cervical epidural injection and side effect

Thanks for your feedback, so many are negative, and yours was the first positive I've come across. I have my first injection scheduled tomorrow at !2 and was really considering cancelling till I read your post. Thank you for your insite to the shots, I feel much more conficent after reading this and may be able to sleep after all tonight.

 

I had my first injection this morning at C-5.6.7. The actual procedure was nothing like I expected. It was over in no time with minimal pain. The versed help relax me and I was sleepy for a few hours later. I am now 4 hours post procedure and the pain is kicking in. I was told it would be this way today and tomorrow but after that I should see results. I too was very concerned about the steriod weight gain, as I took a steriod pack for poison ivy 2 years ago and gained 10 lbs. I was able to loose all but 3-4. With now knowing the signs/ symptoms of the steriods  I have every intention of eating right and exercizing to counter act the steriod weight gain. It won't be easy you can get extremly hungry!! They plan on hitting my T4 & 5 in two weeks and then a second round on both in August.

 

That is the ONLY one I have ever heard of, I really don't know anyone that these shots have done except to make their condition worse. You have already made the plans, go through with it. Please let us know if you do OK. Everyone is different, with this in mind, it may work Ok for you without any bad side effects so don't loose any sleep over it, and well, 1 shot can kill you but that is very rare, it is the oh so many other side effects to watch out for even after you have left home. Just keep you phone with you in case of an emergency and or have someone around you the next few days. The doctors just don't inform you of all the mishaps that can happen and do. Many start happening after multible shots; it is all a c**p shoot. Good luck.

Have your thyroid checked for low levels and also testosterone. It took me a couple of years to get my meds right. Increased thyroid Rx strength and upped testosterone gel dosages. Much better energy levels in the last 6 months and I'll be 60 in October.

Marteeny, I saw your post and am having the same symptoms. Only I do not have the urinary tract infection but still get up at least 3 times during the night. I have gained about 20 lbs but have been having the injections for quite a while. I had them every 6 wks for about a year then had anterior cervical fusion; that didn't work, so now I am back to taking the shots every 2 wks. I really have no life anymore, just pain and the inability to function as a result.

I wouldn't necessarily say that was a positive feedback; I am against the shots and will have no more, I am also allergic to the steriods, causing my ankles to swell.

I pretty much had all those symptoms. I am very much against these shots. They are a get rich quick method for anesthesiologist in my opinion, over used and prescribed for conditions not needing it; especially with your mentioned long list of side effects. They also cause me tremendous anxiety and the doctor, none, care they just look at you like a bug and leave the room knowing they just made $1,000 in 5 min.; in follow up the doc didn't even remember my panic attack.. the nurse sure did!

get a blood test to check iron levels, may be an onset of anemia

oh yes...I will never have an epidural again..I am 52....still having my cycle ...very normal...never had a hot flash...til ...last week when I had my second epidural in 3 months...It is most definitely...the reason you have changed too.

Wow! That all sounds like Cushing's Syndrome to me, and that CAN happen as a result of glucocorticoid resistance. I wonder how he's doing now/ today (9-9-2012).

I have an appr in a couple of weeks for an injection in my neck, & I've been very concerned about haveing it done, when I found this sight. I'm especially concerned since I've had one of these shots in my shoulder before a few years back, & it was excruciating! & didn't do a lick of good for my pain.
My concern is the general lack of competence of doctors these days. I know my body. I know my health issues. & I know what effects my body & what helps my body.
But alas, doctors DON'T want to be told their wrong, or be questioned by ANYONE regaurdless of how much you DO know about yourself.
-I mean, gee... I've only lived with these problems MY ENTIRE LIFE. Your right doc, I know absolutely Nothing.
It really makes me want to punch some of them in the face!
But, that's not why I'm commenting....
I wanted to thank all of you for having these comments visible for others like me to read. So that I have an idea of what to expect from a treatment I Don't want. But i have to concent to haveing this treatment, or my doctor will stop giving my my much needed medications. Yes, one is pain medication. But just to add to that thought crossing your(the readers) mind... I'm at the point in treatment(s) that all my doctors decided, the only thing that was left to do with me, was monitor my medication. Because I've been through the mill with PT & such.
But since I'm in a new state, & doctors don't do their homework, I have to do what the doctor says. :(
Also, if anyone has any advise about my situation, I welcome the comments. :)

the reccomended injections are 3 only

I have had cervical and lumbar epidurals 3 each one about ever 4 to 6 weeks apart in the last 6-8 months...besides the horrible headaches, I have also gained 30 pounds as well! My doc says yes to the headaches...but looks at me like I have 6 ears as to the weight gain. I maintain for many years a very healthy and stable weight. Nothing has changed in my dietary or activity in the course of these epidural treatments...OTHER that the addition of the activity of WALKING 4 acres in my yard of lawn mowing...with a push mower!!!!! It's a STEROID DOC....DUH!!!! In consulting with my Integrated naturopathic primary doctor...he totally agrees that the weight gain is from the steroid injections.

I have an appointment next week for an epidural injection in my neck.After reading all the comments,I'm going to cancel.I don't need to deal with other problems now.Hopefully medications and physical therapy will help. if not,I would rather have the surgery.

Following a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease (I'm only 42), I was in excrutiating pain for several months, with a feeling like I had a "cattle prod' permanantly attached to the back of my neck. With lightning bolts constantly streaming into my left arm, shoulder and chest area, I tried everything to releive the pain I had ie; Physio, Acupuncture, massage, Chiro, Osteopathy, Rheumatologist, medications etc. My Rheumatologist then decided to place me on Neurontin. I did find some releif with Neurontin, however I was given a low dose which was ineffective. I then increased the dose myself to triple that was recommended by the specialist. When I returned to see my Rheumatologist, he nearly fell over when I told him the dose I had been taking. In saying that, he didn't recommend I reduce the dose ( I had done some research on the net and found the dose was well within safe limits). This medication has been greatly beneficial, however the thought of being on a high dose of anything for any period of time was concerning for me. It was at this appointment I feel he started to take my cries for some releif seriously. He immediately made an appointment for a cervical cortisone injection. I was quite sceptical and a little timid re the injections, however the proceedure went well with little to no discomfort (our Dr's are amongst the best in the world). The specialist Dr advised me there could be side effects, but allayed my fears by telling me he'd done "thousands of these with no problems". The releif was almost instantaneous. I walked out of the proceedure and drove home with no issues and only several weeks later, I feel some discomfort coming back. I did experience copious sweating during sleep for the first few weeks but that has started to subside. Now I feel like I've run a marathon each day, even before I get to work. Sleep has been disturbed and surviving on 4hours a day is not conducive to a happy life. I believe this will also wane with time.

I guess my point is this...of course everyone is different and everyone will have a different experience, but if your pain is anything like mine was, take a chance and get the thing done. Pain is something else. Some weight gain, or other side effects I can live with. The last few weeks I've had with no pain has been worth it.