Ninapearl, Im so srry you are suffering. I have lower back problems, too . Ive had several steroid injections. I went to one doctor who did it twice and it didnt help. I could barely walk so i was desperate for help. Finally I saw another doctor who did the injection and within a week or less i was up and walking with very little pain. Nevertheless, I dont rake or shovel snow now.

It isnt a cure but does give relief, sometimes for a long time and sometimes for a few weeks. The last time I had it done it hurt a lot. You get a painful zing down your leg. Previously it didnt hurt much. The pain is brief and if it helps, its worth it. Immediately after the injection my legs were all wobbly from the lidocaine ( I think) that numbs you. It took maybe 45 minutes to wear off.

My doctor does the injection in her office. You need to have someone drive you home. Im happy to answer any of your questions.

Yes, I had spinal steroid injections many years ago. Probably 30 years ago, so many things may have changed in the medical field since then.

Anyway, I was suffering immense pain from degenerative discs (#4 and 5). Steroid injections (2) helped tremendously and worked well for 10 years. At that time I had to have surgery as the degeneration had moved too far.

Surgery was a great success and I was 95% better when I woke up in the recovery room. I was up and walking in the hospital that same day, and walking 4 blocks a day later that week. I walk every day now - most days I walk at least 4 miles. The surgeon said it was important to walk, so I do!

DH has an appointment for one a week from Monday. He's had constant pain for years. Surgery, then post-laminectomy syndrome (surgical repair looks good on x-ray, pain is still there.) He had an injection months ago, and it worked well, but now he's getting another. Doc says he can get them at intervals for a long time. The effect may be cumulative, maybe not. As I recall now, there was an earlier one that didn't do anything. Turns out that getting the exact location right is critical, and he has enough scar tissue so that it is difficult. But the relief, even temporary, is worth it.

Yes! Dont be discouraged if the first shot doesnt help. Sometimes the doctor has to try again in a slightly different location.

And, it may take several days for the effect of the shot to kick in. Years ago, I went through a nine-day, post shot period where I was experiencing no relief. I was resigned that this was to be my lot in life. Then, on the tenth day, the shot took hold and things were much better.

thanks, everyone!! these comments really do help.

as for placement of the injection, the doc told me he would be guided by ultrasound so hopefully, he'll hit the spot he needs to.

i'm not worried about the actual pain of the injection, i know that'll be temporary. i guess year upon year of being slammed around by 1200# horses and stepped on by numerous great danes has prepared me for more pain here and there. 😂

i'll be so glad to get even a little relief, enough such that i can start being more active. winter is my favorite time of year and i'm hoping to be able to spend lots more time outside! this weekend i'm going to try mulching the leaves that are piled up in the back yard making poop patrol a real challenge!

I know people who swear by them. I’ve had a few injections which may or may not have helped a bit, definitely nothing dramatic. It worked most the first day or two but it was explained to me that this was the numbing agent they used in the procedure, and suggested I might benefit from cauterizing the nerves. Never got around to trying that.

Like you, I have both knee and back issues including herniations and arthritis. My knees keep me from doing enough to hurt my back much. Or something like that.

Question about your use of a back brace: Was that recommended by a professional? I’ve been advised against using them as they take stress off your core muscles which you should actually be using/strengthening to support your spine.

Question about your use of a back brace: Was that recommended by a professional?

he didn't recommend it or even mention it as a possibility. i did tell him i was wearing one when i do anything physical and he said it was fine if it helped, which it does. this is a back brace that i've had for many years, always wore it when i rode horses. it's a neoprene wrap that provides heat therapy as well as support.

i am still doing the p/t exercises every day aimed at strengthening core muscles, mostly stretching exercises that i do before i get out of bed every morning.

he also told me that the relief from the injection may take a couple of weeks to kick in so i'm expecting to be uncomfortable for a while after i have it.

I hope your injection will help. My late MIL (rheumatoid arthritis) had knee injections many times in a doctor's office. About one out of three helped. I doubt any ultrasound was used.

I think steroid injections were once more widely prescribed. My experience a few years ago wasn't good, and I'm sure I must have complained about it here on the KT! (It not only didn't help, I walked the house for 11 nights before the pain receded enough for me to sleep.)

IMO, too few of these are done by doctors expert in the procedure, and using ultrasound. That could account for the random success rate. More art than science.

Wishing you 'An Artist'!

i've wondered about the skill it must take for a doctor to get it done properly. this is the same practice where the ortho dr. is who replaced my hips. they're 23 years old this year and i haven't had a single problem. he also did several steroid injections in my knee. they worked miracles for several years before they became ineffective. i'm pretty sure this current dr. is an 'artist'. we shall see!!

(It not only didn't help, I walked the house for 11 nights before the pain receded enough for me to sleep.)

that sounds downright awful!

I have had them in the past. always under anestesia. Have one scheduled for the 16th.

I had an injection a little over a year ago. I had been doing p/t for my leg ( front and side of my lower left ) and while it improved to a degree, I couldn't go for long walks due to pain. After an MRI it was determined that I had lower back disc issues. I was surprised because ( don't hate me for this) I never in my life had back discomfort.

Anyway in conjunction with the P/T they recommended a shot...... I had it in the office . I felt a slight improvement but nothing too dramatic.....but over time, it was 100% better. I think it took maybe about 6 weeks or so for me to not have ANY pain. It seems to have lasted. I do occasonally get soreness or pain but nothing like what I had before. I continued the PT for another month or so and still try to do some of those stretches.

