Epidural injection for back pain

I have had a number of steroid injections ( under x-ray guidance ) over the years for lower back pain and nerve pain that radiates into my hips and down my legs.

The success can vary, but most people get between 3-9 months of benefits from having had it done. I have had facet joints injected as well as caudal epidural. They do help, and certainly help to dampen down the inflammation. For me surgery is not an option, so injections and or medication is the only choice I have x

I've suffered from lower back pain for 11 years so my advice is coming with 11 years experience. I've had countless injections in my back and I get very little relief from them anymore. And I finally decided to just stop having them. I think the reason I went so many years having them is because once very long ago I had an injection that completely eradicated my pain. It was the best nine months I've had in the last 11 years. But all good things must come to an end and that certainly did. Why in the world would your pain management doctor stopped your pain medication? That's his job and as a pain management specialist he should know that pain medication is sometimes necessary. I know that life as we knew it changed back in March of 2016 when the CDC published guidelines. Some doctors started tapering their patients medication or they stopped their medication abruptly forcing the patient into withdraws. I myself have had my pain medication reduced so that it complies with the guidelines. Doctors are afraid of losing their license or worse, being charged with a crime. I would have to say that if your pain management doctor stopped her medication it may be time to look for another doctor. The trend with some pain management doctors is coursing patients into unsuccessful epidural injections in order to get the pain medicine that they need to control their pain. Doctors don't make much money by prescribing pain meds but they do make good money doing injections on patients. You might ask your doctor for Gabapentin also known as Neurontin or pregabalin also known as Lyrica. They help for some people. They work well for nerve pain and they are not a narcotic. If you start treating your pain with OTC ibuprofen or noproxin be very careful about how much you take and how long you take it. It can really cause terrible things to your stomach. I speak from experience. If you Facebook there are several groups for chronic pain. I would suggest you join them because not only do they offer support but you might also get ideas on how to control your pain non prescription medication. Some states have passed laws recently that makes it so ridiculously hard to get pain meds that they really do a disservice to the chronic pain patient. I don't know where you live or if you even live in the US, but that is one of the problems we are facing in the US.