Epidural Steroid Injections for Back Pain and Leg Pain Video
Raymond
Additional Injections Info:
Cervical Epidural Injections
Cervical Injection Video
A lumbar epidural steroid injection delivers anti-inflammatory
medicine directly to the affected area of the back to reduce
inflammation that may be irritating the nerve root and causing low
back and/or leg pain (sciatica). This interactive interactive video
provides a clear picture of the injection process and effects.
http://www.spine-health.com/video/epidural-steroid-injections-back-pain-and-leg-pain-video
Do they work? Not really.
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Forum Name: Spinal problems and back pain
Question: Neck/Epidural Injection/Increased Pain & Spasms
The injection is in relation to all these cervical discs - a bulging
disc that is pressing on the spinal cord, and a Herniated disc, and
they tell me there's a bunch of facet joint problems too, but I don't
know what those are.
I had a cervical epidural steroid injection one week ago. I had less
pain before this procedure. In physical therapy, they are telling me
that everything is too tight, and in too much spasm to do much work.
I've called the pain management specialist's office, as they want
patients to do 5 days after the procedure, and told them of the
increase in pain. It is from my neck, all the way down my low back,
with so much muscle spasm throughout the entire neck and back, that
it
is difficult to walk, and there is a lot of pain when going from a
sitting or laying down position, to an upright position. The pain
management's office person said that the steroids are responsible for
the increased muscle spasms and pain, but that I need to get back in
to see him. Then they said a coordinator would call with the
appointment. They did, they do not have any openings for two weeks. I
asked if this was just for a follow-up after the epidural injection,
because when I called as they requested, and they asked how my pain
was, I told the person it has significantly increased, the person
said
it looks like it's just an appointment for a follow-up from the
injection. They have called in a muscle relaxer. Previously, two
other
muscle relaxers prescribed by my regular physician were discontinued,
because he said they were not effective. This concerns me that I
called as they directed, to report after the injection, and told them
the pain and spasms are worse, as even the physical therapist and the
assistants said now they cannot do much work, and I had less pain
before the procedure, that they would not get an appointment for me
earlier than two weeks. Is this usual? Is it something that resolves
slowly, and that is why a doctor would not necessarily feel as urgent
as the patient to get the pain addressed? My regular physician is on
vacation, but if this is not better by Monday, I will be in his
office, and not the pain management specialist's in two weeks. I do
not usually complain, and so the physical therapist knows how bad
this
is, and they know my body is getting worn out from it. Normally, I am
a very compliant person, and I have followed all the doctor's and
physical therapist's instructions. My personal physician always says
I'm nice, so sometimes I get run over by other practitioners, but I
don't want to be written down on a chart that I am difficult, or
complaining. Okay, this message is too long, but if you know of a
diplomatic way to get the pain management guy's response a little
quicker than two weeks, I'd appreciate your sharing that information.
Dr. Pradeep Bhandari
http://www.doctorslounge.com/orthopedics/forums/backup/topic-4256.html
Usually a total of (3) epidural injections are given about 1-2 weeks
apart hoping that the injections will relieve your pain, but there
are
no guarantees that they will work.
Cervical and Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections
These kinds of injections are used to treat nerve inflammation, which
can cause neck, shoulder, arm, back or leg pain.
The membrane that covers the spine is called the dura. The space that
surrounds it is called the epidural space. When the nerves that
travel
along the dural membrane become inflamed, it can be quite painful.
Inflammation can occur when the discs that normally cushion the spine
are damaged or rub up against the bony structure of the spine.
An epidural steroid injection involves an injection of steroidal
medication to the epidural space to reduce the swelling of the nerve
roots. Usually a total of (3) epidural injections are given about 1-2
weeks apart. Although the epidural injection may not provide
permanent
pain relief, it MAY bring relief for several weeks or months? while
the injury/cause of pain is healing.
Information for Patients
http://www.umm.edu/spinecenter/cervical.htm
Remember, this is not like at Sears, where if the product doesn't
work, you get your money back. I just had 3 epidural injections for
lower back bulged discs and they didn't do very much for me if
anything. The bill amounted to over $8000.00 and all of the bills are
not yet in.
