very blessedmom, I know exactly what you are going through! I have a total of 6 herniated/bulging discs. They didn't give much trouble until 2 yrs ago. I was staying with my sister who had brain cancer, I was trying to lift her from a laying to sitting position, felt intense pain in lower back, left hip and down my leg. The pain progressed until there was absolutely no position for sitting, lieing, etc without the pain. I had x-rays, MRI's, pain pills, physical therapy....nothing helped.

I eventually had 2 epidural injections. The first one helped some but pain was still there. The 2nd one eased the pain but left my left foot numb and feeling weird. The doctors said it wasn't caused by the injection but from damage done to sciatic nerve from the herniation.

Now, I don't have the excruiating pain like before but still some pain when I try to stretch out in bed at night, takes a while to get to sleep, also lots of pain when I first get up each morning. The numbness in my left foot is still there, actually feels as if there's a huge lump on bottom of my foot, but there is no lump there!

All in all, the epidurals have helped me but there's days when I feel like the sciatic pain is about to flare up again.

Best of luck to you! Has the injection helped you? Do you plan to go for the 2nd one? I was told they usually give a series of 3 injections over a period of weeks.

Donna

Hi,

I have 4 discs with bulges in them. L2-S1. Plus I have an annulear tear in L4-5. I have had 2 Epidural Injections. The last one was Jan. 5 and none of them worked. They injected cortisone both times. I have also had a Facet Joint Injection which also didn't work. I also have pain in both hips (worse when I sleep), left leg and sometimes my left foot goes numb, and of course pain in low back. You said you are taking the conservative treatment! Did they suggest surgery? I am waiting to see a surgeon. Please let me know if they wanted to operate.

DianeG

I have nerve damage in my lower back thanks to alot of abuse, including tearing "everything" in my lower back that left me in the bed for 3 months. After being "slapped" on my lower spine, I was put on drugs, had a nerve block that didn't help one bit. Then I had an epidural going across my lower back. It didn't help either. This was in 2003. Since then I am seeing a pain dr. She sent me to physical therapy, that didn't help. Now along with the nerve damage, I have at least four bulging disc, DJD and arthritis in my spine, my knees, my hips and my neck. I had another epidural for the disc, he wanted to get as close to the disc as he could. Needless to say, not only did it not help, it felt like he punctured one of the disc. Of course he denied it, but I do hurt worse now.

So if the drs. want to do another Epidural, please, please don't let them!  

  Thanks and keep in touch with how you are doing,   Myra

This is the 4th day post injection. I think my pain is a little better. I go back to work tomorrow so that will be the true test. The doctor said I should give it a couple of weeks, if I am not better he will do another injection. If the injections don't work he talked about another procedure he could do. It would involve putting a guide wire in the disc space and sealing off the disc. Thankyou for your reponses, it helps to get others view point.

Addiejrt, If you are able to sit, stand and sleep comfortably, then you must be improving! During my most excruiating points, the only relief i got was sitting on the toilet or face on the floor with my upper body resting on cushions, knees bent, my butt stuck up in the air...rocking back and forth. Even in that position, the pain relief was minimal, and getting myself back up from the floor was a scream :)

If there's any way possible, you should stay home from work at least till next Monday, not tomorrow. It won't be good to be on your feet all day, too much pressure on the inflamed sciatic nerve. Are you taking NSAID's, Predisone, pain meds, what??

Gosh, that surgery with the wire sounds scary. Hopefully your 2nd epidural will be all you need. Did they put you to sleep for your epidural?

Keep in touch,

Donna 

I have had the epideral steroid shots. I ended up having surgery and being fused L4-L5 in 2004. I just had another epideral. I have a torn disc in L3. I will eventually need surgery again. The shots do help the pain, but you will eventually have to have the surgery. I hope the best for you.

