buldging disk and cortizone injections

In response to the questions about the cortisone injections. I had 3 injections done to my cervical spine and they were really not to bad. The first one hurt the most and I think it was the anticipation of it all. The doctor used a machine to watch his needles path so he could get the steroid into just the right spot without hitting the nerve. I did alot of research on this topic and here is how it is hopefully going to go for most patients. The shot can take 2-3 days for any changes in pain levels. Most have no pain from the injection itself other than maybe a little inflammation which goes away rather quickly. There can be no more than 3 shots in any 6 month span of time. You can have a second shot if the first one doesn't work or only works temporally. Most doctors opt not to give a third injection if the first two did nothing at all. Please keep in mind this is all my interpretation of what I have read and it will vary upon each patient and each doctor.

In my case, the first shot did nothing. The second one made me sore for a couple days. And the third one did nothing. My sister had two. The first one worked for her cervical pain for a little over a year. And her second worked for a few months.

In both her experience and mine, we had no bad side effects thankfully.

Good luck and I hope this helps some.

I had 3 cortisone shots on my neck due to a buldging disc. It did not work for me at all. I don't recommend people who have buldging disc to get the cortisone shots it only works for a couple of hours and then you are right back to being in pain. I suggest you get a second or even a third opinion from either a good orthopaedic surgeon or a very good neurosurgeon.

mpowell44, I agree!

Hello all, after reading the posts I thought it would be a great idea to share my experiences the you. I started to suffer from sciatica pain in April 2009. i am heavily into martial arts which ups allot of stress on your back. I have 2 bulging disks L4/5 confirmed my an MRI scan. The most pain i have every been in was when one of my bulging disks perforated and leaked spinal fluid into my back. The pain was excruciating I could not do anything not even walk. Laying in an MRI scanner for 30 minute almost killed me. I have now had two cortisone injections and have had amazing results. I still have pain but I am finally off pain killers now for 3 months. Long term solution for me looks like back surgery, but i want to give my back every opportunity to heal itself. Hopes this helps to whom every read this and always remember there is always someone that is suffering more that you are.

I do feel for you, I also was in a car accident and received severe whiplash in 1999. I was pregnant at the time and they only gave me minimal help to treat the pain. I did PT for a long time and did get a bit better....then in 2007 I went into the docotor after feeling sharp pain in my back and down my arms for several days (thought I slept on my neck funny or something). Found out I had 1 herniated disc and they sent me to many doctors whom sent me to PT and tried all their "drugs" to help : (. Nothing did and when I went to yet another surgeon they did a xray and found the disc had ruptured. Surgeon did not know how I could "not be screaming in pain" with how horrible it really was....well, long story short, I finally did go get surgery on my disc and OMG....felt like I was dead....hadn't been out of Pain in so long, I felt incredibly good. I really think you should try to find a surgeon that will take xrays and MRI's for you to determine what treatments would be ok for you : ). I was again diagnosed for a bulging disc under the one that was surgically fixed in 2010, but the injections DID help where they did not touch anything last time, I wish you the best of luck. Please get a second, third, fourth or fifth opinion, but don't live with that pain, you don't have too : ). All the best of luck, Jennifer

Have them put u under wake up its over. I have c3 thru c7 bludging.

Has bothered me for at least 10 years. I am very active in the Gym and cyling had 6 injections while under . Sore the next day but was able to function for about five months.The more I cycle and work out the more it hurts. I am considering the gel before it worsens.