pain clinic and lower back injections

August 16, 2005

I have my first appointment at the pain clinic this coming Thursday. My doctor

mentioned shots. I'm going to have to think long and hard before I decide on

anything. There has to be other options first. I'm

also going to have to discuss work with the doctor.

August 16, 2005

,

Don't stress over the pain clinic issue. Remember, you are going there

to get help for YOU. As for injections in the lower back, well, I had

these in 2 different forms, but I had these for a specific back

problem, unrelated to CMT. First I had a series of 3 epidural steroid

injections that did nothing for the pain. That was done on a outpatient

basis at a hospital in Los Angeles by an anethesiologist trained in

pain management.

Then at UCLA, I had 3 subcutaneous (just under the skin) injections of

Embrel. This was on an experimental basis, since the researchers were

trying to see if Embrel would help the specific pain of disc

herniation. The first injection gave me 15 hours of total relief. Not

much more for #2 and #3.

There are many ways of managing pain. I hope the clinic you go to is

helpful for you.

~ Gretchen

August 16, 2005

Gretchen,

I appreciate the information. I'm paranoid about new doctors and procedures. I

had a car wreck two years ago and received injections for a ruptured disk in my

neck. Six months later and several trips to a

different doctor I was informed via the local newspaper the person giving me

injections wasn't a doctor. He is now in jail. You seem so optimistic about

everything. What is your secret?

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