i know is hard to get money in this time and that you have to support your family,but when i read slege hammer...i sayd poooor man...is realy to much heavy for your messed up spine! i think for you is better to listen to your doctor,and get epidural injection,its only my opinion i have only one herniation at t6 t7,small one,but is terrible for me...you must understand that thoracic spine is hell for all of us here,but here we act as little "thoracic pain family".
hope you will get better with time...greetings

HAVE YOU HAD ONE ? WHAT HAPPENED. IM GUESSING THAT IT DIDENT WORK IF YOR STILL HERE ON THIS CHAT

Hello Baddays and Welcome to Spine-health......The injections do help alot of people and the numbing agent only works temporarily...its the steriods that help for longer. I have had them, multiple times and I have also had to have Major Lumbar fusion....now my t-spine and cervical are going bad because they were not in great shape before my fusion.

Most Spine Drs will want to try ALL conservative treatments BEFORE any surgery because surgery is not a fix-all....mine did not help at all.

Please listen to your Dr or seek a second opinion...and keep us posted!!

I am so sorry to hear that you are in so much pain 24/7 yet still trying to go to work to provide for your family. These are such trying times and having chronic pain issues on top of trying to do your job is a rough one. I have been there. My husband is completely disabled with a bad heart. I needed my job to provide insurance and to keep a roof over our heads. Well I sustained an injury to both cervical and lumbar areas. Had cervical fusion March 08. Unfortunately the surgery only complicated matters. I have all the same symptoms only worse and my rt. vocal cord was paralyzed. Have yet to see a surgeon regarding lumbar issues at L4, L5 and S1. I can barely walk and can only whisper now. Am in pain 24/7. Have not yet had thorasic issues and am grateful for that. But am now having problems at C8 the level below my cervical fusion.
I did have injections prior to surgery as someone posted above me inusrance companies and surgeons want you to try all conservative methods before going into surgery. I had PT of every kind. Unfortunately nothing worked for me.
Just my opinion but I would certainly give the injection a try. It is wonderful you have researched the side effects from the injections so you have a good knowledge as to what could or could not happen down the road. But believe me and my opinion only you do have a good possibility that the injections could work for you. The side affects from a failed operation in my opinion are so much worse. My dr's could not let me return to work, although I tried. I kept falling, could not speak and could not sit, stand for more than roughly 2 minutes. We ended up losing our home and insurance. I was at my job for 29 yrs 11 mos and 26 days. Four days shy of 30 yrs yet they would not give me my benefits. Very sad situation. And to top it off injury happened at work but CEO did not complete the proper paperwork for workmans comp. I had to get an attorney and still in the court system. It has been a complete nightmare. I was approved for SSDI thank God on my first try. 8 wks from the day I applied. But you have to be off work for a year I believe and you have to be off 24 months before Medicare kicks in. So had to pay out of pocket for insurance.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if you tried the shots and they worked? I so wish they would have worked for me as I may not be in the situation I am in now.
Just something to think about. Yes everything has it's risks but if you weigh the difference between a shot not working and a failed surgery I truly believe a failed surgery would be so much worse.
Good luck to you and I hope you can somehow find the relief you so much deserve. Are you working with a Pain Mgmt dr at all? Perhaps there are different options out there for you.
Jan

You have three options that I can see. Do nothing and go back to work in pain risking further damage. Try the injection and hopefully it will work and you go back to work in less pain risking further damage. Find a new profession that doesn't involve twisting your back.

Is your WC claim still open? If not get it reopened and make sure all of this is in there. Hopefully your benefits are enough to let you find a good solution.

Side effects of injected corticosteroids
Injected corticosteroids can cause side effects near the site of the injection. Side effects may include pain, infection, shrinking of soft tissue and loss of color in the skin. Doctors usually limit corticosteroid injections to no more than three or four a year.

That is from the Mayo Clinic- I discussed the use with my doctor at length and also watch the new National Geographic Show. This doesn't scare me any more.

