Cervical spin injections

[Biciclista]

wish you lived closer. i drive to the hospital every day. i could take you.

[Catrin]

Thank you for your concern, and for the offer of a ride My original post may have been misleading. I was trying to decide if I really needed the sedation, and wondered how bad it would be to get just the local...but of course we are talking about the spine in my neck here and it WILL be quite aggravated with me after 3 days of no anti-inflammatory medication.

I've already found a ride there from someone who lives very close to me (thanks Winding Road), and will spread my net to all of my cycling and church friends, surely someone will be free to pick me up. I think it will be far less stressful under sedation and make me more likely to return for more should it be necessary.

[indysteel]

One of my coworkers gets regular shots to deal with chronic lumbar back pain. She's gotten them with both sedation and a local and been fine either way. And by fine, I mean that there is some discomfort later after sedation/the local wears off.

[Pax]

I've had lumbar injections done with a local, it wasn't too bad... but lower back is a long way from the head.

[indysteel]

I've just asked my boss what his wife does. She gets shots in C5 and C6 on a regular basis. I know she takes a Valium ahead of time, but that's for her high level of anticipatory anxiety. I'll let you know what he says.

[emily_in_nc]

I would definitely opt for the conscious sedation if you think you'll be anxious. I have used it for dental procedures (crowns, root canals), and it is the bomb! I basically slept right through the procedures -- or that is how it seemed b/c I remember nothing.

You have to have someone there who will drive you home or they will not perform it, though. I'm not sure if just saying you have a ride who will come pick you up is good enough; I think they want to see and talk to the person ahead of time to make sure they understand their "duties", so it may have to be the same person who takes you to and from.

Good luck!

[indysteel]

Okay; this is what my boss has to say. His wife gets a local. She has some serious issues with needles; hence, the Valium. Otherwise, he thinks she would be fine with just the local. The doc also told her that lumbar injections often require more, not less, sedation.

[Catrin]

Thanks for checking Indy, and everyone.

Part of my dread is coming from knowing I won't have any anti-inflammatory medication for 3 days prior, and I still get swelling WITH it. If my neck looks like a balloon by then I will certainly want sedation. Thankfully I don't really have to make up my mind until Tuesday morning, though I am leaning in that direction. I've already asked them if I can have different people pick me up and they are fine with that; they just don't want me driving that day.

So the big lesson learned here here is to always get whiplash checked sooner rather than later. I had thought since it took two days for the swelling to start that meant that it wasn't significant and it was just muscular damage. I doubt the delay made things worse, the damage had already been done.

I really appreciate this supportive community we have here, far more than I can put into words.