Question about Epidural Steroid injections (I had one Friday, and it seems to be wearing off already)

[KBear]

A friend in the medical field was a bit uncomfortable with the number of injections I received. She had read of long term problems with that much steroid material being injected. It has been known to cause damage in animal medicine...having said that, most animals react to drugs much differently than humans...like with Tylenol killing cats, etc. even small doses.

I have heard that too many injections is bad too; but I can't remember why. I'm thinking it wasn't based on animal studies but on actual damage to people who had done many injections. Wish I could remember.

Justin- Any idea what I'm talking about?

Dave- Sedation is the way to go, I won't let them touch me without it. When I was in such bad pain before, the sedation gave me 30-60 minutes of relief that I didn't usually get. I actually looked forward to procedures, knowing I was going to get some temporary relief from the medication- LOL

[Cindylou]

Too many EPI's can cause weakening of tendons and ligaments and contribute to thinning of the joint cartiledge.

[Katie]

Thanks CL. So how many is too many???

[davemmevad]

I don't know, but evidently in my case, having another before I go is too many.

I got hold of his office and he actually called me himself to give me the bad news - dang, gotta love a doc who does that. He doesn't like to give you technical detail, but said that with the injection he did a week ago, if he did another this soon he could virtually guarantee it'd make it far worse than I am right now, and that he wouldn't do it. The body needs to heal a bit between the epidurals.

So, I get back from vacation on the 25th, and have an appointment for 7:30 AM on the 27th. And we will go over all my historic records too, and decide on a longer term course of action too. I'm okay with that, I guess, and now I just have to avoid sitting on vacation, since that seems to make it all worse. Thankfully, aside from the plane ride, I have no such plans besides meal time, and transitioning in and out of the beach chairs!

I just keep getting that 'here we go again' feeling...

[KBear]

Thanks CL. So how many is too many???

I'm sure the average spine patient has far surpassed the too many point. If I had to guess, I'd say in my 4 year spinal career, I've had at least 10 of them (epidural and facet combined). It's amazing we aren't all glowing in the dark too, from all the overdoses of radiation too. LOL

[Jack-of-all-trades]

The first doc I saw, a physiatrist, said for lumbar spines, no more than a series of three in six months. The second doc was a PM doc and very aggressive with the procedures, read $$$, had no problems with three spaced a few weeks apart or until pain was relieved, then in 6 months three more, if that didn't work he did nerve ablations, IDETs, discograms or other procedures he could. This one was very generous with the pain meds along as some sort of procedure was in the making. I dumped him and went to the one I saw for over two years. A good man, an honest doc whose prime motivation was helping people in pain by what ever means.

As far as how many are two many I would think after a series of three in one spot and no relief it is not going to help. I suppose, but am not sure what parts are injected with an epidural getting three levels done at once. I had separate facet joint injections. I'm not sure if the two can be combined or not.

The are not nearly as aggressive with smaller joints like thumbs.

I had way to many injections not wanting surgery and it cost me a lot of time, money and extra pain. I had just enough placebo effect relief to give it another go.

[pegasi9]

My surgeon has offered epidurals. Three injections. I heard you can gain weight from them, since they are steroids. What did you experience?

[Cindylou]

If you are on a short, intense course of oral steroid medication, say over a 2 week period, yes you can experience a surge in hunger, but gaining weight from 1 steroid injection, no, never happened to me. And I've had my fair share. Cindylou

[KanRunMo]

I did not notice any difference in my appetite or weight when I had a steroid shot. I had two steroid shots in my back and recently one in my shoulder. It seems to me, that steroids would increase your muscle mass and not your fat, but I really noticed no difference except the removal of pain.

[Justin]

My surgeon has offered epidurals. Three injections. I heard you can gain weight from them, since they are steroids. What did you experience?

If you are on a short, intense course of oral steroid medication, say over a 2 week period, yes you can experience a surge in hunger, but gaining weight from 1 steroid injection, no, never happened to me. And I've had my fair share. Cindylou

Cindylou is right. With a focused injection of steroid into a particular joint, you will not experience weight gain. When a patient is taking systemic steroids for a prolonged amount of time, then one might see weight gain as a side effect.