking several days off is difficult.
Taking it easy for a couple days versus potentially a lifetime of disability shouldn't be a difficult choice.
It's less the actually taking it easy and more of how easy she has to take it.
The procedure is over an hour drive away, but you aren't supposed to be in a seated position for more than 10 min at a time or it supposedly isn't very effective.
She may not be able to lift more than 5 lbs for " a week or 2" . We live off-grid and have 2 ginormous dogs, everything is more than that. I'm fully willing to do most everything but even the tiny amounts of stuff is well over that limit.
Plus, no one we know that has had it says it's been a good thing. Most say physical therapy and oral steroids have done more for them. So it's less " the difficult choice" you are saying as " does this ramming needles into my spine actually do anything vs anything else?"
In 2017 I was in a head on crash that broke the transverse processes of L1-5 and caused an L5 burst fracture. Recovery was wearing a torso clamshell device for 3 months. After the bones healed I had pretty significant pain on the eft side of my lower L's. I did the PT route and then worked with a pain Dr. The way my insurance works is that they will offer 3 epidural steroid injections and if that doesn't help, then they will do a nerve ablation. I did the 3 shots and they helped for a short amount of time but wore off fairly quickly. I then did the nerve ablation and it is still helping.
I'm with Apexcarver though. Exercise is what has helped the best for me. I've been working with a personal trainer twice a week for the past 1.5 years. We do a lot of core work focusing on abs and glutes to help stabilize my lower back. It has been a game changer for me from a pain standpoint. I also get a deep tissue massage every two weeks which helps keep me aligned and my muscles loose. After dealing with the pain for so long I decided that other things were less important than my health so I moved my focus.
Don't be afraid of the epidural procedure but do ask all the questions you need to feel comfortable doing it, or any treatment you choose. I hope you get some relief, chronic pain SUCKS!
Thank you everyone for sharing your stories and experiences; I really appreciate it! Your stories and advice have really helped figure out what I need to do.
I decided to not go through with the double ESI. It just sounds like another bandaid plus it would only aid 1 of like 5 things wrong with my back. After 24 years of pain I'd like more then a bandaid. So, I think I'm going to talk to my doc about other ways to reduce the inflammation and look at PT type options at home as my insurance doesnt cover it. And see what else they come up with.
Also, antihero: I need you to build me a pool. Thanks. Lol I love swimming! Thanks for the idea jharry3!
Thank you everyone for sharing your stories and experiences; I really appreciate it! Your stories and advice have really helped figure out what I need to do.
I decided to not go through with the double ESI. It just sounds like another bandaid plus it would only aid 1 of like 5 things wrong with my back. After 24 years of pain I'd like more then a bandaid. So, I think I'm going to talk to my doc about other ways to reduce the inflammation and look at PT type options at home as my insurance doesnt cover it. And see what else they come up with.
Also, antihero: I need you to build me a pool. Thanks. Lol I love swimming! Thanks for the idea jharry3!
I would seriously consider paying out of pocket for at least a few sessions, so you can work with a professional on specific stretches to target your trouble areas. It helps a lot to do it in person to be sure you are engaging the muscles the right way.
