Why did one epidural steroid injection hurt and others didn'

I have had 4 injections over the past 4 months for a L5-S1 nerve compression. None of them have worked! The first one cause me to be in the bed unable to move for 2 days, the 2nd one was like a whopping dose of lidocaine that I never felt any pain for 2 days, then day 3 the pain returned, 3rd shot hurt like hell, no pain relief though, Dr. wanted to do 4th to assure we were putting in the right place, and no the fourth one didnt provide any relief either. I have come to the conclusion that after each shot costs around $1700 that the doctors are highly administering them very readily!!! After reading a lot of data on the internet it now seems that the shots only work in 50% of cases, and if so, only last 3m-1year, never really treating the real source of pain. If I had it to do all over again, I would opt out the injections. My doctor told me that if it hurt really bad following the injections it meant that he hit the right spot and the more likely it would work. Not the case with me! Hope this was informative!

I have just completed my second in a series of three cervical epidurals. The first one was OK but onlu lasted about three days. The most recent, about 12 hours ago, hurts very bad.

I feel as if the pain is the same at the time I injured myself.

Is there anyone out there who knows why or has experienced the same thing?

I had my first (and LAST!!!!) epidural steroid injection into my lumbar spine L4/L5 bilaterally (both sides) this Monday (11/26).

It was absolutely horrible. My right leg didn't really bother me much before the injection--the left leg was very problematic. IMMEDIATELY after the injection, my right leg went numb and pains started shooting pains down to the toes. Not good.

After the doctor nailed me on the right side, he went after the left side. I screamed during the procedure; I screamed after the procedure; and I screamed for 3 days post procedure. I screamed at the top of my voice all that time. When I couldn't scream anymore, I cried my eyes out.

I shook like a leaf for 4 days. Nothing, but nothing stopped the pains, and everything got worse real fast. The pain killers would dope me up so that I'd not be able to function, but I'd still be in agony--only I had to lay down in agony. Nothing, absolutely nothing touched the pain. I was seriously considering suicide and would have blown my brains out. The pain was THAT bad. My husband hid the guns...

Today is Friday 11/30, and I had to go see the doctor. He didn't want to see me until next Wednesday (12/5), but my husband insisted and I got in to see him today. I explained the problem, and he didn't seem too concerned at all. He did, however, send me for a MRI an hour later. (Funny how his office called back and said that my second MRI showed a perfectly normal spine... Humph!)

After I mentioned that I've had good luck with the Medrol dose pack (pills) in the past, the doctor "pooh-poohed" it and said they were the equivalent of Tic Tac candies, but that he'd go ahead and write the prescription anyways. I guess he figured he was humoring me.

Well, it's been about 5 hours now since I've taken the first day's dose of the Medrol dose pack. Guess what! The pain has subsided by greater than 80%. I can now "pass gas" without screaming. My left leg is no longer numb, although I do still have some periodic stabbing--and I expect that in the next few days it will be gone.

My right leg is back to normal (thank God!). I haven't taken any narcotics for the past 24 hours (I think it's better to be able to function in agony than not being able to function and still in agony).

Ha ha on me. I'll NEVER have another epidural shot in the spine again as long as I live.

The pain from those 2 shots were the absolute worst pain in my life. I could not walk. I could not defecate or flatuate without screaming in pain. My leg felt as if it was being ripped off at the buttock and groin area. I had constant knifing, stabbing pains in the perineal area (crotch area). Keep in mind that I didn't have these pains until I got my 2 shots into the lumbar spine.

Forget what they say about torturing terrorists with waterboarding. A couple of epidural shots in the spine with results like I had will get any information from anybody.

Medrol Dose Pack a.k.a. methylprednisolone tablets worked a heck of a lot better for me, and they only cost $10.

Never again....

Kathleen Griffin

The anestitist told me he would increase something in my IV because I felt the medicine go in. Felt lke my arm would burst right before I fell asleep. No discomfort with second epidural on T-1

i am set up to go get my first round of three shots in my neck, i am very nervous because all i hear is negative feeback! i am tired of the pain running down my shoulder in my neck i am only 27 but i feel that i am alot older! unfortunatley i have to take these shots do to workmans comp, so afraid they are not going to work. worried and scared!!!

I had my first epidural for C3 thru C7 degenerative disc disease and a herniated disc C6-7 yesterday. No problems whatsoever! Felt nothing during injection. Was a little tight around the lower neck this morning, but the pain and tingling radiating down my left arm to my hand is GONE! I'm a happy panda! I'd prefer not to have another injection but I'd also prefer to sleep at night without pain.

I have had three separate bilateral injections in my L5/S1 and none of them worked. The latest I had was a numbing injection to see if a facet block would work but it didn't help. I'm now looking at getting a Precision Plus Spinal Cord Stimulator. I don't really know a lot about it and can't find any actual post on the net about it except their website.. Oh and I'm 23.

