• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

cervical epidural injection?

shadowtippy

shadowtippy

Mar 13, 2009
944
18,621
Lake Charles, La.
#1
I am having this done on Monday. There is an inflamation along my spine from c7 to c3 that is causing pain from my neck to my lrft hand. I hope this procedure gives me some relief. I take hydrocodone for the pain but it does not do much except give me a pretty good buzz. It doesn't alleviate the pain at all. Has anyone had this procedure and did it help?
 
#2
You may be asking the wrong people, unless of course we have a bass playing doctor in the house that is. But then again maybe someone has had this procedure done.
Maybe you will get a proper answer, I would do more research elsewhere to make a proper decision.
Good luck!

So now I am left wondering:
Where is the best epideral injection location for metal?!?!?
 
#3
Rich McCoy said:
You may be asking the wrong people, unless of course we have a bass playing doctor in the house that is. But then again maybe someone has had this procedure done.
Maybe you will get a proper answer, I would do more research elsewhere to make a proper decision.
Good luck!

So now I am left wondering:
Where is the best epideral injection location for metal?!?!?
Click to expand...
Behind the titanium plate at c5-c6 in my neck.
 
#7
Epidural steroid injections have varying degrees of relief for different people. I have had them for lower back pain in the past. My relief lasted about three weeks. Essentially it's Band-Aid therapy, not intended to affect a cure. That said, there are additional things you can do for yourself to assist with your pain issues.

Number one is losing weight. Even for cervical spine issues, if you're carrying excess poundage, losing weight will help- ALOT. Working out and exercising is also a fantastic way to affect long term relief. The stronger your muscles are, the more easily they bear the weight of your own body. This is true of anyone at any weight range. Neurostimulation is another pain relief option, either via an external TENS unit, or via implantable neurostim transmitters that a doctor would surgically implant to provide you with low level electrical stimulation to various nerve points in order to block the pain. Have you also considered chiropractic treatments? I've used chiro to good effect when having episodes of acute pain my my back. Last and certainly least attractive option is full blown surgery.
 
#8
Can I get a number in the club too? Had L4-5 issues and an epidural steroid injection in late 2010. It gave me some relief for a few months, but there was more going on than just inflammation (disk debris from old injuries and bone spurring) so ultimately it didn't fix the problem. Despite that and giving alternative therapies a good try, I eventually had surgery and a good outcome.

How well an individual will do with steroid therapy depends a lot on the underlying pathology. Many herniations with swelling and inflammation can and do settle down over time, and the injections can bring your symptoms under control while your body has time to heal. The downside risks are pretty low, but I'm not a fan of using it as any kind of maintenance therapy. If it doesn't work, you still have more invasive (like surgical) options on the table.

Weight control, physotherapy (PT), tincture of time, icing. My day job is as an acupuncturist; that's likely to help too, but ultimately it's up to how well your disks manage to heal themselves. Good luck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: shadowtippy
#9
Thanks for the input. Weight loss is not an option for me. I would have to gain weight to be slender. (6 feet tall, 135 pounds) The inflammation is possibly resulting from a disc replacement about 10 years ago. No movement between c5 c6 could be causing the other vertebra to "over work" causing stress. I hope the injection will some relief. I hurt about 80% of the time, anything from minor discomfort to not being able to use my left arm at all. (That makes playing bass interesting.)
 
#10
Rich McCoy said:
You may be asking the wrong people, unless of course we have a bass playing doctor in the house that is. But then again maybe someone has had this procedure done.
Maybe you will get a proper answer, I would do more research elsewhere to make a proper decision.
Good luck!

So now I am left wondering:
Where is the best injection location for metal?!?!?
Click to expand...

Fixed it for you. And I think it's a good ol' fashioned injection of mercury ;)
 
#12
I've had years of low back problems. I had an epidural injection twice which did nothing. I had facet injections twice which did nothing. I then had sacroiliac injections which are like a miracle for me. I need to get them about every 2 years or so (that's longer than they are supposed to last), and I'm a new man. I've lost weight, and am even running now.
 
#13
Man whenever I read about these things I realize how fortunate I have been. I have a c7 issue that caused constant pain and burning in my left hand, but the chiro, conservative treatment and respecting my limitations has done wonders.
I also have a thoracic and lumbar blowout and lots of arthritis, but not crippled or disabled, thankfully.
My goal is just to keep it from getting worse. I met a guy the other day who has had 2 fusions done on his neck. He said he literally could hardly use his arms.
Hope it does the trick shadow.
 
#14
shadowtippy said:
Thanks for the input. Weight loss is not an option for me. I would have to gain weight to be slender. (6 feet tall, 135 pounds) The inflammation is possibly resulting from a disc replacement about 10 years ago. No movement between c5 c6 could be causing the other vertebra to "over work" causing stress. I hope the injection will some relief. I hurt about 80% of the time, anything from minor discomfort to not being able to use my left arm at all. (That makes playing bass interesting.)
Click to expand...
Hope the injection works out.
 
#15
Yes. I had this procedure a year ago due to a bulged disc. In my case it did not help but everyone is different. I don't know what your other options are but go with the least invasive obviously and work backwards.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back