NEEDLE in my lower back ??????!

I have had 6 shots in my back!. They didn't help me at all!. I started out with a rupture disc L4-L5!. Physical therapy didn't work and they moved right on to surgery!. I had a partial Laminectomy and it worked!. I went back to work early and created more problems!. I now need a fusion which the dr didn't want to do in the 1st surgery b/c i was "too young"!. BTW, I'm only 24!!!
Good luck to you!Www@Answer-Health@Com

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I know a guy, who has the injections done, due to horrible back pain!.(he was in an accident)
It is a nerve block, same freezing used, the one the dentist does a block freezing:i think its lidocain or xilocain!.
Otherwise,he is in horrible, constant pain, or take narcotic type pain killers(pills)!.
I believe that you are young!.
Degenerative disc disease strikes middle aged people!.
My dog just had surgery 3-4weeks ago!.
Is the bulging disc in the low back!?
Why don't the Dr send you to a neurologist, have it removed!?
Do you have other discs that are bulging!?
You had an MRI!?
Cortisone has side effects:my father used to take it(for a skin disorder),now, he has severe osteoporosis(yes, you lose some bone density)Www@Answer-Health@Com

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Your doctor knows what he is doing! The reason this shot
is moved is they are covering all areas where you have indicated you have pain!. I have worn facet joints on both sides and I end up limping when one or the other one is
irritated!. You have my sympathies! It is tough to be so young and have these problems but it is better to be conservative ie shots instead of having to have the full ut surgery!. I just
had cortizone shots in my knee which has very advanced arthritis and I can't believe how much better it is!. I am sure it will help you a lot!. Good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com

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Hello I'm sorry to hear that your having to go through all of that back pain !.I know it's not a fun way to live!. I really hope those shot's work out for you!.They didn't help me for very long!. My first back surgery was in 1989!. I was only 27 at the time!.I had a bulging disc at L 5 S1 & they trimed the disc at that time!.Then in 1997 I had all kind's of back problems!.I had to have fusion cages & a fusion done at L4 5 S1!.Sence that time I've had 3 more surgeries!. Stay away from having any surgery if you can!. May God be with you!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

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I'm with you!!! I have arth!. in my spine & on Mon!. am going for my 3rd epidural!. I don't know what "mixes" he uses, but I go to a pain mgt!. Dr!. I had one almst a yr!. ago that worked fantastic!. Had one 10 mons!. later, about a month ago, which only lasted for a wk!. Now I'm going again on Mon!. for my 3rd one!. IF that does NOT work, my RN daughter just gave me the name of a specialist in Arth!. across from Underwood Hosp!. who just won an award for being the best in her field!. So if this isn't successful, I'm going to go see her!. Her Drs!. also go only to her as they say she is THE BEST OF THE BEST! I so well know what you mean about pain, am on pain meds!. or would not be able to even walk period!. I don't know what to tell you about your shot, I just leave that to the Dr!. to know he "must" know what's best, but I too well know they don't always work!.!.!.Good luck to you, but w/your discs, I'd honestly ck!. out Rothman Institute!. You have nothing to loose, everything to gain!.!.!.Take care!.!.!.:)Www@Answer-Health@Com

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The facet joint block is both a test and a type of treatment!. A local anesthetic medication-such as lidocaine or Novocain-is injected into the facet joint or the small nerve branches going to the facet joint!. This same type of medication is used by a dentist to numb your jaw or by a doctor to sew up a laceration!. The lidocaine numbs the area around the facet joint!. If your pain goes away, the doctor can assume that the facet joint is contributing to the problem!. Like other joints in the body, facet joints can cause pain if they are irritated or inflamed!. The facet joint block is used in what is called a "therapeutic trial!." This means that when the test is done, it should relieve your symptoms if the problem is from the structure being treated!. For example, medication injected into the joint during a facet joint block should numb the spot and take pain away!. Cortisone is sometimes used with the anesthetic to decrease inflammation in the joint and give relief for several weeks or months!. The relief is usually temporary!. You will probably be given medication to help you relax, along with a local anesthetic around the area of the back where the test will be performed!. A long needle is inserted into the center of the facet joint or next to the small nerve branches that go to the joint!. The needle is inserted from the back!. The doctor watches on a fluoroscope as the needle is inserted to make sure it goes to the right spot!. The fluoroscope is a special X-ray TV that allows the doctor to see your spine and the needle as it moves!. Once the needle is in the facet joint or next to the nerve branch, a combination of anesthetic and cortisone is injected!. A facet joint block only shows how your symptoms react to the injection!. But it does help doctors clarify the diagnosis and choose the best way to procede with other treatment!. If you don't understand why the doctor has recommending this treatment, then you need to ask him to explain more clearly before you sign the consent form to have it done!. It's not a question of another shot, because there are not really any other ways to determine exactly which nerve or nerves are responsible for your problem, or if the problem lies in that particular facet joint!. Make a list of your questions and put them to the doctor before you sign the consent form, so you fully understand what and why this is what the doctor thinks needs to be done!. If you understand and agree, sign and have it done!. If you don't, then don't sign!. However, if you don't sign and have it done, it may hamper your doctor's ability to treat you and your back pain adequately!. So ask what will happen if you don't have it done, as well!. Since you had good relief with the cortisone, chances are good that the test will let them pinpoint the exact source of the problem, and future injections can be put directly where they will do the most good!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

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