Old guy stuff…Just met with my ortho on my herniated disc at L4 / L5. I am making progress and he thinks an epidural injection will get me home. My questions:
- Anyone had an injection?
- Did it work?
- If so, how long did it last?
Thanks!
Same issue for me, had the injection in September. Very little relief. My Doc proposed another injection in a slightly different spot to target the nagging issue I have that remains (pain down hamstring) but I opted for oral steroids instead which seemed to help a little for a short period after. Right now I’m managing on my own with exercises I found online and through links here. It feels good to not be “in treatment” after a year of Doc, PT, Chiro, Accupuncture, etc all of last year.
I have had injections in the past. Each time I was set up for a three shot series and only needed two. It did help and I think I went over a year before I had the second series of shots. The good news is that I haven’t needed one since my last series probably 3 years ago even though I am riding and running more than ever. My disc isn’t quite herniated, but my degenerative disc disease and bulging disc has been an issue for me for many many years (before I was an old guy). Good luck!
Honest question here…
Do you have to get a TUE for this? If so, did you?
Honestly, I don’t care if you did or not… I’m just curious if people do get TUE’s for stuff like this.
What is a TUE?
I had my first injection when I was 23 in 2000. Had lived with back pain since I was 18. Just thought it was from roofing and digging ditches since I was 12.
Never had insurance and finally did when I got my first real job. My issues were L3/L4 no radial pains just felt like a knife in the lower back.
First injection I had just one. It was the greatest thing I have ever done. I never realized how much pain I had lived with every day until it was all gone. It lasted 16 months until I “tweaked” my back. Went and got another injection. Lasted about 11 months with no issues. Repeating this for 5 total injections over the last 14 years.
Now I try not to get one because originally insurance was $125 co pay. Now it would cost me $900.
The more you get the less effective they become. I had to work on strengthening my core and being flexible.
Therapeutic Use Exception… for banned substances.
I would assume that an epidural would be something banned from competition. Like I said before, I’m not judging - I’m just curious. I had a cortisone injection for shin splints when I first started running and had no idea that I probably shouldn’t have raced for a while after that (going by the rules). It’s just that getting treatments like these aren’t (usually?) intended to get an edge in competition, rather I assume they’re used to get slow/non-competitive people like me to the start line.
Dude, least of my concerns right now.
Yes they work, but not on everyone. The doc can give you up to 3 in a series. If that doesn’t work then more won,t work either.They don’t fix anything but they relieve inflammation. I had the same bad discs as you and the first time I had it the doc told me “you should feel relief in 36 hours.” I could have set my watch. Wow did it feel good to feel good again.
Much better than oral steroids since they don’t have to go through your whole system to get to the problem
Good luck
Thanks Sweeney. How long does your last when you get them?
I’ve had excellent results. Originally had horrible shooting pain down my leg. Tried the 7 day oral pack and it did nothing. Had an injection done at L4-L5 and nothing. Second one helped. Third one did the trick. I’ve had it done two more times but only needed 2 injections with each subsequent treatment. Haven’t needed one in 4 years.
I was advised to never run again. Instead of quitting running I changed my running style and now I get a sore back if I don’t run. Go figure.
Good luck.
It will last until you tweak it again. I had it done around three times and it was years before I needed it again. If it works for you, you still have to learn how to maintain your back. Do the stretching and core strengthening that you need. It’s all about maintainence, occasionally you’ll aggravate the problem but the stretching should bring it back into line. Then if it gets really bad, you’ll have otogo see your doc. Since I retired from heavy construction my back doesn’t bother me anymore but I still do the stretching and core exercises. You will figure it out and you’ll be able to keep it in line.
thanks brother.
Had 4 injections in the leadup to surgery.
In my case 1 lasted a month, 2 more lasted a couple of weeks, 1 didn’t work at all.
So they weren’t the end of the story for me but as you can see from other reports, some people can get one or two injections per year and continue with life.
Well worth trying.
3 shot series for bulging discs at L5 and S1. No relief until after shot number 2 and did all three. Also needed to make some life style changes such as yoga. They did help and getting the inflammation down in my sciatic nerve when from chronic pain to occasional. I also have degenerative disc disease at C6 and C7 with 50% of my disc gone. Three injects did nothing but watching what exercise I did that work the traps did. By not compressing the nerve I have relief although experience some minor numbness in my left hand in two fingers and some thumb.
I have had chronic lower back pain for almost 10 years with a few flare ups that sidelined my training. I have a good PT/Chiro that got me through years of issues until the pain wouldn’t go away and became worse. I could barely walk. Surgery was recommended and epidurals were suggested. I went with the epidurals. I received my first shot on Christmas Eve 2010. I remember because within 45 minutes of the shot, the pain was debilitating. Basically, you are putting more fluid in a space that is already crowded, so the pain increases.
After a night of some meds, the pain began to reside. By Dec 26th, I was walking.
I did two more shots, but the third might not have been needed. I had to go on light duty for work while I healed, and though I felt fine by early April, I didn’t get back to work until May.
Remember, the shots help you heal. Your body will absorb the disk material that leaked out, but it takes time. Everyone will have differing experiences, but this was mine. Don’t go out and run when you feel OK. Just enjoy walking and talking to your neighbors.