Finally got my lumbar epidural! | Arthritis Information

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And it's about time!  After postponing at least 3 times due to the never-ending sinus infection, I finally got it 2 hours ago.  I was very nervous because this doctor does them while you're awake, as opposed to the cervical epidural I had years ago under anesthesia.

 
I have been panicking about it for awhile now.  Needles don't normally bother me, but the doc said it would hurt and the area is already bad from various stages of herniation in L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1.  But it wasn't as bad as I thought (figured it couldn't be).  More like going to the dentist...two needles to numb you, then some twinges as they position the needles for the epidural. The worst part was lying on my stomach for half an hour...the back don't like that, nor the neck.
 
But it's all done and I'm fine, other than some new (temporary) twinges from time to time.  So now here's hoping it does some good already....
Suzanne, I hope that this helps you.  You've been through a lot and you need some relief.  Take it easy this evening.  LindyWOOHOO!!
We want video of the backflips! Hope it helps and you're feeling a bit better.
I don't think I could do something like that...I'm such a big baby.Glow, I really hope you get some relief.  Maybe we can all go in on the budget plan ......Shall I say next please
Hopefully, it well lessen the pain.   I also have a herniated disc at L4-L5.  I had my first epidural this past November.  I really dreaded the whole idea.  It definately was not as bad as I thought it would be.  I still have pain, but the intensity is much less and I do not wake up with back/leg pain in the middle of the night (unless it is from the RA).  My doc says I can have up to 3 epidurals a year.  Do not hesitate to go back if your pain intensifies again.  It is bad enough to have to live with the RA, you certainly do not need sciatica to go along with it.  Good Luck!Thanks for all the good thoughts.
 
I've actually had very little sciatica, believe it or not.  What I do have is stabbing pain in my lower back and sacro-iliac (SI) joints that makes standing or walking for more than a minute or two terribly painful (even with all my pain meds).  Also my SI joints keep moving out of place, so my left leg "shortens up" making my walking even worse.  Oddly enough, occasionally I have sciatica-like symptoms, but not in my sciatic nerve, rather in my femoral one, which is more related to the SI joints.  Even those have largely disappeared after upping my Lyrica dosage.
 
Anyway, I'm really hoping this will at least improve my standing and walking, at least to do some occasional shopping without hanging on to the cart and my husband for dear life. Hi Boney....is that a clown??? I agree, mine is too. heeee....heee                                          
Hope you're having a good day.                                        
Hi Jeanie, and welcome.  I know some people on here have had nerve studies, but you might want to post a new topic so they see that in the subject line.
 
Boney, there are no dumb questions!  An epidural is an injection into the dura, the outermost layer surrounding the spinal cord.  For childbirth, an epidural can be given as anesthesia.  For degenerated discs, such as mine, an epidural is often given with a high dose of steroids, such as prednisone.  This helps to ease the inflammation right at the source of the pain.  They use x-rays to guide them to the right spot.
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