Cervical spin injections

[Catrin]

My injections have been scheduled for next Tuesday morning. I can opt for conscious sedation (if I can find a ride both ways). Has anyone had these with just a local? How bad was it? Just trying to decide how hard I need to look for those rides...

Sadly I've got to stop taking the prescription anti-inflammatory 3 days prior, so I am afraid my neck is likely going to be swollen before we ever do anything... I just missed one day earlier this week and the effect was pretty apparent even to other people.

[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.

[Pax]

Catrin - are you icing? That should help with some of the inflammation.

[Catrin]

I've been icing some and using heat as well as my doctor has directed. I can't, however, do that at work...and it is also difficult to know just where to apply it all

New goal for next year: finish the season without injury for a change...but this one really doesn't compare with last year. This was just a freaky accident, it least it isn't from over-use and stubbornness this time, for which I am thankful.

[smittykitty]

Catrin:

I'm out of the loop! What did you do to your neck? I think I may remember you doing the crash and burn thing with the mountain bike. Was that it? Sorry to hear about this!

About a hundred years ago I had a cervical injection. Really no big deal. I'm not needle anxious though. If you are apprehensive, get the valium, ativan, etc. Out dental patients do so well with it. Just don't forget the driver, both ways.

[Catrin]

Catrin:

I'm out of the loop! What did you do to your neck? I think I may remember you doing the crash and burn thing with the mountain bike. Was that it? Sorry to hear about this!

About a hundred years ago I had a cervical injection. Really no big deal. I'm not needle anxious though. If you are apprehensive, get the valium, ativan, etc. Out dental patients do so well with it. Just don't forget the driver, both ways.

Oh I fell over a LOT on the mountain bike this year, that is just part of learning how to mountain bike At least for me it is, and for the most part there were no consequences to me or my bike on all of those falls...less one. The last time I was on the trail I just happened to hit a root wrong at too slow a speed, fell wrong and gave myself whiplash. Just one of those freak things, the whiplash left me with 3 bulging disks...

I AM needle anxious, though I've not heard it put that way before. I do have a ride both ways and am getting the sedation. I really hope that this works, for if it doesn't I will certainly get the surgery. I am far too active to not take care of this properly.

[smittykitty]

Sounds like you're on the right track. Take care.

[Catrin]

I am trying to do what they say. The only thing that gives me pause is I've a few friends who have been long-time orthopedic surgical nurses and they keep making encouraging sounds about how far cervical spine surgery has come in repairing such injuries. Hopefully they aren't trying to tell me something, but at least if the injections don't work I will have tried a more conservative remedy first...