I too was told I must take the injections due to Workmens' Comp. BUT, after the suffering I went through after my first injection, I refuse to take injection number two! The injection hurt worse than having two children, at the same time... I had greater leg pain than previously and the stabbing pains came and went but took my breath each time. I had a headache but not one that prevented my walking around. The worst part was immediate numbness in my left arm and hand. I was flushed all over and the red patches on my skin felt hot to the touch and itched. I went to my doctor and was prescribed Benedryl for what he determined to be hives. I then got serious diarreah. The next day, I had chest pains along with jaw pain which scared me into thinking I was having a heart attack. After an emergency room visit, I spent four days in the hospital with testing and they still can't tell me what is wrong or what happened. The chest pains are letting up but needless to say, I am cancelling shot number two, even if Workmens' Comp. kicks me off the benefits. There are just some things you have to say NO to.

My wife had steriod injections in her neck done.
Said one of the 5-6 injections hurt, only when injected. She was in minor pain 3-4 hrs afterwards. But now, about 1 week later, her chronic neck pain only aobut 1/3 of what it was. So that is good news. She had seen many doctors, endo, ent's, chiro, nuero, for pain on neck and ear area. Good luck all!

I HAVE JUST HAD MY SECOND CERVICAL EPIDURAL INJECTION. WONDERFUL. I HAD SCAPULAR PAIN AND CHEST PAIN FOR OVER 4 MONTHS. AFTER MY CHEST XRAY, CT OF MY CHEST, TOTAL BODY BONE SCAN, MRI CERVICAL AND THORACIC....BINGO ...3 HERNIATED LEVELS WITH SPINAL STENOSIS. ALL IN MY CERVICAL SPINE. HERE IS THE BEST I AM 34 WITH NO INJURY. SO NO WORKMANS COMP. BUT I DO UNDERSTAND, NO ALL INJECTIONS ACT THE SAME. I AM AN XRAY TECH SO THEY ARE FLOUOSCOPICALLY GUIDED SO THE TRY FOR THE SAME SPOT. SO I THINK IS ALL ABOUT WHO DOES THE INJECTION, AND EVERYONE IT MAY BE DIFFERENT. I WILL DO ALL 3 SEEING THE ALTERNATIVE IS SOMEONE CUTTING INTO MY NECK. SO GOOD LUCK TO ALL, AND BELIEVE ME I KNOW HOW YOU ARE FEELING. UNRELENTING PAIN. NO MEDS WORK, THE NARCOTICS WEAR OFF AND IS IS A HORRIBLE CYCLE I KNOW IN THE END IT IS POSSIBLE WITH HNP, YOU WILL NEED A SURGICAL INTERVENTION, THIS GIVE YOU TIME AND POSSIBLY RELIEF, EVEN IF SO ONLY TEMPORARY

I just had my second ESI yesterday and I guess I'm just lucky. While it is a little uncomfortable, definitely not what I would call painful. Given the choice between that procedure and going to a dentist, no question I'd take the ESI. My first one helped but only for about 2 weeks. This one hasn't helped yet but it took a couple of days to start working last time too. Just wanted to let people know that it's not just horror stories with these. Sometimes they help and are not always painful.

Thanks for posting your experience. I had a very painful experience with the shot, so I cancelled the second one I scheduled in 4 years today.



The Predenisone you mentioned is also steroid, I'm sure you know about that. However the oral steroid flows into the blood stream and cause longer term side effects. Done it right, the epidural steroid shot at least stays within the dural (?) space along the spine without leaking out to other parts of the body. I took the oral steroids twice in my life time and not planning on taking it any more.

Don't be scared, got my first epidural L4,L5 2 weeks ago, and it was not painful, I had a little pain afterwards when I got home, and a couple days after. And just as I was going to give up on the whole thing, the next day I woke up with no pain. The next day, same thing, no pain. I have an epidural scheduled for tomorrow, and I am excited. See, it does work.

I had my second lumbar injection. Both sides at L4.
I was sedated for the first one and fell asleep everything went well although I did not see much relief.
I had this great idea to not get the sedation so I could watch the xray screen and see the entire procedure. The instant the right side went in it was painful. It was pulled out slightly giving a small relief. When the Medicine was injected I was in indescribable pain. I instantly started sweat profusely, Could not hold my legs still, could not breath, started to black out and thougt I would upchuck and pass out all at the same time.
As soon as the needles came out it was relief in seconds. Not sure why so much pain but I must admit it scared me. It is now about 18 hours later and not bad stiff and sore on that side although it was my right side that usually hurt??
I would be interested to know if anyone had the same experience.