Facet Joint and Epidual injections

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Hi!  I have been in hospital with two slipped discs, and I had Facet joint & Epidual injections.  

I was wondering how long until I get back to being normal like being able to do activities.  I don't get no pain when I stand up in the day but the evening I can't even stand on it, can't straightened my leg as its agony.  When is this going to settle down.
Thanks.

[giveitback]

I understand what you describe. Sometimes I can sit painfree but standing is difficult, but most of the time it is the other way around. This is something that confusing me as well.

I woke up in extreme pain this morning, had to pop my first pill at 7am - my three days are up just like clockwork. The weakness has returned  : (

I checked out that pain gone pen, I would be zapping that sucker nonstop LOL  It says it is good for 100,000 clicks...that ought to get me through one day...ha ha.  Seriously though, I would be willing to try anything and that idea is not that far fetched. I have found relief at times through TNS units. These are devices that deliver tiny electrical stimulation. They can be rented by doctor's approval & used at home.

Yeah, I can't seem to get rid of the burning lower back pain ever - it is very annoyiing. Do you feel relief from your injections yet? Also, do you find a warm shower helps alleviate some pain? Does the water hitting your skin hurt? Do you use a heating pad daily? Sorry for the questions, I am interested in how you feel and what works.

Thanks for your support as well  : )

Elaina

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sorry made a mistake I said when I'm bent over I can sit down with not alot of pain.  I put can't.  Silly me.

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Hi!  I don't mind the questions not to sure I can answer them, I just touched my facet joint it did hurt and its sore if I touched harder I think I would want to cry but not loads of pain.  I haven't got the thigh pain like I did but it still spasms and my lower back on my bottom hurts a burning pain, I think that pain is worse now.  Its strange when I can stand up straight I can't sit down with the pain, but when I'm bent over and can't stand up straight because my leg won't straighten up I can't sit down with no pain. There is some weekness there when I can't stand.  Strange I know.

I don't know if they do EMG here I'm live in England, I think your country are more advanced then England. We are a bit behind.

I just seen a leaflet about a Pain Gone its a fat ball point pen.  It works by controlling elctronic frequency straight to the point of pain.  I was thinking of buying it.  The web address is www.tower-health.co.uk have a look and tell me what you think.

Claire
Thank you for you support I appreciate it.
x

[giveitback]

HI -

I don't mind the questions. An EMG is a nerve conduction test. Electrodes are placed on different areas of your body and then you are "shocked"...the idea is to measure the nerve's speed (it's reaction to the muscle) something like that. Anyway, the test will show exactly what nerves are pinched, if I have nerve damage, and how bad my facet joints are.  I live in California, don't know if you have this sort of option where you are.

I have heard of doctors touching your nerves/muscles while doing surgery (you are only on a local anesthetic) and if you feel relief when they push the right nerve out of the way they know they are on the right spot. Not completely sure if I am saying that right, but it's something along those lines. They also have these implantable devices that keep the pain at bay. I don't know if I am a candidate for that.

I have good days because I am literally down for a couple weeks in bed. I take the antiinflammatories and painkillers and feel that makes me stronger some how. Then I am able to have 1-2-3 days tops doing functional activities. Three has been the maximum days of feeling decent. I guess when I am moving around I am irritating my nerves/muscles/joints, etc. and for some reason my body can't handle it for long. For some reason, I have INCREDIBLE weakness when I stand or walk. The pills handle most of the pain, but NOTHING has helped with the weakness. I am a prisoner when my body is too weak to stand and I hate that!

And yes, I tell myself that I am down now, but it's not permanent, I will be up watering my garden in 10 days...you know, something stupid like that.

Try to make sure you stay on your antidepressants, if you are down without them, your body is trying to tell you that you need them, no? I am so sorry you are in so much pain, I totally feel for you. I almost feel guilty having a halfway decent day today. Yeah, everyday I MUST take painkillers to get me through the day, but today I am mobile.

