ESI

[Guest guest]

I had yet another injection in my back today. This time not for the

RSD/CRPS , but for the pain I am having at another level in my back.

I can't help but wonder if this will ever end.

I have so much compassion for anyone who has to suffer with this

horrible monster(chronic pain). I am not at the point yet that I can

accept this as my life. I still want my life back. And I am going to

remain hopeful if it kills me, but dang I am still having some pretty

down days in the meantime. I am emotional by nature. But I think I am

keeping kleenex in business.

Can't post much now. Gotta go.

Take care,

Katrina :-)

[Guest guest]

It ds for Epidural Spinal Injections!! MXMmm <mxmmm@...> wrote: Very new here as mom was diagnosed with SS about 10 days ago. Right now we are managing the pain via morphine and finding the correct dosage, she is 76 so I doubt we will have to worry about addictions. Regardless, I can go on about what we have experienced for the last 10 days but wont. Very curious as to

what ESI stands for.thank you.>> Stan, how bad was your pain before you had the surgery? Did> yours come on gradually like I've read it usually does? > Mine came on very quickly, almost overnight. Had a hard> time getting my PCP to take me seriously. He gave me> Vicodin and let's wait for six weeks and then let's wait> another six weeks.....but I finally got him to do an MRI> when it had been over 3 months. I tried chirpractory, with> minimal results. I knew a neurosurgeon so I went to him and> he wanted a myleogram, which took 2 1/2 weeks to get in to> have done. By then I was in serious pain and using a cane> to walk. He diagnosed SS and arthritis said he felt I would> need surgery, but to put it off if I could. Within another> week I was in

such serious pain back, hip, upper leg, lower> leg and into the foot that I could not stop sobbing when I'd> get up and missed a week of work. I was able to get into> pain management and get an ESI that week. The ESI took> about 5 weeks to take effect, but it gave me a lot of relief> for about a month. I started working with a physical> therapist after the ESI took over and she a serious forward> located pelvic bone. It took about 3 weeks to get it fully> corrected and by then I was back into serious pain and she> is saying she sees no alternative but surgery. I had> another ESI late last week, but it has not taken effect yet.> > 18 months after the surgery you say you are fully> functional. How long after the surgery before you were able> to start living normally? I've not done much since December> and feel I am already so out

of shape. PT did finally get> me started on some light exercise, but I'm frustrated at my> inability to do anything. I'm 68 and have had back issues> for 20+ years, but this kind of back problem. My back is> riddled with SS (particularly bad at L4/L5), arthritic> growths and a L3/L4 spondylothisthesis.> > I am beginning to worry about permanent nerve damage, so> will probably agree to the surgery. BTW, how old are you,> Stan?> > I'm a fairly new member, but have just been lurking. Any> feedback will be appreciated.> > Sandi> > > >> > In a message dated 5/13/2006 12:17:45 P.M. Eastern> > Daylight Time, pilgrim900@... writes:> >> > Thanks for responding, Stan.> >> > I assume, since you're part of this group, that you too> > suffer

from SS? Is the neuropathy cause by the SS or do> > have additional pain caused by SS. If so, does the> > Lyrica help that additional pain?> >> > Pat in Pittsburgh, PA> >> >> >> > Hi Pat:> > I used to have SS. I had surgery about 18 months ago> > called a "standard laminectomy without fusion" and it> > went beautifully. I no longer have SS. My SS is not> > the cause of my neuropathy but for others it could be. I> > have no pain now from SS. I have tingling in my feet> > from the sensory neuropathy which was due to my taking> > Valium for 31 yrs and then having to get off of it as it> > wasn't working any longer. That is my opinion and not an> > opinion of any doctor,

but, what do doctors know> > anyway??? Quite a little. The Lyrica helps me with the> > tingling sensations.> >> > Best> > Stan> >>

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[Guest guest]

Actually, it stands for Epidural Steroid Injections. I've had two rounds of them (3 injections each). The first round was almost two years ago and was very effective for about a year. The second round was just a couple months ago and was a lot less effective. I had a terrible incident last week with a severe muscle spasm in the back of my head/top of my neck. The pain was incredible, the lightest touch was unbearable. The area swelled up and kept spreading. I lost sensation and partial movement in my left arm. That came back overnight, but happened again for short periods a few times over the next few days. It was so bad on the second day that I went to the ER. The ER doc took virtually no time to say it was a muscle spasm. Apparently it was obvious. He asked me if I had a pinched nerve in my neck and I told him I have cervical spinal stenosis. He said that's

