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Anyone here ever had a steroid epidural before?

I had one for the first time last Wednesday (bilateral, L3/L4), and I am still absolutely miserable in pain. If anyone has had one before, what was your experience?

Background:

Had a discectomy/laminectomy in Nov. 2021 (L4/L5). In Oct of this year, I lost the ability to stand/walk for a day. Pretty terrifying. L3/L4 herniation this time. Did the long drawn-out insurance and specialist dance to get to the point for an epidural (for both therapeutic, and diagnostic purposes). The first day was perfectly fine. The second day, I could barely use my legs, and it was painful as all get-out. Since then, the weakness subsided, and I can use my legs fine, but the pain is driving me a little nuts. Making me crotchety (much more-so than normal, for which I apologize), and a little bit frustrated/helpless than this is the new "normal."

I know that with the degenerative disc disease, congenital stenosis, etc. that back pain is an unavoidable constant, but the searing/throbbing in my legs/feet right now is a special kind of &^%$#@!@!.

I haven't, but I'm very sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain that intense. It sucks.

Solidarity in spirit, Dr. Steuss.

Thank you gents. Just wondering (hoping?) this is normal to have the pain get exponentially worse before it gets better. Figured there was a chance someone here might've had one before (or know someone).

Ultimately, the end goal is another discectomy, but we've got to go through the "therapeutic" steps first before insurance will consider another back surgery. I responded really well to the one at L4/5 (MRI late last year had it looking like the only disc that wasn't being rascally). There was already some irreversible nerve damage with that one though, by the time insurance was ironed out. Bonus though is I look pretty groovy walking with a cane.

Dr. Steuss, wishing you pain relief and that things get better. I was standing in line at the doctor's today and wishing that I had a cane. A cane seemed to be a big help to the lady in front of me.

So sorry to hear this. I’ll ask Mr. Nobody. Seems he has traveled a similar path to yours.

Dare I hope you are doing any better, Doctor Steuss?

Bret Ripley wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 03, 2023 3:15 pm

Dare I hope you are doing any better, Doctor Steuss?

Thank you for checking in on me my friend. I lost control of my walkin-bits, and fell down the stairs Saturday, so I’m a little bruised/banged up. I now have a lot of back pain, which hasn’t been a huge problem in the last few years -- the pain has always been more nerve related (i.e. my sweet-booty-butt-cheeks, legs, and feet). Not sure if that’s from the fall, or if that’s from the injections.

I have a follow-up with the pain management place that did the procedure on Thursday, so I imagine the pain will all magically disappear Wednesday night, since that’s usually how my rascally body likes to act.

Maybe one of these A.I. chatbots will become sentient, decide to attend medical school, and figure out a way to do cloned body transplants. That’s my hope, at least. Either that, or for Crystal Pepsi to make a comeback. Hope springs eternal.

Doctor Steuss wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 03, 2023 3:26 pm

Bret Ripley wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 03, 2023 3:15 pm

Dare I hope you are doing any better, Doctor Steuss?

Thank you for checking in on me my friend. I lost control of my walkin-bits, and fell down the stairs Saturday, so I’m a little bruised/banged up. I now have a lot of back pain, which hasn’t been a huge problem in the last few years -- the pain has always been more nerve related (i.e. my sweet-booty-butt-cheeks, legs, and feet). Not sure if that’s from the fall, or if that’s from the injections.

Well, that's disconcerting and no mistake. "It is not meet that discomfort should interfere with a body's perambulations or sweet-booty-butt-cheeks," as the good book says.

I have a follow-up with the pain management place that did the procedure on Thursday, so I imagine the pain will all magically disappear Wednesday night, since that’s usually how my rascally body likes to act.

In that case, you just need to convince yourself that your appointment is this afternoon and Bob's your uncle. 5¢, please.

Maybe one of these A.I. chatbots will become sentient, decide to attend medical school, and figure out a way to do cloned body transplants. That’s my hope, at least. Either that, or for Crystal Pepsi to make a comeback. Hope springs eternal.

Careful with that ... If I recall correctly the return of Crystal Pepsi is one of the signs of the apocalypse. But I may have that mixed up with Tab Clear.

Anyway, I hope things get better for you soon, brother.

Bret Ripley wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 03, 2023 4:34 pm

Doctor Steuss wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 03, 2023 3:26 pm

Thank you for checking in on me my friend. I lost control of my walkin-bits, and fell down the stairs Saturday, so I’m a little bruised/banged up. I now have a lot of back pain, which hasn’t been a huge problem in the last few years -- the pain has always been more nerve related (i.e. my sweet-booty-butt-cheeks, legs, and feet). Not sure if that’s from the fall, or if that’s from the injections.

Well, that's disconcerting and no mistake. "It is not meet that discomfort should interfere with a body's perambulations or sweet-booty-butt-cheeks," as the good book says.

I have a follow-up with the pain management place that did the procedure on Thursday, so I imagine the pain will all magically disappear Wednesday night, since that’s usually how my rascally body likes to act.

In that case, you just need to convince yourself that your appointment is this afternoon and Bob's your uncle. 5¢, please.

Maybe one of these A.I. chatbots will become sentient, decide to attend medical school, and figure out a way to do cloned body transplants. That’s my hope, at least. Either that, or for Crystal Pepsi to make a comeback. Hope springs eternal.

Careful with that ... If I recall correctly the return of Crystal Pepsi is one of the signs of the apocalypse. But I may have that mixed up with Tab Clear.

Anyway, I hope things get better for you soon, brother.

Amen, brother Ripley.