Do you get WEAKNESS? Just crazy weakness that makes you immobile?  Does your inner thigh and pelvic area burn and hurt like hell? Is the big toe pain because of your sciatica?
If you touch your facet joints do they make you want to cry? Also, how did all this start? Hope you don't mind all MY questions! LOL

Chin up!
Elaina

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What is an EMG?  I am so fed up with the pain now. Can't stand up straight cause of my leg.  I have a pulling sensation on my toe a tingly feeling, which i've never had before.  I know I keep moaning about it, but it hurts.  When is it going to stop.  I ran out of my anti-depressents so I'm a little down.

I think they are basing it on the two mri scans I had even though the surgeon did some excercises with me and pressed my back he said did that hurt and where did it hurt and then he looked at other surgeon and said I think that's the facet joint.

I wish I remembered what they said but with everything going on, I can't remember.

It's strange why you get some days good, I wonder why, whats different? Is it a part of month that its better?, do you know when u are going to have that time, when your going to have that nice period. Do you think only two weeks of pain and then I can have a week without it, or does just come when it feels like it.

Sorry so many Questions.
claire.x

[giveitback]

Hi Claire,

I feel so bad for you having such a hard time. Seems like the shots were gonna give you some hope, and then it was snagged out from under you. That is terrible.  Please don't give up though, your kids really need their mom.

As far as me getting out, that is a joke!  I am basically stuck in bed for weeks at a time, and then when I am having a decent day, I take full advantage of it!  Of course, it comes with a price.

The EMG needles in my facet joint area were SOOOO painful. I will get the results on the 28th. I don't remember you saying, did you have an EMG as well or is all your treatments based on your MRIs?

I understand the embarassment you have. I get so sick and tired of having to rely on people for help and when I do go somewhere, I am so slow and ridiculous looking. I used to get looked at for my beauty, now I feel people are looking at me because I am practically crippled and it is humiliating.

Hang in there,

Elaina

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Hi  I rang up the nhs line because I couldn't sit down, and was going on hol the next day, I also said that I wasn't  weeing very good that I had to push it out the doc told me to come in straight away then she admitted me, I went in on the Thursday last week and had injections Monday and came out Tuesday.

Tonight I'm having a bad time sitting down hurts, sometimes when its like this I think whats the point, even on a good day, I can't sit on the settee or lie on my side in bed and I struggle to get on the bed but its going to be a slow process, the thing with me is I expect everything to better now i've had injections but it don't work like that.

I don't know how you manage to get out, in the hospital I was really embarassed because I couldn't get on the bed cause the pain really hurts and I can't help letting out a ahhhh.

Claire.x

[giveitback]

I am so happy you are having good days now, that is great! I hope it keeps up for you. I thought you must either be feeling much better and don't need to be on here anymore or you are much worse and can't physically be on here LOL.

The facet joint injections seem promising, they may be my next move. I am having an EMG done today.

I don't think the injections help the discs, I think it just numbs the area of pain with an antiinflamatory and that reduces the swelling around the disc BUT I AM NOT SURE, that is just what I THINK it does.  My reasoning is that many people have the slipped/bulging discs with no pain at all, those that have the pain also have the swelling around the discs. Again, another guess on my part.

And a 50/50 operation success rate is way too low!  It sounds like the injections may do the job for you - I hope they keep working.

I went to a graduation last week (had to double up on my pain meds to do it) - all that sitting took me a good week to recover from. I then had two decent days but last night at 2:45am, I was up in excruciating pain again....argh!!!  getting so old....I am thankful for the good days!

Cheers!

Elaina

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Hi!  I seem to be having some good days and some bad days like today its hard to walk but yesterday I could get up with no pain.  When I had it done the needles went in fine and thought this isn't to bad then the epidual went in the first and second one that was ok, but the third one wow that hurt, he said because it hurt it might work.

I spoke to the surgeon he said to give that a go first becase the operation is 50/50 and if it doesn't work you can't go back on it, and also its alot of risks.  He said I might have to have it anyway but try injections first, so I never went on my hols.  Never mind couldn't go with being in pain.

How r u.

I don't really know how they work, how does it help the slipped discs?

Thank you for your support.
Claire.

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I was wondering what happened to you. Are you ok?

Did the injections help with your facet pain? I heard if they are going to help in that area, you will feel immediate relief.

I am so sorry you are having such a hard time. I can't answer your question above, but am here if you need to talk about it.

Stay strong!

Cheers!
Elaina