I have had many injections lumbar and thoracic now. I don't like them but only for short term my doctor feels it is better to try and shrink the irritated nerves and locate the exact places (pain generators) for futute other possible treatments such as Spinal Cord implants or pain pumps- what have you.

The worst for me is the red/hot face. I do get some mood swings but can control it. It makes me a little more crabby- thats it. I also get energry bursts and when they work I get a nice break from the 24/7 unrelenting pain I haven't gained any weight this year- infact I have been steady loosing.

There is a lady on this board who is allergic to the steroids who had the blocks with out the steroids. It is possible to get it done- but it won't last long. My clininc does it as well.

Good luck,

Julie

You should give Steriod injections a try I have had them and they help sometime it takes two week for them to work,I just had my T-11 and T12 and SI and hip done Oct 7 and it just is now helping at T12 the others was SI and hip help right a next next day I have them every few months. Also they can do this to see if it help then if it does they know what else my help one thing they have told my is burning the nerves and a ten that is put inside my whole back is a mess from c5-s1 I cannot have surgary
my T11 and 12 is bad At T11-T12 a right paracentral extrusion is noted. This desiccated extrusion extend slightly above the disc space measuring 2 to 3 mm in size with mild right dural sac compression and mild anterior right cord flattening without canal stenosis
I have found that soma 700mg,dilaudid 4mg and heat and water pt help alot

I think the benefits outweigh the problems associated with it. Unfortunatly there is no easy or really good choice for us Tspines, but any medicine will scare the crap out of you if you look at the side effects, I hated asprin prior to injury now i have so much meds i am on for relief. I was similar to your situation, offshore oil and gas worker with T67 herniation, took a while to find it but I kept working the hard labor job in pain and it has caused my problems to be much worse. It is a bad situation all around, try to get better before returning to work like that. You can set off a chronic vs. acute that will be alot harder to relieve. I had 3 of these injections, nothing for first two, hopeful results for the last one. It will stop the inflammation and help with healing. This may help the herniation get smaller.
You may have problems you dont even know about yet, I found tears in T spine discs that cause pain 6 years after my injury.

Dont get in a rush, do whatever it takes to make sure you are in working conditon. Belive me family comes first I know but you being off a little longer could mean alot better situation for your family down the line and the opposite applies ( my situation).

Good luck, welcome to this site, and I hope I never have to talk to you again ( that would mean you are better).

Welcome to Spine Health!! My thoracic issues are at the same levels you have, but mine are dried up disks (DDD) and bone spurs. Unfortunately you have to be at risk of permanent damage most times before surgery is offered. The surgery is way complicated due to the rigid support of the rib cage.

I've had the shots for my neck and shoulder, and for me I got no relief. I've seen others say initially the same, but the doctor hit 'the sweet' spot and it worked. As was said, yes some of the side effects can be bad, but if you get relief, the risk might be worth it - your call of course.

Since this happened at work, like was said, I would push to get this filed and moving with OWCP. Since you are herniated, you really need to be careful not to aggravate it further, or cause more damage. Thoracic pain is the worst! I so hope you find relief soon. Gentle *HUGZ*

Brenda

wow!!! I need a min?

