L5/S1 Nerve Root Injection

[Justin]

Dave, I hope you are feeling better and that the x-rays come back OK. Hang in there my friend. I hope the injections on the 6th provide you with much needed relief.

[Justin]

Dave, I hope things go well today. Take it easy.

[Dave]

Thanks Justin. I just got home and am now using ice on my back. The epidural went well and should do the trick this time.

I love the Verced they give me. That stuff makes me crack jokes non stop. I had the nurses cracking up. They finally gave me vicodin for pain. I had to fill out an agreement but that is what I expected. I have to lie down for a few hours because my BP dropped to 90/50, which is a little low for me.

Hopefully I can get through long enough untill I find a new surgeon. I was asked not to return to my former surgeon because I second guessed his diagnosis. Oh well, there are plenty around this area.

Have a great day and peace out.

[ajj1001]

I was asked not to return to my former surgeon because I second guessed his diagnosis.

Are we meant to act dumb if we know whats up with our own bodies?

Anyway glad that it went well!

[Justin]

Thanks Justin. I just got home and am now using ice on my back. The epidural went well and should do the trick this time.

I love the Verced they give me. That stuff makes me crack jokes non stop. I had the nurses cracking up. They finally gave me vicodin for pain. I had to fill out an agreement but that is what I expected. I have to lie down for a few hours because my BP dropped to 90/50, which is a little low for me.

Versed is great.

Hopefully I can get through long enough untill I find a new surgeon. I was asked not to return to my former surgeon because I second guessed his diagnosis. Oh well, there are plenty around this area.

This sums up my thoughts:

[Dave]

Justin and all,

Thanks for the support. The Spine+Brain Clinic is located in Holland, MI., which is a 45 minute drive. Dr Lowrey has opened an office in Grand Haven which he is at two days a week now. I have been doing some research on him and he seems to be highly regarded. He does both traditional fusion as well as TLIF and MAST. I still want to look into him a bit more, but so far he looks like a he knows what he is doing.

The PA saw before my injection asked how well the Darvecet worked for me and we both started to laugh. I explained how I was removed from 60 mg's of Norco to 6 Darvecet N100's because "everyone needs to learn how to live with pain". She left and came back in 5 minutes later with a scrip for Vicoden.

My BP is back to normal now. It looks like I took two of my 12.5 mg Lisnopril blood pressure medicine. DUH ... not a good idea. BP is at 122/82 now.

Hopefully tomorrow I will feel some good results from the epidural and can start to function somewhat in a normal routine.

Thanks again....

[Dave]

This morning I went in for more injections at Michigan Pain consultants. This time they did a full epidural with fentanyl, depo-medrol, steroids and lidocaine. He also did a direct nerve root block on L5-S1 on the left side. I've been laying on ice packs on and off all day but this is by far the most painful injection yet.

Overall they seem to be working a little longer each time I get them, so I still have hope that I can push off surgery for a while longer. I know as of now I have to have fusion and I'm not ready for that yet. Every day I push it off is one day closer to some new cutting edge technology being found. (optimism at it’s best).

[Justin]

Hey Dave,

I do hope the injections help with your pain. You're one tough guy. Wishing you the best.

[Dave]

It's been 6 weeks since my last injection, and the pain is back with a vengeance. The last few nights have been all but miserable trying to sleep. 6 more weeks before I can get another, so in the mean time I am going to ask my pcp to schedule another MRI. It feels like the pain has gotten worse as it goes from the center low back, through the right buttock and around to the front of the thigh. Also starting to get "needles" in my right foot and ankle.

The last time I asked to have my meds changed from the pain doc, he was a little bit hesitant, so I'm a little leary on asking for another increase. Hopefully bringing in new films will help.

I know. Just trying to log for others to see.

[Justin]

Dave, I'm sorry to hear this. Are you getting new films done soon? Stay strong brother.