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 Blond Bombshell..
Posts: 6628
     Location: Hill Country of TEXAS!! | anyone had any Injection for herniated disks?? My dr has suggested I get one for my L5 which has major muscle guarding lately that we can't get a hold of. Spine injections make me very nervous so ive avoided it until now. I can't get relief even taking 800 bc ibprofen and 750mg muscle relaxers. Any good and or bad experiences please. Is it worth the risk?? |
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    Location: OK | I have had 2 injections. I am pretty sure mine was L 5. The first one gave very quick relieve. About 2 days. About 4 months later I hand another injection. My back was no where near as bad as the first time, the Dr. has hopes of this one lasting for quite a long time. Be sure to go to someone who is doing injections on a regular basis. It is pretty uncomfortable but no way near as bad as some of my back pain. |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
     Location: OH. IO | Ive had two series of three.Im just gonna say they didnt help and I will spare you details as I dont want to detour you.
Edited by jake16 2015-01-26 5:48 PM
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 Schnoodle Lover
Posts: 2987
         Location: **Cactus Country down in South Texas*** | I had it done, I could not get rid of the pain in my back. I belive my injection has lasted a good 3-4 years now. |
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  Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
        Location: Displaced Iowegian | I have degenerative Sacroiliac Joints and they want to inject them...... I, too, have held off doing it…….Fear! |
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Blessed 
                      Location: Here | Best thing I have done for my back first time I was nervous but the pain relief was amazing. I have only had to have one more and it was 18 months after that. And it has been 3 years now since I have had it done. I have also had SI's done and YEP the relief was      |
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 Winner winner chicken dinner
Posts: 2047
  Location: California | Going on 3 1/2 years and am so grateful it worked for me! Same spot as you...L4/L5. It did not work for my sister, but it didn't give her any negative effects. She ended up having surgery (at 30 years), and had a baby 2 years later and is still 100%. Life is too short to be in chronic pain. Good luck to you! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1664
     Location: iowa | ive had 3 injections...L4/L5...the first one hurt so bad i thought i was dying...but the next 2 werent so bad..unfortunately, none of them worked for me at all..and they are pretty costly if you're paying for them yourself.
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| I actually had injections a few times for my back. Same site as you. Nine helped. Finally after having four surgery a to shave down my herniated disc that was pinching my nerve I had a spinal
Fusion. Best thing I ever did. But have a friend who injections worked great for. Everyone is different. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 600
  Location: Oklahoma & Texas | I herniated my C5C6 in my neck..tried the injections and they really helped but i had pretty severe herniations so ended up having surgery and had it fuzed with a plate and a bone graft..best decision i ever made...pain free no meds...and back to riding and doing normal activities. ..the injections for me weren't painful at all..they numb u completely because they don't want you moving so you don't feel it...it does bring a lot of relief...but mine only lasted 2 or 3 weeks. ..did it twice...have u out tried the nerve medicine Lyrica? Just a thought it was a miracle worker for me..no pain meds touched my pain it was excruciating but within a few hrs of taking Lyrica i had amazing relief...it can make you foggyheaded / tired so I took Iit before bed. ..amazing med..if you've ever experienced nerve pain nothing helps but something like it...iddecided to do the surgery because I just didn't want to have to take meds forever...I'm 36 now..did surgery 16 months ago. ..wish I had done it sooner!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2308
    Location: Viola, IL | Everyone responds to injections differently, so keep that in mind when reading opinions of them.
I have two herniated discs in my lower back, as well as bursitis in my right SI joint. I had injections in the herniated discs, as well as my SI joint. After the first two injections did not work on my lower back, per the advice of my doctor, we chose not to finish the series. They say if they don't work after the first two injections, it is likely they won't work. I was in a lot of pain after the first one, but not nearly as painful for the second. Unfortunately they just didn't work for me.
