Well, after my last knee surgery 5 weeks ago, I was rehabbing my knee at the gym, and apparently ruptured a disk at L5-S1. I went for a consult today with neurologist, he recommended the steroid spinal shot. I have another consult on Monday with a different neurologist and will see what he says.

Anyone on here had the spinal epidural shot? How long ago? Still pain free? Tell me your story...

Thanks

Sorry to hear about your situation Blaster. Did you have an MRI? I'm no doctor but I have had surgery on both knees and have low to moderate degeneration in the L5-S1. I can't imagine how painful it must be to actually rupture a disk. The pain gets so bad for me at times that I can't even stand on my feet. Everything I have heard is to avoid steroid shots to the back. I've been told they cause things to stiffen up. That would be fine if I was 80 years old and the most physical thing I wanted to do was go grocery shopping. I'm afraid I would really hurt myself if I went the steroid route. I'm going in for a PRP treatment on Tuesday.

The PRP, so I've been told, will dramatically increase the amount of pain for the short term, but will cause the troubled area to heal itself. Considering I have had a spasm problem that surfaces about once every 6-12 months for about 25 years, I am looking forward to a cure.

I wish you well.

PeterJ said:

You are correct, the pain is very intense, and does not let up. I have had several knee surgeries including an ACL replacement. So I have had some exposure to pain. In the past, I have always opted to not take the prescribed pain killers. However, with the ruptured disk, I can not be as caviler. I take as many as I need to survive the pain. Sometimes doing a vodka shooter with them.

As for the MRI, I have had one, it clearly shows the rupture at L5-S1. The epidural shot of steroid was explained to me with no mention of any negative side effect at all. I will have to find out more, obviously, however being stiff is not exactly the worst side effect I can imagine. It was presented to me as as a very very strong pain killer that loiters around in the injection site doing it's job for quite some time. Thus giving the receiver an immediate relief from the pain.

What is a PRP?

Blaster



Found it...... sounds interesting.

Platelet-rich plasma: Does it work?

New study reports on the platelet-rich plasma treatment and its use in sports medicine; cautions more investigation needed

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Platelet -rich plasma (PRP) is currently used as an alternative treatment method for several common orthopaedic-related sports medicine conditions. According to a new study in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS), early outcomes of PRP appear promising; however, larger clinical studies are still needed to determine the benefits of its use.
"Some believe that PRP may catalyze the body's repair mechanisms at areas of injury, improve healing and shorten recovery time," said study co-author Michael Hall, MD, a senior orthopaedic surgery resident at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York. "However, there currently is minimal evidence of this clinically and more research must be performed."

A Simple Process and Procedure

• Obtaining and utilizing PRP is a relatively simple process: a patient's own blood is placed into a centrifuge that rotates at high speed.
  
• This procedure separates the red blood cells from the platelets, which are blood cells that release growth factors that help the body heal itself.
  
• Next, the physician takes the platelet-rich portion of this blood (PRP) and injects it directly into the patient's injured area and the treatment is complete.

PRP Used Primarily for Chronic Conditions
PRP treatments have been used for the past two decades to improve wound healing and bone grafting procedures by plastic and maxillofacial (mouth, jaw and neck) surgeons. It is only in recent years that orthopaedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists have utilized this technology.
PRP use in sports medicine primarily has been for the treatment of chronic tendon conditions, but also for acute muscle injuries and for the augmentation of tendon repair in the operating room.

The most common applications include:

• tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis);
  
• Achilles tendonitis (inflammation and swelling of the Achilles tendon);
  
• patellar tendonitis (inflammation of the patellar tendon, also called "Jumper's Knee"); and
  
• rotator cuff tendonopathy.

Find a good pain doc. Take your MRI. The injection consists of numbing the area that the spinal needle will pass through. The actual injection is a 3 part deal. 1st they inject a bit of dye to ensure they are in the exact area causing the pain, next they inject Marcaine and the steroid at the same time. The Marcaine is like the Novacaine the dentist uses. It will provide some temporary relief.

The steroid takes a few days to a week to begin to work and reduce the inflammation and provide pain relief.

I've been getting a year and half's worth of pain relief from the lumbar epidural injections and about 9 months worth of relief from the epidural injections in my neck.

Without the steroid injections my life would be miserable.

:ride:

DrMark said:

DrM...

What does PRP stand for?

And, am I understating you, that this epi shot is a cortisone shot?

DrMark said:

:excuseme:
Why not PRP? Is it because the disk is ruptured?

My wife's had the shots for similar reasons. First one quite a number of years ago and helped a lot. She's a PT and works hard to keep her back in good shape though. Had another one more recently that helped some, but not as much or for as long. I'm guessing surgery will happen eventually.

Surgery done 12/28

Watching the clock now~

Blaster21996 said:

Update:

I am now AWESOME! Anyone that is suffering from a lower ruptured disk, is an idiot to not get the surgery as QUICK as you can!

I am back at the gym pumping weights and riding MX every weekend! Sweet Jesus, thank you for the American Health-care System! :banana:

May it RIP!:banghead:

Thanks Obama!:moon:

Im in the situation as you were...going to see a nourologist possible surgery
Was wanting to check on how every things going.
I hear not to get surgery but my brother had it and is 100 percent years later.

Your comment about President Obama and the health care system is idiotic and totally wrong. You SHOULD thank him because now all Americans, including those who have lost their jobs courtesy of Bush and the Republicans looting of the public treasury (tax cuts for the rich) will now have access to health care that they otherwise might not. We are all citizens.

Please dont cry in your beer!