Paula

 Hi, I am surprised no has mentioned this. I have suffered for the past 2 yrs. of extreme back pain from sciatica.From the back all the way down to my foot too. My ankle felt like someone hit it with a sledge hammer. The pain was unbearable, worse than childbirth, if that's possible! To the point where you can't sleep, much less roll over in bed,stand,sit etc. I was on pain meds forever it seemed and really had no quality to my life, just tears. My son and daughter tried there very best to help around the house and try to get mom comfortable. I feel like I let them down because I was unable to attend school functions.
 I had a MRI done in 12/08. I had 3 protruding discs one was very large L4-L5. I know a few people who had the shot, but it didn't last. I stumbled on a chiropractor that had a machine that does "Spinal Decompression" Let me tell you, the first 2 weeks were tough! I still had pain, tears, a walker,ice packs and a heat pad.
 After 20 sessions or so on "The Table" I feel like a new person! I am no longer on pain meds and can move around get my socks on without saying ouch,ouch,ouch!  A little pricey treatment but it beats having surgery I think. I still am very careful not to lift anything over 20 lbs. or twist. I am now able to at least walk my dog and do the daily chores around the house and attend my childrens school activities. That is a big step! I wish you the best and hope you heal real soon!

Lisa

I had the set of three injections over about a 3 month period. It did not help me I am sorry to say. I ended up having surgery . It has been a little over a year and it has helped. I am having more problems now but I have degenerative disc disease. Hope they work for you though. Let me know if I can help.

Hi there as a nurse as well I share your pain as well. I was diagnosed with sciatica and have been in pain for over a month. My hip and but on the left leg are super soar. I have also had 2 separate neck fusions 4 years apart from each other. I feel your pain. I start physio today i seem to be getting better some days i am able to walk with out a limp other times i limp like crazy. Hoping you feel better do not give up.  I will keep you posted on my progression as well. Norma from ont Canada

Hello my name is sandy i was told years ago  that i had 3 bulging discs in my lower back. I have gone thru the epidural shots in my back they helped out at first and alot of physical therapy has helped. Don't give up.The Dr's know what to do and not to do. I just had 5 shots to numb me and 5 steroid shots in my back a month ago. They were put in my muscle. Due to my bulging discs and other problems i am in an electric wheelchair. I can relate with you about the pain. I am currently taking pain medicine and muscle relaxers among about 20 more pills. At first i had pain all the way down my left hip and left side too. After a couple of visits there was no more pain.Everyone is different. You could be pain free and it will only take 1 or 2 visits.I've been in a electric wheelchair now for 2 yrs. It's not too bad.You notice more things that you  CAN do than you can't. Can't is not in my vocabulary. Good luck ! Sincerely  sandy

I have been suffering for three months now I had x rays and ct scan and physical therapy i am suffering beyond belief i can't seem to get any relief at all but reading these responses gives me something i can ask my doctor about

Hello, I also have back problems. Bulging disc L4-L5 and L5-L6. Spinal stenosis. Had surgery for the stenosis, 3 years ago...Last year I had the series of epidural steroid injections.   I will not repeat them and they did not last long enought to be of value to me. They were great while they lasted though. Maybe you will have better luck..I hear some do better than I did. 

 Reading these post have helped me. I don't feel so alone. No one wants to hear about it when your back hurts, they can't see your injury.  I try to keep up, but sometimes it just gets too painfull.

I hate that my life has become so limited. I feel bad for my husband and family. So much I wish I was able to do.

My pain is in my left shoulder, because of asteoarthritis.  I have had two flare-ups in the past year and have had a steroid injection both times.  I try to stay in a routine of stretches and stationary bike excercises everyday.  The steroid injection relieves the pain for at least three months.  My Doctor recomended stretches and excercise to keep my shoulder mobile.  I feel like eating healthy and excercise are really helping me.

Cookie 

Very Blessed Mom......Yes I have had these injections.....as many as medically possible in a calander year.  As well as the L4-L5 disc problems that I have now had two surgeries on, I have severe spinal stenosis and causes severe pain on my tail bone.  I have even had injections directly into my tail bone.  I have to say, some have worked for a few days, (maybe 4 or 5 days) but as for long time releif, no, that were not successful for me.  Would love to hear how your procedure went and hear follow up from you.  Cacse

Sorry to hear of your pain.  I have the followiing:

Herniated Discs – L5, L6, C5, S1, T10, T11, Acute Back Spams, Chronic Mechanical Back Pain, Degenerative Disc Disease and Sciadica, along with 30 other medical conditions.  I am not a candidate for surgery or I would be paralyed or worse.  I have to be careful with medications and have tried many OTC types.  What I have found most helpful is a medication that combines a Muscle Relaxant and Acetaminaphine combined.  Not even barbituates helped ease the pain like these do.  The name brand most well known is Robaxacet, but there are store brand names that are just as effective, but far less expensive.  I also have physio exercises I do daily to keep my back in the best possible shape.  I wish you the best as you try and find something that works for you.