Injecting the SI, is extremely painful, as they are unable to numb prior to injection. They numb as they inject. It also, did not work for me. If my doctor thought it would help, I would try it again. I do not have surgery as an option, and have battled the pain now for a year. I hope they work for you! |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
 
| Did not help in my lower back, had a fusion, has helped greatly. I had another fusion for a bone spur the disc above and below are notmgreat and i do get shots in my neck they help greatly. I have ra and have a couple of bad disc in my thorasic back and thenshot has help greatly with that too. They also, have shots that kill the nerve for about 6 month. They have some pretty inventive injections now. Dont blow them off if they work you will be greatfull for pain relief. The internet can be your friend. |
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 Blond Bombshell..
Posts: 6628
     Location: Hill Country of TEXAS!! | Thank you all for the info :) im going to try the injection and see how that goes. Its probably going to be today and I hope it is. Im tired of the pain. Hoping it goes well and I dont panic on the table!!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
  Location: Southeastern Idaho | I have herniated the L5 disc in my back twice. I have also been in a bad horse wreck and cracked 5 vertebrate as well. I did get injections once...and I have to say it didn't do much for me other than pinpoint the exact area that hurt. I didn't go back.
I had better luck going to physical therapy and using exercises (of course they were very light at first) to get through this. They taught me great exercises to use if things start hurting and to find relief without any pain pills. I also had a great chiropractor that helped.
I am not (knocking on wood as I type this) going to the chiropractor (have not been back in 2 years) and my back is feeling really good. I continue with exercising to keep myself strong and do not sit in an office chair. I have a exercise ball chair that I use. New gel mattress also made a big difference for me. |
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 Blond Bombshell..
Posts: 6628
     Location: Hill Country of TEXAS!! | I just wanted to update everyone about my appointment. It went really well this morning. The dr is awesome with a needle and very nice. Bee stings is how I'd describe the litacaine and sleeve. I got up better from the face down position better than I got on the table and I didn't have any shooting pain. I sat in a chair for a bit and stood straight up with no slumping or pain. He said with what he used and my age it should be fine. It will repair the herniation I have. All in all I'm glad I did it. I'll see in a couple days after the full effect hits :) |
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 Texas Tenderheart
Posts: 6715
     Location: Red Raiderland | I have herniations in both my neck and my lower back and I have had a lot of injections in the past 8 years or so and they work great. I finally decided to have a rhyzotomy (deading the nerves) done on both and they lasted a loooong time, like over 2 years. I see a pain specialist and I have never been awake for any of my injections or rhyzotomies so that can be an option if you don't want to be aware of what they are doing. |
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  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
         Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | They are not a cure and not meant to be used as a cure, that is my best advice.
Too many times I see people get them and think it fixes the problem and it's all they need. I LOVE my back injections. BUT I keep up with other treatments as well. Which allows me the back injections as needed. Right now I average one injection ever 28 months or so.
Make sure you have a true diagnosis and work with your docs to get some physical therapy, learn some exercises, ask if traction is an option, etc etc |
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Blessed 
                      Location: Here | Dash4KJ - 2015-01-27 6:34 PM I just wanted to update everyone about my appointment. It went really well this morning. The dr is awesome with a needle and very nice. Bee stings is how I'd describe the litacaine and sleeve. I got up better from the face down position better than I got on the table and I didn't have any shooting pain. I sat in a chair for a bit and stood straight up with no slumping or pain. He said with what he used and my age it should be fine. It will repair the herniation I have. All in all I'm glad I did it. I'll see in a couple days after the full effect hits :)
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Blessed 
                      Location: Here | Kaycee - 2015-01-27 7:28 PM I have herniations in both my neck and my lower back and I have had a lot of injections in the past 8 years or so and they work great. I finally decided to have a rhyzotomy (deading the nerves) done on both and they lasted a loooong time, like over 2 years. I see a pain specialist and I have never been awake for any of my injections or rhyzotomies so that can be an option if you don't want to be aware of what they are doing.
I am supposed to have that done in my neck but I have been too chicken to have it done. Thanks for sharing this. I need to do it... |
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