Omelet wrote:
> In article >,
> "Dave Bugg" > wrote:
>
>> Omelet wrote:
>>> I don't want to start a thread here about this.
>>> If anyone has had this done, please e-mail me.
>>> This e-mail works...
>>>
>>> Considering this procedure for Thursday 12-03-09...
>>
>> I'm dealing with the need for this because post-surgical results
>> have not been as expected with regard to back pain. I'm looking at
>> cortisone injections, what medication are you looking at?
>
> I was reluctant to start yet another off topic thread this close to
> the holiday message flood, but there is a lot of collective wisdom on
> this list and I value experienced input. ;-) Many thanks to those that
> responded via private mail.
>
> Dave, Dr. Thai talked about epidural cortisol injections as well.
> Seems to be the gold standard. Chiropractic is controlling my lumbar
> pain nicely. This issue is with my neck causing upper back cramping
> and severe arm pain and weakness. I have had an MRI that reveals
> bulging disks at C5, C6 and C7. C7 being the largest of the three and
> that's what is causing the most pain.

As I understand it, corticosteroids are injected to try and reduce swelling
in the nerves in the affected area. It doesn't do anything for disc bulgings
or herniations. In many cases discs bulging disc will settle down on their
own and reduce back to where they need to be all on their own. The
injections are designed to be used as an interim solution to help the nerve
swelling from the irritation until the bulging goes down. Herniations are a
whole 'nother issue.

Prior to surgery, I used prednisol (oral) in 10 day decreasing doses. This
was done three seperate times. The first time, it significantly relieved the
pain, but once I stopped taking it the pain returned within two or three
days. The other courses, done one month apart, were increasingly
NON-effective. The last prescription had no effect on the pain.

My surgery was successful in he sense that the herniated disc material in
two seperate lumbar spaces was removed and stenosis from some intruding
spurs was removed. I had no post-operative pain from the surgery whatsoever.

The first week post-op, I noticed a decrease in pain (from a 9 to a 7+) and
a definite resolution to the muscle weakness to my legs; I no longer worried
about my legs collapsing out from under me.

At this point (about 5 months post op) the nerve pain has not resolved, and
by the end of the day will be a 7 or 8. The pain is all engulfing at that
point. To me, a 10 on the scale is when you develop tunnel vision and pass
out. I had a post-op MRI done 6 weeks ago, so there is a great picture of
the 'before' and 'after'. The last MRI shows that the surgery accomplished
what it was designed to do. The neurosurgeon was an artist++++. The MRI does
show two other areas of possible nerve impingement from 'bone spurs' that
have created some stenosis. The Doc who did the surgery, and a different Doc
that I had do a second opinion, both independently conclude that there is
simply no way to definitively know if another surgery will take care of the
pain.

That is why I'm facing steroid injections. The docs seem to think that there
is a possibility that my nerve trunk is still aggravated and extremely
grouchy from having been severely impinged prior to surgery. The steroid
injections may sooth and decrease any swelling in the nerve so that there is
no more impingement. A nerve that is no longer swollen will have plenty of
space around it and go from being irritated and angry to non-irritated and
happy. This approach seems reasonable to me. It is far simpler and less
costly than surgery. It is like making sure that a stereo, which will not
turn-on, is not unplugged before opening 'er up and digging around the
circuit boards.

BTW, I am taking neurontin, robaxin, and ibuprofen every 8 hours. This makes
the pain tolerable during the day, but I have very limited activity. I am
doing physical therapy and doing exercises at home. Although I have
hydrocodone, I limit taking it until a half-hour prior to bed. It really
helps reduce the percieved pain level to a point which I can get about 3-4
hours of sleep each night. About once a week, I am soooo desperately tired
that my body lets me sleep for about 8 hours before the pain breaks through
the exhaustion and wakes me up.

I hope this helps; maybe what I wrote will strike a cord of something
similar. This is, of course, my perspective and your issues certainly are
going to be different.

For me, it isn't just the pain that make things suck. It is the inability to
function normally and to be able to get back to work and be productive.

--
Dave
What is best in life? "To crush your enemies, see them driven before
you, and to hear the lamentation of the women." -- Conan