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