epidural steroid injecton?

smiling_ru · Jul 23, 2003

Performed a few in clinical rotations (crna school). Most patients said they got relief from the injection. But, there were differences in how many times they needed to come before it "fully" took effect. Some had great relief after one injection, others needed to return one or two times before they had good relief. (a few weeks in between visits) Than there were some people (not very many) that never got adequate relief.

If it works for you , it can be effective for up to six months, meaning that you may not have to go back for another one for a half a year. (for acute injuries you may never have to go back)

If it does not work the first time, at least try it one more time before you give up.

The risks are similar to any other epidural injection, although the practioners I worked with said they had never had a patient who experienced a spinal headache or infection. They will tell you the risks even if they don't usually occur, just in case.

Anyway, good luck to you I hope it helps your pain!

Qwiigley, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, CRNA · Jul 23, 2003

usually the headache is due to tapping the spinal fluid. This is not the space used for an epidural. A spinal and an epidural is different both in technique and purpose.

kids · Jul 23, 2003

Great info smiling_ru & Qwiigley.

I had great success with the first few "rounds" (injection Q4 weeks X3). Unfortunately my situation is such that from a ortho & neuro standpoint eventually they didn't do any good.

smiling_ru · Jul 23, 2003

Don't ask me why I wrote epidural headache!!! Thinking epidurals I guess. Thanks for pointing that out qwigley, I fixed it.

mattsmom81 · Jul 23, 2003

CseMgr RN just asked the same question recently. I had 2 sets of 3...one on my neck after an MVA, the second set in my low back near an old surgical site with arthritis.

My low back got quite a bit of relief with long term improvement . Probably due to the arthrititic area. My neck got zero relief and I ended up needing surgery for HNP.

It is treated like an outpatient procedure, done under fluoro and IV sedation (Diprivan and Versed) in my area. Woozy and not thinking straight for a few days so don't work for several days following. Kinda expensive...1K for each, usually done in 3's.

Good luck and hope you feel better. Some of get relief, others don't. You may get some steroid side effects but they go away.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 23, 2003

MY friend gets these for back pain. They work like a CHARM according to her, and she has to use MUCH FEWER NARCOTICS this way. She swears by them. I hope you find out what you need and they work for you, if used. Back pain is the worst, isn't it? Feel better soon.

Disablednurse · Jul 23, 2003

I got one for chronic severe back pain. It took it about seven days before it kicked in and eased the pain and then it lasted only about seven days. Unfortunately I am a diabetic and it took me about four months to get my blood sugar back under control because it had my blood sugar way out of control and extremely high.

live4today, RN · Jul 24, 2003

When my husband was between back surgeries and in so much pain, he was given epidural steroid injections and said they worked like a charm for awhile, but not for long. It really wasn't until he had his second back operation that he finally felt better. :)

nowplayingEDRN · Jul 28, 2003

We used to do them here. But both Anesthesiologists are gone so they quit providing that service here. I do know that the patients that did have them done got good relief after the second injection. We recovered them just like they had a same day procedure and there were no complications at all. Good luck on your work up for them.

glascow · Jul 29, 2003

I had only temporary relief. Just to be pain free for a few days was worth it, it breaks the pain cycle so the pain doesn't come back quite so intense, but it gradually goes back to the same old pain.

I find Vioxx works best for my chronic back pain.