Exercise R Us

Question:

  Hello,   I had my first epidural , last week on tuesday.  It went well and after about two or three days, I experienced a reduction in pain of about 25 percent. (its hard to be exact) but something definately was acting positively on my pain. I was quite please.  On going back to the clinic this monday, they were pleased and scheduled me for another epidural for the next day(this past tuesday)     This one was a little more difficult, and do not know its effectiveness yet, since I think its too soon to tell.     However,   I have heard on this newsgroup, that the injections are usually given two weeks apart.  So I wasnt expecting to have another one 7 days apart.    I asked the doc about it,  and he said that from his experience, that if a patient shows sign of relief it is better to piggy back them closer together, to get a maximum effect.  Does anyone out there know about this.     I went with what the doc said, since It was wonderful to find some relief, no matter how short or long it will be for.     I go see him again monday,  where they will make another determination what they will do.  They said I hopefull might be well enough to start physical thereapy. They seem to have a large well coordinated one on premises, that seems a lot more modern than the ones I have seen.  They are thinking about putting me on the hydro mill.  A treadmill thats sub mersed in water, so I can utilize my lower back , hip, and legs, withough the entire weight of my body to bear.                                        Any comments,    Jerry

Response:

Hi Jerry I had 3 epidurals, each 1 week apart, back in Aug.  The first one did nothing, the ssecond was great.  The difference in the pain was like day and night.  It also confirmed that I wasn’t faking the pain as some people thought I was.  Unforunatly the relif lasted only 4-5 days.  The third one, the relif was about 2 weeks. I had another epidural, with stronger meds, the first week of Dec.  I was hoping I’d be out of pain long enough to do all the holiday stuff.  So much for that idea,  the pain came back worse then ever.  Part of the reason was because before they did the epidural they injected dye into my neck to judge the full extent of the injury and told me there was nothing else they could do for me and I could look forward to a life-time of pain.  That made me even more depressed then I was. I hope yours go better. Mary

Response:

Mary, Why in the HELL do you have to settle for a life in agonizing pain? Just because the epidural didn’t work (and  I personally have stayed away from them because I have heard of either no effect or for such a limited time) and because that is all those people at that facility know how to do.  That is just plain CRAP.  Have these idiots kept abreast OF ANY CURRENT PAIN RESEARCH SO THEY WOULD KNOW OF OPIOID MEDICATION???? I have had my excructiating neuropathic arm pain relieved just about totally since 3-95 with opioids (first Percocet/Methadone combination and now MS Contin-morphine). MARY, PLEASE DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM AND FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR.  YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE IN PAIN, just because their method didn’t work long term. Blondie Lou

Response:

>  Hello,   I had my first epidural , last week on tuesday.  It went well and >after about two or three days, I experienced a reduction in pain of about 25 >percent. (its hard to be exact) but something definately was acting positively >on my pain. I was quite please.  On going back to the clinic this monday, they >were pleased and scheduled me for another epidural for the next day(this past >tuesday) >    This one was a little more difficult, and do not know its effectiveness >yet, since I think its too soon to tell. >    However,   I have heard on this newsgroup, that the injections are usually >given two weeks apart.  So I wasnt expecting to have another one 7 days apart. >   I asked the doc about it,  and he said that from his experience, that if a >patient shows sign of relief it is better to piggy back them closer together, >to get a maximum effect.  Does anyone out there know about this.

I’ve had several of these within a year and my doc also said I could have a second injection within two weeks of the first.  Once the pain cycle is broken, the second shot may last longer and allow the patient to start exercises and PT without so much pain. My last one was about a week ago and the pain relief from lower back OA and sciatica has been dramatic.  I haven’t felt this good for many months.  I hope it lasts and if not, I’ll get another injection. Bob Engelbardt Kailua, Hawaii http://home1.gte.net/bobengel/

Response: