Why did one epidural steroid injection hurt and others didn'

I just had my second session of two injections for my 5L S1 area. Two weeks ago, I had my first set of two injections. I have never had anything hurt me so bad in my entire life and I have a very high pain tollerance. This hurt worse than when I totally blew the disc in my 5L. The disc material was 18mm in lenght and 10mm in width. It pressed on the 5L and S1 nerve roots. A friend had a series of epi's and they sedated her, she had an IV and didn't feel anything. I was expecting the same only to realize that I had nothing!! Not even pain medication prior to the event! I literally hurt from the tips of my toes to my teeth. I mean, I hurt so bad I wished I would die to stop the pain. I've had two natural child births not to mention the injury that caused the initial damage and none of this hurt like this epi did. I was told they could give me some kind of pill that would make it go easier the second round (today) IT DIDN'T HELP ONE BIT. The pain was simply breath taking. I squeezed my fists so tight they locked on me and I had to use my opposite hand to pull the fingers loose from the locking. Although I didn't scream, as I was in the next room recovering enough to leave, the poor man that followed me was screaming his lungs out. Oh, my heart went out to this man because I knew what he was feeling. WHY DON'T THEY TELL YOU ABOUT THIS HORRIBLE PAIN??? WHY DON'T THEY PUT YOU UNDER SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL THAT? I actually feel like I've been traumatized over this, shell shock so to speak. I fell asleep, from that stupid pill they gave me, after I got home and woke up in a cold sweat, reliving all that pain in my sleep! I'm so sleepy but fearful that I'll dream about it again and it's so real. I will NEVER, EVER do this again!!!!

My spine is a mess from L1-L5 and has been for years.  In 2005 I had my first epidural at L3.  The pain multiplied by 1000% for well over a month and then began to subside.  I had that shot in October 2005.  In January 2006 I returned to the gym and began building my muscles to properly support my unstable spine.  It was slow going but it worked.  I was painfree for several years.  In 2008 I no longer had the time to spend in the gym.  My spine began to wobble as my muscles atrophied.  In 2010, a new doctor told me that my spine was a mess and I was old (59) and there was nothing he could do for me except remove 4 disks and fuse my spine.  That was no option.  The pain management doctor told me that my spine was a mess and of course I was going to hurt.  He asked me what I wanted him to do about it!  After 3 more years of pain I found a new doctor.  5 days ago I had a bilateral epidural at L4.  I did not feel the injections at all.  I am totally painfree!  For the time being I am wearing a hard cast, custom measured, back brace to immobilize L4 which is the most offending vertebrae.  I have a follow up doctor appointment next week and I fully expect to be released to go back to the gym and begin building my muscles back up to support my unstable spine.  I have gone from constant lightning pain from my hip, down my thigh, through my shin, across my foot, and into my toes to being totally painfree in just the time it took at the surgical center.  Am I one of the lucky ones?  Perhaps.  Being painfree is not the end of it, but the beginning.  I can't just sit around expecting shots to be the cure all.  Even though I'm a 61 y/o woman, my prognosis is under my control.  I'm ready for this challenge.

I've read your posts. I get the injections because of degenertive discs and stenosis in my lower back and in my lower neck. My lower back is "all chewed up" in the whole lumbar region. I have had several over the past three years. They don't hurt and provide about 8 - 12 weeks of relief, depending upon how much activity and strain I have to put on it and the weather. They have been lifesavers for me. I hope the rest of you get the same relief I do.

OMG, I don't know you but will you marry me? Ha! I just had my first Epi @ T6-T7 for a ruptured disc, this morning. I stumbled across this site by searching for info on EPidurals that would tell me I'm not the only person who feels like this afterwards. If I even so much as move my back it pulses like a leg that has been asleep and is waking up. Really crazy bad. I'm not even sure if this is the right place for me to post but I had to rant somewhere about how much pain I'm in ATM. I just keep telling myself it could be so much worse, like no insurance to cover these procedures. Thanks for making it to the end of this rant, Portia

i had a shot in my shoulder this time its not working and this time i have head ache runny nose slept all day just not feeling well tight chest but this was a doc that never gave one its about  a inch or 2 off the spot where ive gotten befor..and they kind of helped all over got a torn roter cuff no insurance did therapy was good 6 months now its all back n i have tennis elbow , bursitis in hips knees hurt now dont know what all started 6 months ago hip 2 years ago, gave me celebrex  for tendonitis in for arm b/p went sky high had slight stroke and i think hart attack. that b/p went over 220/130 of course i dint go to hospital no insurence..now drug is a black box

Just like everyone here, I was in trementous pain worse than having a child. So bad I ask God why did he just take me. I had my third child without any medication what so ever. But this pain! OH MY GOD!

When given the shot, I was able to walk out of there with no pain what so ever. I did have numbless on my left leg for a short while but with exercise it went away. God bless everyone and my suggestion is to close your eyes and be in praying during the procedure

Ive had 3 sets of 6 shots at one time in my lower back. 18 shots in 3 visits! and then 3 above my SI on my right side and 

one right in my SI joint! all together I have had "26 shots in my lower back" just in the past few month's for Lumbar Spinal stenosis! The 1st ones did hurt because I didnt know what to expect, but they sprayed some numbing stuff on them.

BUT the SI joint ones hurt, I just went back yesterday and had my 2nd one done in my SI joint along with the upper 3 shots also. I will tell you the SI shot did shot pains down my leg and pains to my bladder! They woman doing the shots said that was the 1st time anyone said the shots did that? She didn't explain anything after the needle was removed! But I can say my but was numb and still is. But these shots have helped me big time. I use to not be able to walk around the mall with a a burning pain and then I would have to leave. and now I can walk anywhere as long as I want. So I have to say they have helped me alot. I also know that 26 shots is ALOT!! and Im not sure what they long run process with these are. So god luck to anyone going to have them or has had them. 

DO NOT DO THE SPINAL CORD STIMULATOR, I HAVE ONE & IT'S THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I HAVE EVER MADE. AFTER 18 INJECTIONS IT WAS THE CHOICE I WAS GIVEN TO AVOID L4 L5 S1 SURGERY.

DO NOT DO THE SPINAL CORD STIMULATOR, I HAVE ONE & IT'S THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I HAVE EVER MADE. AFTER 18 INJECTIONS IT WAS THE CHOICE I WAS GIVEN TO AVOID L4 L5 S1 SURGERY.

I Have Had Several Steroid Injections In Various Parts Of My Body And The PaIn Is Considerably Less If The Doctor Injects The Anesthesia SLOWLY. When I Had A Lumbar Steroid Injection The Doctor Injected The Anesthesia Very quickly And Moved On To The Steroid Injection Immediately After And The Pain Was INTENSE. Surely An Extra Minute Or Two To Allow The anesthesia To Work Would Be A Kind Consideration To The Patient.

I just had steroid injection in my back a half hour ago.  I was told the pain of the injection was not bad at all and that I really wouldn't need to be sedated.  WRONG!!!  That was one of the most painful experiences I've ever had.  It felt like a bolt of electricity went in my back and exited out my lower leg.  I know I am very sensitive to pain, but this was way way more pain than I expected.  Next time I am going to be sedated!  I am not really looking forward to the other two shots that are to come.

Also, I noticed when I got home that there was no bandage where the injection site was.  I thought this was add because even when going to the family doctor for a shot say for influenza or anti-biotic, they always insisted in putting a bandage over injections site.  I am not so sure of this "pain doctor" and if he is a quack!

 

 

I just had my first shot into my neck and the shot itself didnt hurt too bad however when i look down i have a new pain a few inches below the injection spot and it hurts like hell. As for the pain that it was suppose to fix it still hurts too. Any idea how long this will last? And is new pain common?

I had the same problem. I am on so many pain pills 6 different kinds. I am being winged off 2 of them right now. My left leg is the worst ever. I trip over things that are not even there to trip over. I loose my balance a lot to, but my left leg is the wore. It swells up bad. Do you think it well go back to normal? I need help bad. I need to go back to work and I cant have this to do my job. I am so worried and scared to death. Can you help me some how???? Thanks for any help.

Kathleen Griffin, you wrote this post a long time ago, but I'm hoping you might still be notified of my comment. Did your pains fully resolve after taking the Medrol Dose Pack? I had a cortisone injection in my right hip joint nearly 3 weeks ago, and have had knifelike, stabbing, electric shock-type pains around my right hip ever since. The pain is unbearable, a 10 out of 10. My doctor says he's never seen this reaction but has a colleague who saw something similar in a patient once before, and gave that patient a Medrol Dose Pack, which resolved the pain. He wants me to try the Medrol but I am scared that it won't work or that I'll end up with more unwanted side effects. Did you ever find out the cause of your pain? Any advice or perspective would be greatly appreciated.

Nicole

I had the same experience recently with a ESI. I screamed so loud. It was like a lightening bolt was in my spine!! I'm very tough but I have never felt pain like that before. They told me the nerves must have been really inflamed!!! I've had surgery and now this. I so tired of being in pain. Never never again with the ESI