YOU KNOW WHAT GETS ME IS I HAD JUST TAKEN MY SON AND HIS FREIND TO THE DRAGON FORCE CONCERT HAD A BLAST PIT AND ALL NEVER KNEW A THING FELT LIKE I WAS 20 AGAIN OUT PARTYING TILL THE CRACK OF DAY THEY HAD A GOOD TIME TOO. I? NA THEY HAD A BLAST ALLMOST RAN OUT OF GAS LOL. 3AM HOWEVER IT LOOKS LIKE THEM DAYS ARE GONE, FOR NOW AND I PRAY, NOT FOR EVER LIFE WAS GOOD BEFORE I FELL.. I RIDE BIKES STREET, DIRT, AND PEDDEL NOW & THEN. SLEADS,ATV'S,BOAT,ECT NO SMALL TRIPS TO THE STORE I USED THEM.50 MI AND UP EACH TRIP IT'S A LOT OF WORK JUST TO GET THERE SO WHEN I DID. I DID IT RIGHT ALL WITHIN THE LAST YEARS REPEATEDLY NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY BACK PAIN LIKE THIS!!! I WORK HARD & I PLAY HARD BUT I DONT HAVE THE BUMPER STICKER. OK BACK ON TRACK WOW THANK YOU ALL AND SPINE HEALTH FOR ALL THE INFO YOU ARE ALL WILLING TO SHARE WITH ME I HAVE SEEN SOME SITES ON HERE AND OUTHER PLACES LIKE LSI OR THIS NEW OsseoFix Spinal Fracture Reduction System EVEN ON PAPER IT SOUNDS BETTER THEN BEING A DART BOARD. YES IT MIGHT HAVE SIDE EFFECTS BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A LOT MORE INFO, BEFORE I GO WITH ANY THING I WIL SUFFER UNTILL I MAKE MY DISCION AND IM HOPEING FOR THE DOCTORS TO HELP ME ALONG THE WAY AND NOT BE SO LOCKED IN TO ONE TREATMENT OR THE U CAN LIVE WITH IT DEAL. I NEED TO BE FIX AND I WILL TRY MY BEST TO GO THE RIGHT WAY. BUT IM NOT LOOKING TO JUST MAKE A CHOICE WITH HASTE BECOUSE IM IN PAIN AND MY PAIN IS BAD YES BUT I DONT WANT TO HELP IT ALONG AND IF I MAKE THE WRONG ONES I WILL BE THE ONE TO PAY FOR IT. I WANT TO STOP IT.. AND NOT WITH A TEMP BANDAID WITH SPIKES. AS A FULL REPAIR OR AS CLOSE AS POSIBLE WITH MINIMAL SIDE EFFICICS. IF THATS POSSABLE AT IT THIS TIME IN OUR WORLD. I DONT KNOW MUCH YET BUT I WILL TRY TO GET THIS DONE. OR IT JUST MIGHT BE A DAY DREAM BUT I WILL FIND OUT THE HARD WAY THATS THE ONLY WAY ITS WORKED FOR ME SENCE I CAN REMEMBER I WISH & PRAY US ALL PAIN FREE & IN PEACE OR AS CLOSE AS WE CAN GET TO IT... ITS HARD FOR ME TO SLOW DOWN I FORGET THAT I CANT DO THAT AND REMEMBER WHEN THE PAIN JUMPS UP AND SAY HAY STUPID JUST FROM GETTING OUT OF BED OR OFF THE SEAT THE WRONG WAY DARN NEWBE IN GETTING MY MRI REPORT FOR MY LUMBAR NEXT XX FINGERS DONT NEED NO MORE BAD NEWS~X(

Thoracic MRI REPORT at T8-9 level.disk herniation with slght extrusion of the disk of the disk,indenting the ventral aspect of the cord irritating the right exiting T8 nerve root A smaller protrusion is seen at T9-10 level the disk space has mildly desiccated. mild forminal norrowing is seen. annular disk bulge and mild diskdesiccation is seen at T10-11. sagittal images reveal Mild changes of cervical spondylosis at C-5-6-7 levels impression: right paracentral disk heriation and extrusion at T8-9 level in position to irritate the right exiting T8 nerve root. disk spacedegenerations are present at T9-10-11 there is a mild rotation of the thoracic spine convex to the right

LUMBAR MRI REPORT?

