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I am scheduled for Epidural Shot for neck pain/swelling.

Posted , 3 users are following.

kris11713
kris11713

Anyone with Epidural steroid shot for neck pain experience/advice?

 

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • crystal63405
    crystal63405 kris11713

    Posted

    Yes....I had an epidural for neck pain and it was awful! I was sent to a pain specialist for neck pain. Here is my thought on epidurals....if your pain is coming from some sort of nerve irritation at the spinal level an epidural should and would help you....if it doesn't help then to me this is not your pain generator or it would've helped....however whoever administers the epidural is likely to tell you it may take several to get benefit....I would be very skeptical of this as it seems to be a money making gimmick to me as specialist get paid to do procedures....if your problem isn't a radiculopathy (nerve) pain....there is a chance it will make your pain worse as the neck canal is very small and they will be introducing volume into that canal....I am not trying to scare you as everyone is different...for me personally I will never do another one again for any reason....my neck pain exploded and I felt extreme pressure....however my pain was musculoskeletal and there was nothing on my imaging that indicated they should've done this procedure....make sure your doctor explains what they are treating and that it makes sense to you.

    • kris11713
      kris11713 crystal63405

      Posted

      what were your effects after epidural?  mood changes, loss of feeling, how long did effect last?  Do you know now the real source of your neck pain?
    • crystal63405
      crystal63405 kris11713

      Posted

      It made the pain worse...I knew immediately I made a bad decision and it just got worse from there. Intense pressure, spasms, literally I was in tears. It did not work at all. Yes...the real source of the pain was forward head posture....again, if they can't tell you what they r treating I wouldn't do it...neck pain is not a diagnosis nor is swelling, bulging disc is not unless there is nerve compression...they may tell you a bulging disc could have a tear that is draining disc fluid and irritating the nerves and if they give the epidural this will decrease inflammation so the disc can heal....again all the above are symptoms...I would want to only pursue treatments that address the problem not the symptoms...your neck is hurting for a reason and it is trying to tell you something...why would you just want to basically tell it to shut up. If they haven't told you specifically what's wrong I would say no and pursue something like physical therapy that addresses the cause not the symtoms.

  • bronwyn97278
    bronwyn97278 kris11713

    Posted

    Hi Kris; yes I agree with Crystal;  what is the cause of your "neck pain"?   This is a very important  question.  There may be many causes, and when you  find the cause, then treat the cause first..     I have a referral for an injection too, but mine  is for a TMJ problem, and am waiting to see If I Really need it.   Have you been to a Physio yet to see if they can help?  Even a Chiropractor may be able to help (although I have never seen one myself, but my  daughter had good results with a  lower back problem).   Bron

    • kris11713
      kris11713 bronwyn97278

      Posted

      Fascinating ..... I also have sporadic but intense TMJ pain.  Mine is on the other side than my neck pain/swelling.  TMJ is very brief pain, like crunching a nerve in my head;  the other is such a deep ache which gets worse as day progresses.  and "no" no one defines the cause.

       

  • amkoffee
    amkoffee kris11713

    Posted

    I have not had an injection in the neck. I feel lucky that my pain is in my lower back. I think pain in the neck is worse then the back. But as for the injections, I've had many. and I've never had a doctor tell me that you have to have several before they work. That's just BS. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. And some people get relief and some people have bad reactions to the injection. It is not fair to assume that just because your expericence was bad that Kris's exerperince will be bad too. I think its a crap shoot. Of course I'm sure the dr would argue that point. lol

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