Spinal injections in leiu of surgery

[MInx]

I have already had 2 grade 2 neurosurgery's..so no stranger to it..However NOW this neuro tells me that the fusion done a few years back in my neck (c4/5 and 5/6) was very badly done so to say..he printed a picture of the MRI image and laid it in front of me and asked me "who did this surgery? and just stared at me!

So he dismissed me you might say and blandly suggested I get injections at another place, a clinic. He said he's arraigned it.

I never heard from him but my OWN Dr (Bless her heart) called me one morning concerned stating I would have to go off my blood thinner to get it done and since it was scheduled next Tuesday she would like to see me to explain some risks!

I told her I'd not heard a thing form them, no phone call, no email, no snail mail, nothing! If she hadn't called me I simply would have been a "no show" and been charged anyway! Exoensive!

So I see my family Dr on Monday to discuss this and what I want to know if anyone's experience with that procedure? The bad fusion was left in crooked to fuse bent, (A [piece of bone harvested from my own hip) and both ends are pushing or buldging into my spinal cord.now causing severe pain and disability of my upper body.

Can someone please explain to me how any type injection will help that?

I feel like the neuro has just left me out to dry..doesn't want to fix someone else's mistake which I understand and don't blame him but his lack of communication was rude..just like throwing an old piece of wood on the pile.

I read on the Internet but don't understand the procedure very well...and i hope to be sedated IF I indeed do it

Lisa F and mini815 already gave me their opinion and i thank you.

Maxine

 

[Sixstardanes]

My 19yr old daughter has been having sprinal problems and recently had gone through an injection for it.

For her they were saying it was to help break down and get rid of scarring in there that could help give her comfort.

Turns out she was allergic to the injection.

If you'd like a bit more info pm me your email addy & I'll ask her to contact you about it.

 

[lyn_j]

I had two spinal injections of Steroids. Prior to that in 1995 I had a spinal fusion. I thought that the injections helped. I had one in 1998 and another in 2002. None since so I am pretty good right now.

Lyn

 

[Connie P]

I have had two sets of lower lumbar spinal injections and they hurt like heck Six big shots all along the nerves in my lower back-- I will never allow that again without sedation that's for sure. They did help for about three months.

My back had gone out and I could not move, get up - nothing for six days - they said I have severe degenerative disc disease. Fancy line for arthritis. I have back pain all day every day. I just live with it for now, but when my back goes out totally then I am laid up in the hospital for days and back to the injections.

I wish you all the best with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Buckskin gal]

I was talking with my family doctor today about the injections and she went on to say she had them on her neck and it really helped. My ortho pedic doctor said I should have surgery but really wanting to put it off as long as I can because I know there are no guarantees. I have been given the Metheylprednisolone 6 day dose which I understand to be an oral form of what is used in some of the injections. I am now going to start the second round of this to see if it helps but am told the injections are even better. I hate taking meds but I hate even worse the constant pain that comes with spinal injuries. Hope you find something that works for you. Mary

 

[ShaunaL]

I have herniated discs from a car accident. I am putting off surgery as long as possible for now. At my dr's urging I tried the steroid shots last year and IMO they didn't do much. They do sedate you for the procedure but the first time they did it before the sedation took effect and omg it was agony... I felt slightly better for about a week but that was it and subsequent shots (not painful this time, although you are sore for a few days after) did not help me.

However I have heard that some people get great results and I was willing to do about anything to delay surgery. Honestly have occasionally considered trying it again at times when I get really desperate, just to see if maybe it would help this time. Haven't done it yet though...

Best of luck with whatever you decide and I hope things get better for you

 

[Baptism]

Don't do anything until you fully understand it all. I would also write a letter to the clinic manager to complain about the doctor and about the appointment you were never told about. Clinic managers listen ! You pay good money for professional opinions and you should get your money's worth. Don't settle for less.

Forgot to add...I know two people who had injections. One worked very well and one ended up needing surgery because the injections didn't help. Her surgery, however, was very successful.

 

[OhHorsePee]

I have had it so many times! UGH! To me they weren't very painful. Kinda like a bee sting. I had a very brief (one or two days) mild relief. My involvement is protruded disks Between C-2 and C3 then between C3 and C4. My healthcare team decided they weren't for me. But you have to remember that YOU may gain a lot from having it done. Everyone is different and will not have the same results. If you are feeling apprehensive on the day of your injections just please tell your nurse and doctor. They will give you something to make you feel more relaxed.

 

[MInx]

Oh thank you everyone for all your replies. I know you are all busy and this is far from horse related. Well here it is Sunday and I see my regular doctor tomorrow and will make my descision then..

I'm leaning on refusing the injections and just toughing it out unless I can perhaps find a neuro that feels he can safely remove the bad fusion and relace it..I'd rather have a permanent fix than temporary relief, but maybe they feel it isn't worth it at my age (I'll be 67 on Tuesday the 19th which is also our 47th wedding anniversary

)

I don't think they should just throw me on the pile yet though Someone should be brave enough to care..

Well thanks and wish me luck..Have a grand week all!

Maxine

 

[sundaymom]

Now I'm not sure this would benefit you or not but it might be worth checking into.

I guess it's been about 3 years ago that my mother, who was 84 at the time, was in such terrible pain from her back that she began to pray for death. The doctors had her on so much pain medicene that it affected her thinking but never relieved the pain. It was terrible to see her like that. Her doctor told her there was nothing to do except the shots, but they didn't help her, so he told us there was nothing to do for her as her spine was the size of a pencil, with several breaks and compactions and surgery was out of the question. My mother has osti and is bend way over due to it.

Not long after, by the grace of God, a friend mentioned to my brother about this amazing non-evasive surery for spine problems. Long story short she went and had the surgery. The doctor explained she had so much damage to her back that he could not fix all of it but the spot he felt causing the most severe pain he would do. She went in that morning and came home the next day with 2 incisions and a couple of stitches. The doctor told her to get up and walk the next day. He told us that he raised the spine, cemented the space, cleared the nerves that were pressed and removed arthritis. He explained that she might experiece severe pain a few more times due to the nerves healing themselves. She did...once about a week later and once about a week after that. But no more daily sever pain. She came off all the pain killers and only uses bufferin. Her mind and her quality of life for the last 3 years has been great.

When she went back to her regular doctor his comment was...I can't believe Dr.*** did that surgery on a woman your age. To us we heard, "I can't believe he wasted a surgery like that on an older woman like you." Her doctor never even mentioned this surgery or the possiblity that it would help.

Here is the link that explains it better than I can.

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=...p;return_link=0

Hoping for the best no matter what you decide.

 

[MInx]

Sundaymom thank you so much, how sweet of you to take the trouble to lay that all out. I am thrilled for your mom. Doctors have decided not to inject me due to having to go off blood thinner..so am being sent to a pain control specialist to continue symptoms.

However my Dr is keeping surgery in mind hoping to find a neuro who will take me on one has already refused to take on "a bad fusion" so cut me loose.

I have bookmarked the page you linked to me so I might difest and print for my general Dr and thanks so much. It gives me a ray of hope.

Bless you and yours and have a great Laboe Day weekend,

Maxine