hey hey i have had to endure many of those shots to low back and now upper spine they suck dont they and my dr wont give any sedative at all just lay there and take it ,,,like i have for 18 yrs but some people have pull get many surgeries and treatments that WORK not me just prolong the suffering is this politics in the medical profession to where they can choose who to help and who not to even look at if you ask me i say yes its exactly as i see it no way around the pain im told to get a brace and live with it ,and to suck it up baby, once in sever cramping pain all locked up couldnt move if my ass was on fire, thats health care in AMERICA these days but if your an illeagle they will help you, charge the government with no questions asked and no bill collectors hounding you for payment, to bad i wasnt a mexican illeagle or a prisoner of war same thing fix ya right up and on your way, even sports players they fix them all the time in the locker room a guy sits there and gives pain shots by the dozen every game all the time you get tackled by a 240 pounder head on and see if they help you im sure they couldnt send you to an emergency room. i went to one once in bad pain they said go home and rest, it will take care of its self. im lied to so much i feel like a rug... american health care does two things lets doctors get rich off insureance companys and lets others suffer such as i,,, I look forward to the blanket of death, it is calling me now for years, and i can hear the violins palying, (my heart cries for you) but it doesnt and no one will. one expert in back pain gave me a brace told me to live with it i punched him in the mouth and tomorrow i see another at 9 am i will get something done or somebody will get a fat lip to wear for a few days pissed you bet but stay with what works (so you can work) i cant and havent worked in 18 + years but id like to even if im shinning shoes on a street corner in the gehtto for 10 cents a shoe what a lousy life i have tim58

Thanks...Maybe I will search this site for some exercise stretching information....Thanks, I think......

Dave:
I'm surprised you weren't sent for a surgical evaluation, or did I misread your post? The numbness you describe in your post leads me to think you need to consult a spine surgeon. New numbness and weakness are markers of serious problems that may benefit substantially from surgery.

I'm a retired anesthesiologist-pain specialist. I've helped in similar cases. I suggest you consult a surgeon. A wise one will give you a clear picture of the potential benefits of surgery, and the risks.

Have a nice life!

Ken Noel

Thanks Ken, I guess I left that out

I did see a neuro-surgeon and he sent me to the pain clinic for the nerve root block and ordered the PO steroids. The damage is fairly extensive, that is what puzzles me so much....How I ended up with such a mess and never really had any indicators besides being a tick sore after work on a few occasions. It is indeed interesting how these things can sneak up on you so-to-speak.....I go back in a few weeks to re-check, so far so good.....My foot drop has gotten better, and my pain no longer radiates into my ankle, more or less it stops at the thigh level......
I would like to avoid surgery, but I guess we'll see what the doc has to say in a month or so....

Thanks again, Dave

Save surgery for the absolute last resort. Since you have responded so well to the injections, maybe on the next bout of pain they will try something like rhizotomy. I have facet arthropathy and the rhizotomy helped me tremendously for years. I had surgery and regret it. Stay conservative as long as you can.