Cervical Spine Epidurals

I just had one of these injections last week for my lumbar spine. It worked great for me...almost immediate relief from pain. I am now feeling some of the pain returning, but the week of pain free living has been great.

What side effects are you having? What injury do you have?

I was told I could only have 3 injections and then that was all they could do...if it isn't working after the second maybe a third isn't a good idea, for you...

What does your pain management doctor say? Have you called his office about the side effects? Are you seeing a spine surgeon or neurologist as well...what do they say?

Sounds like you need to have a serious conversation with your medical team treating you...and ask if it is worth the risk to have another one if you have gotten no pain relief but only side effects.

You didn't say what side effects you are having?? I have received those injections when I have flare ups for the past 8 years now. I have learned what I can and can't do so I haven't had a flare up in awhile. It wasn't until about 2 weeks after my second round that I had noticeably less pain. As in, finally basically pain free. It took some time but I was old that was normal.

Hi K.,
I just happened upon your Oct 20 post about cervical spine epidurals while i was updating my profile....you had actually responded to one of my posts regarding spinal pain back in June of 2009, and i saw your new question in your profile! I'm sooo sorry about your neck pain . I have suffered with it for over 15 years, and sympathize with everything you are going through. I had a cervical laminectomy of C6-C7 in 1998, which was a difficult surgery with complications, and i have had many episodes of painful flares in the years since. Two of the flares were so bad that i ended up in the hospital in the stroke unit, because my symptoms mimiced those of stroke. I was tested twice for MS as well....seems i'm quite the enigma!! :-0 Last year at around this time i had a flare of neck/shoulder/arm/hand pain from compressed nerves from C3 to C8.....ughhh. I'm sure i don't need to go into details with you - you obviously have suffered the same and know how horrible it is. I seriously wanted to cut my arm off. After visits with the neurologist, neurosurgeon, and pain management doctor in January, 2010, it was determined that the last option for me was a nerve block. If it didnt help, then i would need a cervical spinal fusion.....which i did NOT want to go through!!
I had the cervical nerve block done in late February, 2010, and was told it could take 3-10 days for me to feel relief. I experienced symptoms of heat, flushing, pain and stiffness, with little to no immediate relief from my nerve pain. It also caused a pretty bad flare of my rosacea (which i had read it could do), and i was a broken out, red, and bumpy mess for quite awhile.
Talk about adding insult to injury, right? Buuuut....finally after over 3 weeks i realized my symptoms were finally beginning to subside, and by mid April i was virtually pain free!!!! wow!! I was teaching pre-school 5days/week at the time and was so happy to be pain free, and so happy to be able to stop pretending i was fine. I spent the summer gardening, riding bikes, and doing pretty much whatever i wanted (always remembering my limitations, though). It's 9 months later, and i'm still doing great! I hope it continues, but if i have another relapse i wouldnt hesitate to ask for another block. BTW, i take Lyrica each day, but i've cut my dose from 6 a day (2/3x) to 2/day (1 in am and 1 in pm). I could probably actually stop taking it, but no sense rocking the boat at this point. I'm so grateful to be doing so well. So dont lose hope, K., b/c i think if i could respond to the nerve block so well, anyone could. Hoefully it's kicked in for you by this time. Good luck and i hope you find relief!

I just had a cervical epidural on Tuesday for herniated C5-C6 with nerve impingement. I am still sore at the injection site. It takes between 2-10 days before you get relief from the cervical pain. I am already starting to feel a little better. If I need to get more injections, I will I have tried everything else, including alternative medicine, my next step will be surgery, but the doctor really thinks that the epidurals will be successful.

What kind of side effects are you having? You really should call your doctor and let him know what is going on. I am having intermittent "pins and needle" feeling in my right foot near my toes, I plan to call the doctor today, just to check and make sure that it is not related.

Please call your doctor and report your symptoms to make sure that they are not related to the epidural.

Good LUck

I just had the lower lumbar injection, and so far so good. I was and am still a little sore but it is getting less and less each day. This is only my first one in the probable series. I think having a good doc is key as well. What kind of side effects are you speaking of?

I had them in my lower back, my L4-L5. The first few times that they did it, they put too much in (I think because I am on the shorter side). I was really sore and in some pain until it dissipated. After my comments, the doc put less in, and it was much better.

don't know if in your case this is apllicable,but i tried accupuncture for a back injury----not painful to do,went a few times-pain gone,no side affects--was well worht it! good luck to you,