Spine Decompression and Steroid Shots!
 

My L4-5 hasd been given me pain down the back of both legs for months with no relief in sight. Giving up coffee and losing weight hasn't help one bit. I have met with two different spine guys - both cutters. Didn't like the prognosis. Instead of getting micro-cut, I elected to try something a little less intrusive. I tried a different place. Its run by a Neuro MD and a couple Chiropractors. They check you out and figure out the best course of action. Yesterday I got an hour long therapeutic message (best in my life BTW), an adjustment then off to the rack - a device that slowly stretches (decompresses) your spine. Like traction but automated.

I woke up this morning with a lot less pain. Through out the day the pain just about was gone completely. I then went and had a couple steroid shots squirted into the affected region. The Neuro and Anesthesiologist used an active X-ray through out the ten minute procedure.

It did hurt some. After all, the lidocane burns a bit, the dye is discomforting and the steroid shots are positioned near the nerve root so they do tend to activate the affected area for a very brief time.

All in all, I am now almost pain free but a little sore in the back from the injections!

On Friday I visit Stephanie (the very cute, petite MT) for a good rub and then for an adjustment then to the rack. Life is good!!!

Since April 2006 when I broke T10 to half of its height I've been in discomfort. L4/5 has had some issuse as well.

I'm thinking of getting a inversion table. I'm glad tat I haven't had to go as extreme as steroids!:eek:

Wow I had the exact same procedure, but it was one of the most painful experiences of my life.

I have used an inversion table to very good effect for compressed nerve pain in lower back. I bought one of those you see advertised on TV. Really helped me then I passed it on to a friend. It was easy and quick to get into and out of. Glad you are feeling better

Woke up today and felt ZERO pain! ZERO!!!

The Doctor told me that I would most likely be in pain for about a day due to the epi - nope!

This guy was good - he really did a fantastic job at finding the nerve root and getting down to business. Just the fact that I am pain free right now has made my day. If it lasts a day, a week, month or longer - I will be stoked. It tells me that it is passable.

I have to go back in a few weeks to do the other side.

Scott - I was in some discomfort but I have had some pretty painful shyt over the years so I prepared myself for the worst. I was tolerable...and totally worth it!

That is AWESOME Lubey!

I've got an inversion table that is pretty beneficial for me. Besides, I think it's making me taller. I'm 5'6" now! :)

angela

I've had at least a dozen cortisone shots into my spine/lower back over the years and I regret it now.
the shots do hurt bad sometimes but not always, I passed out cold as a wedge one time and other times I barely felt them.

It feels great afterward but those shots can do more harm than good.
I've been told that the steroid reduces inflammation but also reduces blood flow, healing, and breaks down the cartilage.
I recommend you consider that a once or twice temporary fix and not a solution or ongoing treatment.

Plus many doctors won't give you more than three of them shots anyway.

I'm glad to hear its working.

My L1,L2 are blown out. Not just protruding, but blown. I am pain free, and don't have symtoms about 98% of the time. I've gotten to this point because I have learned what works for me. ZERO high impact sports, physical therapy (yoga stretching really), keeping my core strenght up, and ibuprofin if I feel things getting irritated. Everyones different. I'll certainly keep an inversion table in mind if things change. Good to know.

Don't go under the knife. It seems like it rarely helps, and in many cases makes things worse.

Man, it feels SO GOOD when pain stops...glad you found relief, Mike.

Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections are just part of the treatment. The studies I have read are a little misleading. The issues pertaining to long term success seem to predicated around the lack of proper nerve root placement. Also, often the diagnosis of the herniated disk sometimes precludes the early onset of spine degradation and arthritis. Sometimes you have a few things at play and the factors that influence each can crop up later. The success rate is very high 80+% compared to the alternatives.

Oh ya, inversion tables do work but some folks do get blood pooling and have to be careful and keep in mind that while being inverted, it is tough to relax those back and neck muscles. If you don;t have those muscles relaxed then your spine can't get decompressed.

I used to have an L5-S1 disc. A long time ago.
I wasn't getting epidurals, I was just getting a needle full of junk injected directly into the spinal area. I wasn't pregnant after all ;)

Do whatcha gotta do as long as you understand there's a fine line between a drug and a poison.
Cortisone has side effects and sometimes they can be worse than the disease.