Injections

[FloridaSunshine]

I have lower back pain and buttocks pretty much all time. I think I have Fibromyalgia also.
I had 2 yrs of PT, made me worse.  I cannot work like this.  I finally went to spine specialist he said I needed no surgery, just injections.  I have DDD in L4-S1 and I guess Oarthritis, when I am the least bit active I am in worse pain.  I am afraid of steroids injections, as I had them in my feet for heel pain and had anxiety for 6mos to follow.  I cannot sit , stand or walk for very long or pain gets worse.
Any suggestions.

Thanks

[faithchris]

You could try to avoid any activity that causes pain but if you are like me that will be impossible I had pain 24/7.  I do however like the facet injections that numb the area or it is called Radio Frequency Abulation to the nerves and it is good for a life time for some for me it was almost 3 years.  The pain was not completely gone but it helped tremedously. I believe the only drug involved is a numbing to see if it is the right nerve and also a pain injection before the procedure( I could be wrong).  It is simple and wonderful if you are in the pain you say you are in.  No one can know what your pain tolerance that is a personal area all together.  No one feels pain the same.  I know when I had the shots it was amazingly wonderful the difference.  Now, it does not mean you can overdo it either, remember you are injured (in a way) and have to protect that injury.  
I disagree with Mike 1105 sorry Mike but when you have DDD you are losing the valuable cushioning between the discs and it could cause a lot of pain(rough edges around the bone, pieces of bone touching the nerve) MRI's are great but they don't see all.  I would like to try the sitting MRI that shows more of what it looks like when compacted.  I agree with you on steriods they don't work very well on some people and yet others have a wonderful turn out.

[mike1105]

get book on posture by Paul D'Arezzo and abook called "fixing your back pain without drugs or surgery" also "the Ab Revolution" by Jolie Bookspan, who also has a great website. most back pain is postural. practically everyone has DDD and spondylosis (arthritic changes) in the spine. surgery not indicaed uness there is weakness/loss of fuction-- which you do not have apparently. i'd even go out on a limb and say your pain prpbably has nothing to do with MRI or xray findings and everything to do with core strength, posture (pelvic balance) weight, etc.