I did get an email from the gangster that did the procedure. It said
"Sorry
it didn't work."
Summary
It is important to know the literature on current technical
standards,
modify practice accordingly, and understand that many complications
are never published. A history should be taken and a physical
examination should be performed on all patients before spinal
injections. Physicians should review pertinent imaging studies,
understand indications and contraindications of procedures, and
obtain
informed consent. Knowledge of regional and fluoroscopic anatomy is
important before attaining technical expertise in a supervised
training environment. Familiarization with all contrast flow
patterns
under live fluoroscopy is imperative. It is equally important to
have
a detailed understanding of all medications that are used in
procedures (local anesthetics, opioids, steroids, neurolytic agents,
and contrast agents) and to consider the consequences if the
injectate
is misplaced or spreads.
It is important to consider the patient's underlying status, medical
and psychological; prior history or illness may indicate particular
vulnerability to complications that must be considered. Most
importantly, understand that complications are inevitable and it is
imperative to identify and treat these problems promptly to minimize
their impact when they occur and to communicate these issues with
the
patient.
Just remember, they are mostly a temporary fix and eventually, your
pain is sure to return…These doctors have taken a contraindicated
medical practice (symptomatic treatment) and turned it into a very
lucrative career
"Greed is a fat demon with a small mouth and whatever you feed it is
never enough."
-- Janwillem van de Wetering
Comments:
Do Epidural Steroid Shots Work ? No, they do not work.
Worse still, epidurals are notorious for providing progressively
shorter and less effective periods of pain relief from each
subsequent round of injections and the epidural steroids
don't relieve back pain any more than a placebo
http://www.workerscompensationinsurance.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23455
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/news/20070305/steroid-shots-for-back-p...
--- -I.M. Doomer,M.D.
Raymond
> Epidural Steroid Injections for Back Pain and Leg Pain Video
> Additional Injections Info:
>
> Cervical Epidural Injections
>
> Cervical Injection Video
> A lumbar epidural steroid injection delivers anti-inflammatory
> medicine directly to the affected area of the back to reduce
> inflammation that may be irritating the nerve root and causing low
> back and/or leg pain (sciatica). This interactive interactive video
> provides a clear picture of the injection process and effects.
>
>
> Do they work? Not really.
>
> The Doctors Lounge - Orthopedics Answers
PAGE II
Steroid Shots for Back Pain Don't Work
Professional Group Advises Against Epidural Steroid Shots for Chronic
Back Pain
By Miranda Hitti
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/news/20070305/steroid-shots-for-back-pain-dont-work
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDMarch 5, 2007 -- When it
comes to treating chronic back pain with sciatica, epidural steroid
injections may only bring small, short-term relief, according to a
group of neurology professionals.
Sciatica is pain running down the back of the leg, where the sciatic
nerve is located. It often accompanies back pain.
In reaching its conclusion, the American Academy of Neurology's
Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee reviewed four
studies on epidural steroid injections for back pain with sciatica.
Based on the findings, epidural steroid shots are not recommended for
long-term back pain relief, improving back function, or preventing
back surgery, write neurology professor and subcommittee member Carmel
Armon, MD, MHS, and colleagues.
Armon works at Tufts University's medical school and Baystate Medical
Center in Springfield, Mass.
Taken together, the four studies show that patients who got epidural
steroid shots had a slight drop in pain two to six weeks after the
injection, compared with patients who got epidural shots containing no
medicine (placebo injections).
However, the epidural steroids didn't relieve back pain more than the
placebo at 24 hours, three months, or six months after administration,
the review shows.
The epidural steroid shots also didn't appear to improve the patients'
average back function or help patients avoid back surgery.
"While some pain relief is a positive result in and of itself, the
extent of leg and back pain relief from epidural steroid injections,
on the average, fell short of the values typically viewed as
clinically meaningful," Armon says in an American Academy of Neurology
news release.
Armon's team didn't have enough data to evaluate the use of epidural
steroid shots for neck pain.
With few high-quality studies to review, the researchers call for
further studies on epidural steroid injections for neck and back pain.
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Sorr...@webtv.net
injection is not a cure all. didn't do me any good.