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2 replies [Last post]
March 26, 2009 - 9:37am
Anonymous
ESI making pain worse?

Has anyone's back pain and sciatica symptoms gotten worse after getting a steroid injection? I felt good walking out of the facility, next day was ok, 2 days later it was bad. Called the Dr. office and they said that it could take 2 weeks for it to take full effect. Here I am a month later and I now have sciatica down to my ankle (used to only go to my knee), burning sensations in my thigh and cramps in the bottom of my foot. These are all new.

So I got maybe 24 hours of relief from the shot and now I have symptoms that I never had before. From researching these shots and talking with my physical therapist I have learned that if the first one does not work the 2nd and 3rd are unlikely to work so I am not going to waste my time trying again. I got to many side effects from the first, which made the 24 hours of releif I got not worth it.

I go back to my neuro tomorrow.

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March 26, 2009 - 11:33am
#1
jeq1977
User offline. Last seen 1 year 39 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 02/10/2009
Posts: 92
Points: 186
yup

The same thing happened to me. I had a series of 3.
The first one helped for about a week, the second one made everything much, much worse until I had the third, which helped for a few days. It could also be the result of a natural worsening of your condition, and not necessarily because of the shot.
I also had nasty side effects, and completely understand your desire to avoid them, but I really feel like the 3rd shot reversed the badness of my 2nd shot. If your neuro suggests a 2nd, just consider it. It may help with the new symptoms, until you decide about surgery.

Good luck!

_____________

Jessica, Age 32. Pain began in left hip, 6/08-misdiagnosed as joint
degeneration. Spread throughout leg and foot by 7/08, sent to Ortho.
MRI 8/08, broadbased herniation of L5/S1, bulge at L4/5, cause unknown.
Tried combo of rest, NSAIDS & narcotics, sent for 3 ESIs 9/08, 10/08, 11/08.
Orthopedist ran out of options, sent me to Neurosurgeon 1/09.
Left Laminotomy & Microdiscectomy at L5/S1 1/28/09, pain free for 3 weeks.
Pain returned in full force 2/15/2009. Tried rest & steroid pack, no help.
Repeat MRI 3/1/09, no reherniation, 3rd MRI 3/12/2009, no nerve impingement. Bed rest & ibuprofen for 8 weeks, no help. More steroids, new NSAID, will started Neurontin on 4/30/09. Will follow up w/neuro on 5/29.

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