Any conclusions to draw from 1st ESI

[raising4daughters]

I had my 1st ESI last Thursday. No picnic, but I've experienced worse. It was fascinating seeing the screen, too.

99% of my pain has been on the left side of the spine and down the left leg, so we opted for a single injection on the left side. No question he found what I believe is my pain generating spot, or "hot spot" as I call it. I felt it, and while there, he said he could see the disc was right on the nerve. He injected saline to try and create a gap before injecting the final set of meds.

After the procedure, I hurt worse than beforehand for about 36 hours. After that, the generalized pain in the lower back went away. This pain has been my most common, but also the least painful and the most easily controlled with meds and PT. Basically a muscle ache type pain.

The hot spot pain (feels like a knife being driven in 3-4" to the left of the spine on top of the left buttocks) and down the leg, unfortunately, has continued to be worse. Not mind-numbing, but it's now there 100% of the time instead of intermittent. Granted, with the holidays, I haven't gotten to the gym or done my PT, but I'm convinced he found and aggravated my source.

All 3 of the surgeons I've seen have told me that surgery, whether microdiscectomy or full fusion, are better at eliminating leg pain than back pain. Those statements are what have led me to be eager for surgery - I've been able to control the true spine pain quite easily, but when I've got the pain in and on top of the back of the leg, it's pretty rough.

The pain doc wants to try a second round of injections in 11 days. Worth a shot (pun intended)? Any other conclusions? I'm getting closer to opting for Surgeon #1's recommendations for a microdiscectomy and foraminotomy.

[trkdoc714]

Scott,

I had a similar reaction to the cervical ESI in November and am currently scheduled for another on January 3rd.

From my lumbar treatments, I had numerous injections which the results were confusing as the L4/5 disc wasn't thought to be problematic. It wasn't until the final MRI that that disc also proved to be a problem. The ESI is a good tool to pinpoint areas of pain and help plan any future surgical procedure. You're doing the right thing by trying any conservative treatment to forstall or eliminate a more invasive procedure.

Good luck in your next injection.

Bob