I finally get the epidural in the spine on Monday woohoo

[H8T2W8T]

I'm slowly making my way to the end of the "I got T-boned by a minivan" episode. Monday I get the epidural in the spine. Sounds fun.

Doc says I should be ready to go again within a few days. Anyone get one before?

[a plumber]

Ouch!
i just got the cortozone in the rotator cuff today and found out i have a blood clot in my thumb(doc said not a big deal though)

have fun with that:beer:

[RoCk-NeSs MoNsTeR]

I'm slowly making my way to the end of the "I got T-boned by a minivan" episode. Monday I get the epidural in the spine. Sounds fun.

Doc says I should be ready to go again within a few days. Anyone get one before?

Never had one but seen plenty done as I'm a RN. Most People say it's just a lot of pressure during placement and then all better... Best of luck:beer:

[H8T2W8T]

Never had one but seen plenty done as I'm a RN. Most People say it's just a lot of pressure during placement and then all better... Best of luck:beer:

Cool I have a freakish ability to block pain so the pain isn't really worrying me. I assume I will be able to drive after the epi? any thought?

[MossMan]

might be hard to push the gas pedal when you can feel your feet. :laughing: I've never had one but watched them give one to my wife for child birth. Not something I'd look forward to but should be bearable.

[karnuvore]

I had it done to my L5 S1 area of my back 3x last year over a period of about a month or so. After the 3rd one it relieved my back pain and I managed to avoid surgery (years of warehouse work jacked up my lower back).

It's no that bad, but I sort of dig needles lol. Yeah I know, Im a freak. The previous description was accurate - a lot of pressure. The MD who did mine numbed the area to inject first (not that I could tell it made any difference), then put the big boy in. You feel a sort of "pop" as it breaks in, then he starts injecting the cortizone. As the stuff injects, you feel your entire spine stiffen up as the CSF (cerebral-spinal fluid) spreads the pressure along your spine. 20 seconds later, it's over.

Hope it works for you. I believe they told me that if it doesnt work after the 2nd injection, that there's only a 20% chance the 3rd will get the job done.

You getting multiple injections?

OH yeah, after all 3 injetions I walked out of the outpatient center w/ no problems. My wife drove me home. I did feel "different" for a day or two. Felt like my brain juice was gonna leakout of a hole in my back. Honestly lol.

[paragon]

Felt like my brain juice was gonna leakout of a hole in my back. Honestly lol.
You would know that you had a CSF leak if you had it. It's the worse kind of headache.

I have CSF pressure issues (called Intracranial Hypertension) and have had numerous lumbar punctures.

getting a headache because of CSF leakage is probably the most concerning issue.

[OutdoorDad]

My wife has had 3 of them in the last 3 years... one for each of our kids... so I will ask her.

She said it was "a poke in the back. The pain doesn't last it was a discomfort. It's not that bad. Once they get the needle in and the meds start flowing you get numb quick. The part that they are numbing felt like the same as when your arm or leg falls asleep (without the tingles)."

[karnuvore]

You would know that you had a CSF leak if you had it. It's the worse kind of headache.

I have CSF pressure issues (called Intracranial Hypertension) and have had numerous lumbar punctures.

getting a headache because of CSF leakage is probably the most concerning issue.

Yeah I was kidding. I work in the medical field.

[karnuvore]

My wife has had 3 of them in the last 3 years... one for each of our kids... so I will ask her.

She said it was "a poke in the back. The pain doesn't last it was a discomfort. It's not that bad. Once they get the needle in and the meds start flowing you get numb quick. The part that they are numbing felt like the same as when your arm or leg falls asleep (without the tingles)."

Youre describing a block. He's probably getting a cortizone injection. No numbing.

[Jason]

Hope you're feeling better after your shot!

[BLACKJK08]

I'm slowly making my way to the end of the "I got T-boned by a minivan" episode. Monday I get the epidural in the spine. Sounds fun.

Doc says I should be ready to go again within a few days. Anyone get one before?

I got hit by an F250 while riding my R1. I shattered my femur,broke all my ribs, and broke 1 vertabrate and have 3 bulding disk. I get injections into my back every month as part of my pain management. Eppies hurt like a bitck at first but after bout 2 days you will feel like your back was never hurt. My pain relief only last bout 2 to 3 weeks and gradually gets back to where it was. Just pray they dont ever tell you your getting a NERVEROOT. It will paralize u 4 bout 3 hours from hte waste down and it is a weitd and scary feeling. Other than that they just keep me bumped up on pain killers 24/7/365 and thats what keeps the pain manageable.

[Ogie]

Good luck with your epidurals.

I've had more than one for L4-L5 and L5-S1. Sometimes they helped; sometimes they didn't. I've had three surgeries and lots of rehab. I'm OK now as long as I continue to work out and don't do anything stupid (like try to lift a 35" tire on a steel wheel by myself).

[RoCk-NeSs MoNsTeR]

Cool I have a freakish ability to block pain so the pain isn't really worrying me. I assume I will be able to drive after the epi? any thought?

You should be okay to drive after the block assuming that you don't get a headache from it. Some patients report a headache immediately after spinal punctures. Others experience some CSF leakage post procedure that causes the "worst headache ever". The relief of this is much caffeine and flat on back bedrest. If that doesnt work it's back to the doc for a blood patch to the puncture site. I suspect that you are going to see a pain doc or a ortho/neuro specialist for the procedure. I'm sure they will do a great job for you. Just make sure the doc isn't like 80 years old with shaky hands.:beer:

[skibum]

I'm slowly making my way to the end of the "I got T-boned by a minivan" episode. Monday I get the epidural in the spine. Sounds fun.

Doc says I should be ready to go again within a few days. Anyone get one before?

I've had several in the last few years. I've got a fusion at L5-S1 and I'm now a regular at the pain management clinic. They're really no big deal. A little pressure more than anything else. They tell you to bring somebody to drive you home but I don't find it to be necessary and I'm usually up and running at my usual 80% no more than a few hours after the injections. :)