Advice anyone?

[maniac5461]

I have suffered several back and neck injuries between 20001 and last December, and am now in pain pretty much 24/7.  I used to read about people becoming extremely depressed and even wanting to commit suicide due to constant pain.  I never understood someone's willingness to take their life due to pain until recently.  I have not reached that point, but I have my days where I get very sad and angry, and don't necessarily want to kill myself, but wouldn't mind if I died.  My first injury was whiplash from a dirtbike accident.  I have an old (from 2003) compression fracture in my L-spine; I completely broke the transverse process off of my T1, I have four ruptured discs in my neck, one collapsed disc in my back, the top of my spine is twisted sideways, and I have arthritis throughout my entire spine.  I didn't find out about my injuries in 2003, until 2009, when I broke my T1.  My last injury resulted in two of the four ruptured discs in my neck, the collapsed disc in my back, and a severe concussion which has caused short-term memory loss, and more frequent headaches than before.  I have also become extremely irritable, and I get frustrated and depressed, because I have an extremely difficult time remembering many things.  For the last eleven years, I have been prescribed various pain meds and muscle relaxers, from skelaxin and darvocet, to hydrocodone and flexeril.  I had allergic reactions to some of them, and others don't help unless taken in large doses.  I don't like to take pain medication, so the only time I do is when I can no longer hold my head up, or if it interferes with work.  I have been going to physical therapy for approximately 2 1/5 months.  Before I began physical therapy, I experienced pain in my lower back, between my shoulders extending up the middle of my neck into the back of my head, and horizontally across the middle of my back.  I also had numbness and tingling in my left arm extending into my middle finger, pointer finger, and thumb.  Since I have been going to physical therapy I still experience pain in the same areas, but the numbness is now in both arms, both legs, and one time in my neck and half of my face and mouth.  The next step that my doctor has suggested is ESI's.  He has said that I will need a series of three in my neck, and three in my back, and they will need to be repeated when they wear off.  This is where my questions begin.  First question is for any of you out there that have undergone an ESI, what side effects did you experience, did it help, and would you recommend it?  My doctor had put me on methylprednisolone, and I had a bad allergic reaction.  What kind of steroids are most commonly used, and if I had a reaction to this one, what is the likelihood that I will have a reaction to another.  I have read that you can only get 3-4 injections per year.  How accurate is this, and is there a maximum number of injections I can receive overall?  My physical therapist has told me that my vertebrae are shearing.  From what I understand, the injections will not stop this from happening, so even though the pain might be reduced, the damage will continue to worsen.  What are the chances that several years from now I will need surgery due to that?  I have read that the long-term effects of receiving ESI's can include weakening of the bones, and muscles surrounding the spine.  Is this accurate, and if so is it permanent?  If I do get the surgery, I will need both back and neck to be operated on.  How long is recovery for those surgeries, and what is the likelihood of having to get a halo from the neck surgery?  I have a few other questions, but I guess what I really want is some feedback, and what you would do.  I am thinking of getting the first injection to see what happens, but still opting for surgery, because I would rather get it now while I am young and will heal quickly as opposed to years down the road, when recovery won't be so easy.

[maniac5461]

I have not been able to make the appointment yet due to other current obligations.  I have decided that I am going to get the first injection and see how it goes.  After that, I am going to meet with my doctor, and have him answer the list of questions that I have.  Then, I will make my decision.  At this point I am stuck, but will hopefully have it worked out soon.

[dlady66]

Oh wow I am so sorry for your pain and problems. That is a lot to deal with and I am surprised you haven't had any surgeries yet and your still working is amazing to me.

I've had the injects, I would say around 5 of them over the past 5yrs. I can say for ME they did not help but I have heard for some that they did. I haven't had any done in awhile because I just did not see the point. I had no side effects from them except I just laid up and rested for a good day afterwards.

The injections wont stop the process they are just steroid shots to help with the pain.
While I can not suggest you have anything done, I would have one done myself to at least see if it helps.
I am in awe of you for not taking the medicines and still working. I have been out of work since 07 and been on pain meds since.
I had 3 back surgeries, one was a spinal fusion. I got nerve damage in my legs from the scar tissue from both surgeries on the L4-L5S1. I have another bulging disc in the curve of my back which they say is a rare spot to get one. I had surgery done on it but it has since then it has collapsed. Due to the trauma of the back problems, surgery etc. I now have fibromyalgia and arthritis as well. Sciatica in both my legs, due to the disc pressed up against the nerves. Although they don't always hurt, the pain on top of my thighs is sometimes unbearable. I still can't stand for long and take way too many meds, muscle relaxers and pain pills.  
I wish I had never had any of it done and just learned a different way to deal with the pain. Pain meds don't take the pain away, they just mask it, make it easier to deal with or take the edge off.
Have they given you any idea as to what would be the best thing for you to do? I can not say if you'll have any reaction to the steroid shots.