The Dr who did the shot is an ortho surgeon.

I'd say go for it and I hope you get good results.

Your doctor sounds like the 'artist' required. Holding positive thoughts for you!

Some of my pain could have been due to the 'muscle knot' the MD discovered when doing the spinal injection. He also 'worked' on that.

i had the injections today (bilateral, one in each side). the anticipation was worse than the procedure. now i wait for them to (hopefully) give me some relief. dr. said it could take up to a few days to 2 weeks or so to see noticeable improvement. it was interesting to see, he used "real time" xrays to guide the placement of the injections so it was very precise. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

I had 3 epidurals, 3 facette injections and 1 radio frequency done 20 years ago. At the time, these were done as a hospital outpatient. There was almost no relief from the epidurals or facettes, but about 2 weeks after the radio frequency I was just about pain free. Since then, as I'm 20 years older, I've had some occasional back pain, but it's been tolerable and doesn't interfere with my life.

Ninapearl, I hope you quickly get relief which lasts.

radio frequency

glad to hear that worked so well for you as that would most likely be the next step if the steroid doesn't give me significant relief. it's been a long 5 months of pretty severe pain, i'm so ready to start living again!!

Is the RF the nerve cauterization?

yes. i've been reading about the procedure. i hope i don't have to go that far but it looks like it's pretty straightforward with a very good outcome.

I'll be following, hoping to see vast improvement for you!

thanks so much! dr. told me it would get worse for a couple of days before it starts to get better. i'm feeling it tonight and probably won't get much sleep but i hope to hit the ground running very slowly tomorrow. :)

I've had these shots for many years. The first one didn't work, but the rest of them have given me so much relief! My insurance used to pay for the ansthesia to knock you out, they don't pay for it any more, and I'm too cheap to pay the $200 for it. I just suck it up, just a few seconds of pain from the shot! Good luck to you!

Oh yeah, they recommend a series of 3 shots.

i'm pleased to report, i got up this morning vastly improved. still have pain but NOTHING like it was before. i have ditched the rollater and haven't put my back brace on at all. the pain got worse yesterday around 6 p.m. but i was expecting that but this morning, it's so much less than i thought it would be. hoping to see progressive improvement over the next few days. i'm trying really hard not to do too much but it's so hard since i've been a virtual vegetable for the past few months.

only one side effect that occurred early this morning. i dreamed my dane girl was standing in the bedroom doorway snarling with hackles raised which she has NEVER done in "real life". next thing i knew, my boy dane was trying to crawl into bed with me which he knows he isn't supposed to do. i turned over to push him off and discovered he was wearing a *gasp* pink and white frilly dress. here i was expecting night sweats, nervousness, the usual side effects they mention can occur. i wasn't expecting a dream that would, when i finally woke, send me into fits of uncontrollable laughter!!

So happy you are getting some relief!

thanks, @ kathyg_in_mi i am still stiff and moderately painful for the first hour or so that i am up but after that, the pain lessens and isn't too terrible. i am, at least, able to function almost normally! i have a follow up appointment with the dr. on the 28th.

Very good...and getting better! What do you expect at the follow-up?

So glad you are having fits of laughter instead of lots of pain. :-). Very happy for you that the pain is improved.

What do you expect at the follow-up?

i expect we will just discuss my degree of improvement and if there is anything else i need to be doing to progress or if at that time, i am improved as much as i can expect to be.

i was a bit naughty on friday because i felt the best i had felt in 5 months and decided to get some things done i had been unable to do so i hit the ground running. by that evening, i was pretty sore so yesterday and today, i have just been sitting on my keester reading and watching mindless t.v. tonight, i am MUCH better and learned my lesson! i intend to take the next couple of weeks doing only the things that need to be done and let the rest wait till after my appointment. :)

That's a great testimonial to your good results!

Do check in with us after you see the doctor.

He may think you need another shot or 2. My Dr. recommends a series of 3, but can skip if not necessary.

i started having twinges of pain in the same places a couple of days ago. i have been making myself take it easy and not do too much so i'm not sure exactly what's going on. i guess i will see when i go on the 28th if this continues to worsen. ugh!

He may think you need another shot or 2

if that's what it'll take to get long-term relief, i have no objection. i have a very high pain threshold when it comes to something acute. it's this chronic stuff that is really getting annoying!!

so glad to hear DH is doing better! it's hard NOT to do *too much* before the anesthetic wears off, that's how i got in trouble. 😂

i hired a cleaning service to come next week. i simply cannot do what it will take to get the accumulated dog slobber off the walls and cabinets and it's driving me absolutely crazy. i have always been obsessive about walking behind the danes and wiping walls and cabinets and because i haven't been able to do this, it has grown to a massive problem, at least for ME. once it gets done, i'll be better able to keep it up. once the house is cleaned, i will have the carpet shampoo guy come.

the only thing i intend to get done in the next day or two is mulching the leaves in the back yard. they are making poop patrol next to impossible and that is something else i do every single day, at least once, rain or shine. i have a new zero turn mower with a "mulch" setting so all i have to do is ride it.

i also have a crew coming to power wash my house sometime in the next couple of weeks. this is something else i've always been able to do myself and it galls me to have to spend the money but, it is what it is.

that "gettin' old ain't for sissies" is really hitting hard!! lol