Lumbar, Steroid Injection L4

hello everyone...  I just wanted to post my experience from this afternoons visit to the Spine Clinic.  Long story short...  I herniated my L5 at S1 in January of this year and I had a Discectomy in February.  The herniation was larger than normal and very painful.  I have been through all of the tests, MRI's, doctors visits and everything else that goes along with this scenario.  

I am still having re-ocurring back pain so we decided to have the steroid shots.  WHAT A MISTAKE...  At least it was for me.  They overshot the epideral area and stuffed the needle into my spinal column which released the spinal fluid.  All I can say is OUCH!  My back feels like it did 3 months ago.  They could not do the injection due to the spinal fluid leak.  I was prescribed floricet for my upcoming spinal headache which has not yet started and hopefully wont.  

I was given the choice to have another shot done "plan B" through the hole in your spine about 1/2" below the top of the butt crack.  Ummmm... I think I'll pass.  I don't discredit the doctors because typically this shot is done BEFORE a discecotmy and not after because of the scar tissue that results from the surgery.  They explained the risk and I signed the paper.  Even though it happens to only 0.5% of the people who have the shot, I was one of them.  

It just shows me to not have as much faith in these procedures as I think I should.  My answer to the next question about another shot will be a very polite... "no thank you".  That's it!

Trout

[WelcomeToChaos]

Been there, done that.  2 back surgeries, L5 S1, on round 6 or 7 of transforaminal steroid injections (from the side) and because of scar tissue from the microdiscectomy/hemi-laminectomy and SI (sacro-iliac) injections with the big x-ray machine but they actually seem to be helping slowly but surely, been through physical therapy countless times, an electrical portable tens unit, spinal headaches from messed up epidurals... I feel your pain.  I'm still trying though b/c I'm trying to avoid the 3rd surgery which is "disc fusion" - NO THANKS.  Your post was a while ago so not sure if you're still out there.  My surgeries were Jan and Apr of '07.  Interested to see how your pain is now if you're still posting.

Chaos