Epidural steroid injections

[7rider]

Hey there.
I've given up on the alternative treatments.
The chiropractic and acupuncture just aren't helping get rid of the chronic pain I'm in from my C5-6 disc herniation.
I'm getting pain radiating down my right arm, pins-and-needles, and general weekness in the right tricep muscle.
So, I saw my orthopedic surgeon, who wrote me a 'script for an epidural injection with a pain management office at the local hospital.
When I made the appointment (a full MONTH away! Lord, they're busy), she said "no restrictions" and I could drive after the appointment. But, she said I probably should not ride my bike (I usually commute by bike to this hospital for appointments, as I know one of the administrators and he lets me park my bike in his office).
So....Can anyone tell me what I can expect with this injection? What's the procedure like? What kind of relief can I expect and when should it kick in?
Thoughts, advice, etc., are welcome.
Thanks!

[Hub]

Well, I haven't had these injections, but my DH has had plenty. I am surprised that they said you can drive!
Clint has had the injections at L-4 & L-5- the lumbar area- I just relaizied that your post said C- so that's the opposite end of the spine- still I think the procedures should be very similar!
Even though he is alert aftern the procedure, I'm required to sign him out at the clinic, and say that I will drive him home. Usually they strip him down to a gown, hook up IV fluids, give him
some sedation and then do the injections. The doctor said the point is to
'saturate' the joint/discs with the steroids and painkillers. This is expected to give relief for about a month or more.

After his first injection about 4 or 5 years ago he was able to walk without pain for the first time in weeks. For him they did lose some effectiveness as he had them more often. He also has a differnt kind of injection that's done in the hospital, they give him more sedation and use a fluoroscope to target the disc.

Good luck!

[surgtech1956]

Hi Regina, I've had these injections(C6-7 herniation with pain and numbness going down my right arm). I had a series of 3 - once a week. I couldn't drive home. They hooked me up to monitors, an IV. I never had any pain etc.. afterwards. I didn't start feeling any relief until the 3rd one. Good luck.

[7rider]

Ho-man!
Whiiiiiine........
Now I'm *really* starting to get stressed out.
Multiple injections? Temporary relief?
I was kinda hoping - one needle, boom! Done.
Guess it's a bit more involved, eh?

[surgtech1956]

Regina, around here it's the practice that they give a series of 3 injections. I was a little nervous too. Didn't feel a thing, give me a small amount of some good 'stuff'. Not too much, I moved myself over to the table and back to the gurney. It was worth it to get rid of the pain.

[bambu101]

I have 2 bulging discs at C2-3 and C-4-5 from a serious whiplash injury in 1998 (hit in the left front of my Jeep Cherokee by a truck doing 50 while waiting to make a turn). I had may of the same symptoms you are describing. Long story short, I had almost 5 years of various treatments, including steroid injections, 4 rounds of PT, chiropractic care, alternative treatments, Prednisone, anti-inflammatory and narcotic medications, including Oxycontin. I also had 2 radio-frequency nerve treatments to "burn" the nerve endings in the facet joints to try to stop the pain signals. It was 2 treatments because the specialist doing this procedure did the wrong facet joint the first time! The last treatment was about 6 months in an outpatient pain management program at a rehabilitation hospital. Most of this was ineffectve, and as time went on, the discs stabilized somewhat and the pain subsided, although it has never disappeared completely, and some days are better than others. I did a ton of research on my own and found some good books for dealing with neck pain, and also developed a serious distrust of the medcal profession. I found too many "professionals" with the attitude that if the patient is not responding to our treatment, it must be the patient's fault.