IM JUST TRYIG NOT TO LOSE MI MIND. NO SLEEP IN TWO WEEKS BECOUSE MY DOCTOR TOOK MY PAIN MEDS AWAY BECOUSE I USED THEM TO SLEEP.THIS ALL STARTED FOR ME 5MO. AGO FOR THE FIRST 3 1/2 MO I REFUSED PAIN MEDS AND PAID THE PRICE. BUT WHEN I WAS SENT & WENT BACK TO WORK.IT GOT BAD FACE FIRST AGAIN. I TOOK THEM I WAS SO DRAWN OUT FROM NO SLEEP I TOOK THEM HARD AND SLEEPT FOR 10 DAYS 18-20 HR A DAY. 40 PILLS THEN I GUESS THE DOCTOR FELT THAT I DID SOMETHING WRONG SO I DONT HAVE ANY NOW EXCEPT NAOROXEN & FLEXERIL I HAD TO BEG FOR THEM. YES I NEED A NEW DOCTOR HOWEVER IM DEALING WITH W/C DOCTORS AND THEY DONT HAVE MY BEST INT. IN MIND. BUT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM.. ANY WAY I WANT TO GET OVER THIS AND IM SURE WE ALL DO.THIS IS NO WAY TO LIVE.

If I were you I would hire a WC attorney ASAP and find a new doctor. If what your saying if fact your employer and the WC doctor sound evil.

Get your medical records (you need to call the places where you were treated as well as the doctors office and arrange to get your records- they may charge you a small fee and it may take a few days). I did this yesterday for the first time for my possible attorney. I had to fill out a form at each MD's office.

Take those records with you to see the new doc (if you have to start with a primary care doctor so be it). At least they will document everything and hopefully reffer you to a specialist (neurologist, NS/OS) and maybe a Pain Manager (to handle your meds and other treatments even if you wont do injections with steroids thet can do other tests). They can also hire an IME to test you to see if you are ready to return to work.

Welcome to the journey my friend it is going to be a bumpy ride. "Put your tray tables up and your seats in the upright position"

Julie

When I first went to my first Pain Management Dr. He did 8 rounds of 8 trigger point injections for the muscle tightness and knots around my spine and it had some relief. I then had facet joint injections and had to get the epidurals finally as a desperate measure to get some relief which only lasted a short term for me.

I have now exceeded 6 epidurals this year due to a trial I'm in and understand the risks involved but it's unbearable if I don't have the injections. I've also had nerve blocks in my hip and butt and SI joints and facet joint and trigger point injections did not contain any steroids.

I don't have thoracic problems and hear the pain is awful in that area. I hope you find a Dr. to help manage your pain levels. I find my infrared platinum heating pad very effective in treating muscle and nerve pain and was prescribed to me by a PM Dr. and was a good investment since I've used it for over 2 years.

Are you taking a nerve pain med that works best for sciatica? I take Cymbalta which helps my leg pain but have tried Lyrica which helped also but it had too many side effects for me. I hope you get some relief soon. Take care. Charry

I have limited skills in typing I did not think about it at the time. I was just trying to get it done... I was told and he's wright stop posting with all caps. Caps indicates that you are yelling and nobody here has done anything wrong to you. So I'm sorry if I gave you that impression, I thank spine-health for this forum and all of you that shared the info that has helped me with my back. I will not do it again.

Sincerely sorry
baddays

Brother I know,its horrible. I am suffering lumbar/cervical pain that is terrible no releif. With thoracic there were alot of signs I could get better and with two ESI I did. I would be living life right now ( with pain but able to manage) my thoracic does not hurt nearly as bad anymore after I finished school and found ESI that worked. 8 yrs fighting it. Unfortunatly godchild jumped on back in pool and now I am worse than ever, life sucks right now.
But I would definitly try the ESI and man I would have to say find another profession or you are gonna end up in to much pain to handle and it will only hurt family. Do not rush anything , your life may depend on it. But ESI worked for me, took 3-4 to find spot but it helped. Back pain is a destructive horrible thing that took my life and my family, so u have to put your body first or you will end up in so much worse pain. Its a horrible circle cause you need money for doctors but cannot do job cause of pain, I was in same sit.