Back Injection are painful. Don't let them tell you they are not

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I need to have soaking cold towels and ice around my head and 2 very nice nurses to get me to realax and cool down. 2nd injection and wil be my last. My surgeon is all business, but the nurses are geat. Surgeon really gave it to me today.
 
Trust me one one thing. Back injections will be painfull. Sorry. Hope they don't mind swearing. I guess not.
 
I have had as many as about 100 injections in my back L4-L5 7 L5-S1 facet joints and also L5 nerve root. I have learned to relax as much as I can (not easy) but if you tense up it only makes it worse. The worst is the initial jab and if any hits the nerve you get nerve pain. The nerve root block injections where the worst but the one that bothered me was when the doctor had to reposition the needle under CT guidance, a few times to get it right along side of the nerve that was already compressed by the vertebrae. They tend also to be worse if you are already in a lot of pain. I am going to discontinue any injections because my testosterone has been very low and also I am concerned about how much cortisone is being placed around the bone, as I have been told to avoid that. Allan
 
OMG Bake&Pray I just had a Caudal with the pain meRAB and I felt every jab. I was sobbing thru the whole procedure and they gave me 3 vials of something but it just didn't help. I think the problem was Dr. found a huge patch of scar tissue and couldn't get thru it but kept trying. I have had this procedure before with a different docor and I remeraber it hurt but not like it hurt this time. I think these things go differntly for everyone though. A regular epidural doesn't bother me much at all-but the caudal sure is a horse of a different color!
 
J just think that back injections can be presented in a way that they are easy. Just saying for me, they are tramadic, painfull for me, but work. Did I mention that I love nurses?
 
I'm really scared now after reading everyones opinions. I'm still waiting for WC to approve the shot so I haven't had one yet. I just hope if I get one it really works like the doctor believes and things get better.
 
...not so scare anyone, but if your going to have an injection, I can tell you the beez neez
 
My Pain Management doctor always sedates me just long enough to get the injection so I never feel any pain. I'm awaken a few minutes later. About 25 years ago a doctor gave me an injection similar to yours and I've never forgot it. SounRAB like its time to find a new doctor. Try a Pain Management doctor.
 
Just understand that sometimes it takes a couple of rounRAB of injections for them to work properly. That is what I believe but others may know a bit more about the actual injections you are referring to. There are a couple different types and different placement as the doctor may send you for a CT guided injection or if he is very experienced he may choose to go ahead with it himself. I wish you luck with that but try not to worry to much as the pain usually doesn't last to long and sometimes you may have instant relief of some of your pain. Also the more relaxed you are the easier the injections go in as if you are tense it makes the muscles harder and if you can just really take your mind off to somewhere else it will be a much better experience. Allan
 
Seriously - look for a new pain management doc. I had three cervical ESI's - I was sedated for all three - had excrutiating back spasms for two weeks from the second one - they did the third shot a bit different (not really sure - since I was sedated) but - I did not hurt afterwarRAB. Just was a bit sleepy.
Rose
 
I have had a nuraber of injections from ESI's to several nerve blocks, and I have never had severe pain from them. There is a minor bee's sting sensation when the needle first goes in, but I usually have more pain from having blood drawn from my arm quite frankly.

I was scared to death the first time I had one, but now it doesn't bother me at all. I don't use any sedation.
 
Personally I've lost count of how many trigger point injections I've had. Ranging from 28 in one session to 12 at the lowest. I've also had 9 Basal Branch Nerve Blocks and 4 Radio Frequency Ablations.

Here is the trick with trigger point injections.

  1. They have to be exactly in the trigger point or its a waste of the injection.
  2. Guiding them to right spot is your responsibility... up, down, inward, outward, left, right (1 mm to 1 cm to 5 cm).
  3. Next step is guiding in the needle once they have marked the trigger point. In addition to the up down left right directions, you need to help guide them on the angle of the needle and the depth of trigger point. Once they hit the trigger point it will increase your pain. Its obvious with me when they hit my trigger point because my whole back reacts of its own accord, not because I decide it.
  4. Then enduring the injection is when my eyes tear up and I feel like I'm going to pass out. But I know if I move... if I don't hold perfectly still then I'm going to move the needle and will have gone though all that pain for nothing. If sticking the needle in my trigger point was an 8 then injecting the lidocaine takes it to a 9.

My doctor says I have a high pain tolerance, because I was able to endure 28 trigger points in one session. Of course, I could only handle 7 injections at a time and needed a 3-5 min interval between every 7 injections to compose myself and let the pain subside.

So give the TPI's a chance, just realize your responsibilities and that its not going to be pleasant at all until maybe 2 days after the injections.

On the point of Basal Branch Nerve Blocks.. I personally insist they do them in symmetry so 2 quadrants at a time. This was after the first caused my other 3 quadrants of my back to overcompensate, worsening my condition. After that they did do them in pairs so I had 2 sets of pairs for my lower back then 2 RFA's which they can't do in pairs since they take 90 mins per quadrant but they can do a week apart that's minimal healing time. Then 2 pairs for my upper back before the 2 RFAs on my upper back.

~Myo :angel:
 
You guys are lucky my doctors have never even suggested sedation. I just grin and bear it. Though I have been through a lot and have become very resilient. Its not that bad usually if you have an experienced doctor. Anyhow good luck to anyone going for their first. Allan
 
Injections need not be as traumatic. Both Pain Management doctors I have used utilize light IV sedation during the injection and then inject pain medications immediately after. Because of the versed used in the IV for conscious sedation I have never felt the back injections at all (or if I have the versed allowed me to not be aware).

And there are some people who choose not do sedation and do quite well. Not me, sedation all the way.
 
I hope I didn't scare you. That wasn't my intention. I do believe that these shots just like any other procedure are different for everyone. I do recommend the sedation because the more relaxed you are the easier it goes and I like knowing when I get home I will at least get a few hours of good sleep. I have had mostly good luck with the epi's. I haven't had to have a caudal since 2006 so it worked and lasted quite awhile. I think this time tho the scar tissue is the issue and thats why I still hurt.
 
Thanks for explaining more. My doctor's appointment was cancelled for tomorrow. So I have another week to see if WC gives the go head. I noticed that it's not good to stress with my back. The pain gets worse so I try to relax.
 
I need to be iced down. You can spary with a cold hose if they wanted to? Don't enjoy them.
 
I had an epidural in my back for herniated disc in Septeraber. It was horrible..it hurt worse that the actual sciatica pain...however I was able to go home two days later with less pain. I am still afraid to get another one
 
Yes. I think you are right. I'm done with the shots though. I probably need sedation. Just wish the surgeon who injects has as good as understanding as the nurses, that this is painfull to some people. This time I warned them. Felt like they soaked me down with a hose. Again, thanks to the nurses.
 
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