Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips Epidural Injection in spine, anyone?

Has anyone had an epidural injection/steroidal treatment before?
I am scheduled to have this done but I am wondering how I can mentally prepare myself and inquire about what to expect.

Thank you

I've had several, both in a procedure room under fluoro and in the office. Pain doc is also anesthesiologist, so she could hit an epidural in lumbar without guidance.

In any case, you are probably going to do it in a procedure room, so that's what I'll go with. Checked in just fine, got an IV in hand so they could give the good meds. Face down on table with a C-arm fluoro positioned to give views to the doc. Got Versed and Fentanyl. Doc cleaned off the skin, did a few injections of lidocaine and steroid into the proper spot (using guidance from C-arm), then put a little bandaid on it and I was off to recovery. Whole thing took maybe 1.5 hrs because of it being a hospital. Afterwards, I spent the rest of the day off work, resting....but this was due to the meds given by IV, not because of the injection itself. You sign a release to not make important decisions for 24-hrs. SI injections worked the same way in hospital procedure room. I've had them done in all 3 levels of spine: Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar, plus SI. So, lots of experience.

In the office version, she cleaned it off, injected the med, put a bandaid on it and I went off to work. Same thing for an SI injection. She will only do lumbar and SI in the office without guidance. The lumbar ones worked great. SI was less effective in the office than under fluoro, in my experience. But it was better than nothing. It made the difference between misery and fairly comfortable.

As for efficacy: All worked just the way they should. No complaints. My doc is VERY good.

Good luck and hope this helped you.

Thank you rumble, I appreciate the detailed experience you have had!! Today, it was decided I trial another anti TNF medication before going through with the injections. I tried Humira without any benefits at all. Now, they are thinking Enbrel or Remicade. Have you gone down the anti TNF meds road before?

Thanks again.
Paul

Hi I have had a few. I took a Marijuana laced candy before my last procedure. One of my other problems is tightening of my body, I have an impingment somewhere on my right side causing pain to go down my shoulder and arm so C5/C6 was the target area. I have had epidurals work and not work. My last shot was called a nerve block shot they use an xray to find the right place and injected cortisone. I don't know what the difference is, maybe just a gentler name.

I'm on Remicade and it keeps me from getting Uveitis. I had back injections done and some Rhizotomies that helped even more. Hope they find what works for you.