Does epidural help all herniated discs?

I am 55, female, no recent injury, and I work as a Speech-Language Pathologist at a nursing home. I have been experiencing severe pain in my left shoulder and down the arm for the last two weeks.  My PCP ordered an MRI which showed 5 discs were herniated.  Two were mild, two moderate, one severe, and all are degenerative (4 cervical, 1 thorasic).    The pain pills--Loritab, Percacet, Flexeril, and MS Contin have had no effect on the pain.  Tomorrow I will be receiving a cervical epidural (and one more on 4/23).  Is this supposed to help all of the involved discs or only the one at the injection site?  I have been pulled out of work for one month.  Is this normal to be out this long?  Are there any exercises that I can do after the epidural that will eventually improve health?  Is walking ok?  Has anyone used an inversion machine with herniated discs?  Thanks for any help/information you can provide.

[terri1234]

I think it depends.  For me epidurals have been godsends, for others it doesn't help.  You just have to wait and see.

[jenntanis]

I am 27 and I had problems with my lumbar spine (L1-3 and L4-S1).  I too started with all of the pain meds, and they sent me for two nerve blocks and one epidural.  I did not have success with any of the blocks for more than 2 weeks, and the epidural made me worse.  I ended up having to see 4 2nd opinions and had a fusion done.  Epidurals usually work for a few discs, that's what they use in pregnancy to numb the second half of the body.  I hope you have better pain relief than I did.  Also, just a heads up if they want to place you on Lyrica or Topamax.  Lyrica made me gain weight, and I literally was falling asleep at work (I"m an RN), and I had every side effect of Topamax, including weight loss, altered taste, nausea, dry heaving, and the last was INSOMNIA.

[kannese]

I also have fibromyalgia and my PCP put me on Lyrica about a month and 1/2 ago.  I too put on weight and not only did I have problems with fatigue secondary to the fibro, but the Lyrica made it even worse.  I hope this epidural works--the MD has me off for a month!  How did the epidural make everything worse?  How has the fusion limited you in daily living?  

[jenntanis]

I had the epidural last July, and after I had the epidural, my pain increased.  I told my physical therapists that I shouldn't have even bothered.  I was hoping that one last shot would get me over the hump.  They will only let you get three shots a year, and that was my last one for the year.  The reason that they chose an epidural for my last shot as opposed to another block was because I had a large black and blue on my back for longer than the shot actually worked.  

My fusion has totally reduced my pain, and I am now off all of my pain meds except Tylenol Arthritis twice a day.  For the first few days, I was pretty much only doing stairs when I had to, and just walking gingerly around the house.  I was not allowed to bend at all, and had to learn to use a few assistive devices.  I am now doing PT twice a week, and am able to bend some of the way.  I also try to take a walk every day, since walking helps strengthen muscles in my legs and my abdomen.  I have been walking almost once a day since 5 weeks after surgery.

With a cervical fusion, sometimes they make you wear a collar, sometimes not.  It depends on the doctor and how extensive the fusion is.  They usually recommend not lifting more than a gallon of milk (about 5-10 lbs) for the first few weeks, and they also recommend walking as a great exercise.  Today is my first day back to work, and I have a sit down job, so I need to schedule walking breaks every 60-90 minutes.

[richmill1]

the epidural will suffuse as many as 5 discs..results may take a week..few people get relief with the first shot..try at least 2..you may need fusion surgery..it is not rocket science, they are quite routine..I played golf 6 weeks post op..good luck