what caused it. I hadn't done anything or injured myself in any way before it started. I got tons of drugs (pain, muscle relaxers, and steroids) and it went away gradually over the next 8 days. Now it's back for new MRIs and off to see the neurosurgeon again. Has anybody had a spasm that bad before? I get spasms frequently, but they are not like this. Until the doc told me, I had no idea what was going on. I'm concerned that it might indicate permanent nerve damage, especially with the loss of sensation and movement in my left arm. Anyone know anything about this? Thanks. Ann Bell <nachobaby2@...> wrote: Hello, This stands for Epidural spinal injections. I have had Spinal Stenosis for 11 years

now. I had those injections, but they did not take away the pain one little bit. It was a waste of time. I have so much pain in my back and legs I can barely walk. They wanted to put metal and screws in my lowe back. but I am so afraid of that. I just can't seem to make myself do it. I am 71 years old and I just get so angry sometimes because the only time I am free from pain is when I am asleep. I hope you can find some answers, because this is a bad horrible thing to have. God Bless Ann nachobaby2@... MXMmm <mxmmm@...> wrote: Very new here as mom was diagnosed with SS about 10 days ago. Right now we are managing the pain via morphine and finding the correct dosage, she is 76 so I doubt we will have to worry about addictions. Regardless, I can go on about what we have experienced for the last 10 days but wont. Very curious as to what ESI stands for.thank you.>> Stan, how bad was your pain before you had the surgery? Did> yours come on gradually like I've read it usually does? > Mine came on very quickly, almost overnight. Had a hard> time getting my PCP to take me

seriously. He gave me> Vicodin and let's wait for six weeks and then let's wait> another six weeks.....but I finally got him to do an MRI> when it had been over 3 months. I tried chirpractory, with> minimal results. I knew a neurosurgeon so I went to him and> he wanted a myleogram, which took 2 1/2 weeks to get in to> have done. By then I was in serious pain and using a cane> to walk. He diagnosed SS and arthritis said he felt I would> need surgery, but to put it off if I could. Within another> week I was in such serious pain back, hip, upper leg, lower> leg and into the foot that I could not stop sobbing when I'd> get up and missed a week of work. I was able to get into> pain management and get an ESI that week. The ESI took> about 5 weeks to take effect, but it gave me a lot of relief> for about a month. I started working

with a physical> therapist after the ESI took over and she a serious forward> located pelvic bone. It took about 3 weeks to get it fully> corrected and by then I was back into serious pain and she> is saying she sees no alternative but surgery. I had> another ESI late last week, but it has not taken effect yet.> > 18 months after the surgery you say you are fully> functional. How long after the surgery before you were able> to start living normally? I've not done much since December> and feel I am already so out of shape. PT did finally get> me started on some light exercise, but I'm frustrated at my> inability to do anything. I'm 68 and have had back issues> for 20+ years, but this kind of back problem. My back is> riddled with SS (particularly bad at L4/L5), arthritic> growths and a L3/L4 spondylothisthesis.> > I

am beginning to worry about permanent nerve damage, so> will probably agree to the surgery. BTW, how old are you,> Stan?> > I'm a fairly new member, but have just been lurking. Any> feedback will be appreciated.> > Sandi> > > >> > In a message dated 5/13/2006 12:17:45 P.M. Eastern> > Daylight Time, pilgrim900@... writes:> >> > Thanks for responding, Stan.> >> > I assume, since you're part of this group, that you too> > suffer from SS? Is the neuropathy cause by the SS or do> > have additional pain caused by SS. If so, does the> > Lyrica help that additional pain?> >> > Pat in Pittsburgh, PA> >> >> >> > Hi Pat:> > I used to have SS. I had surgery about 18 months ago>

> called a "standard laminectomy without fusion" and it> > went beautifully. I no longer have SS. My SS is not> > the cause of my neuropathy but for others it could be. I> > have no pain now from SS. I have tingling in my feet> > from the sensory neuropathy which was due to my taking> > Valium for 31 yrs and then having to get off of it as it> > wasn't working any longer. That is my opinion and not an> > opinion of any doctor, but, what do doctors know> > anyway??? Quite a little. The Lyrica helps me with the> > tingling sensations.> >> > Best> > Stan> >>

[Guest guest]

,

I also have cervical spinal stenosis. I have tried to avoid ESI

at all cost because it freaks me out! I recently completed 2 months of

physical therapy and had much better results than I had expected. I

started the therapy due to a terrible muscle spasm. I addition to

teaching me some useful exercises, ultrasound therapy and ice, they

used neck traction 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The neck traction has

done a world of good for me. I am now awaiting a home neck traction

device which is supposed to provide the same sort of relief at home. I

am hopeful but just have to wait and see.

Fortunately for me, most of the time, my stenosis causes numbness,

not pain but when a period of pain kicks in, it can be severe.

Jo