Is 4 the max number of epidurals/year? Arachnoiditis a risk?

**muddy** · 04-12-2011, 11:30 PM

Just checking. Had 3 transforaminasl that have not helped leg pain enough (maybe see better needle jockey?) and one S-I joint injection.

Is this the max b/c I'm still in pain.

Should I get my records to see the doses of cortisone, etc. used.

Also, is there a risk of arachnoiditis in getting epidurals?

Thanks so much; I'm so rusty in this stuff.

**hooperleo** · 04-12-2011, 11:47 PM

My PM told me 3 was max per year, I had 3 on left and 3 on right L4/5 and 2 RFA's only lasted 2 months and had big problem with pain on left butt for several weeks.

**KanRunMo** · 04-13-2011, 11:38 AM

It seems to depend on the doctor. The common number is 3 per year. I've heard of people getting more than that. The long term problems with steroids is what they are worried about so there is a lifetime limit.

**trkdoc714** · 04-13-2011, 06:37 PM

My pain management doctor limited me to 4 ESIs annually, but offered selective nerve blocks in lieu of steroids with the same limitations (total of 8 injections if needed/wanted).

**muddy** · 04-14-2011, 02:12 AM

Thank you so much. I never considered nerve blocks. Will check up as I thought they give marcaine w/steroids in epidurals. Also never considered the "lifetime" (or annual) limit and its ramifications that I cannot handle in considering.

Best ~ m

**Cindylou** · 04-14-2011, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by muddy

Thank you so much. I never considered nerve blocks. Will check up as I thought they give marcaine w/steroids in epidurals. Also never considered the "lifetime" (or annual) limit and its ramifications that I cannot handle in considering.

Best ~ m

Muddy, they do give marcaine w/steroids in the epidurals, but they can also give you "just" marcaine, as a boost/help. Now, you also don't want to load up unnecessarily on just marcaine either. My pain management doc gave me a recipe similar to Bob's over the course of a year. As regards the "lifetime" limit of all of the above, frankly, for me personally at 58, I just don't give a damn. The way I look at it, I already lost 10 years of my life, as my bike accident happened at age 48, so I am doing any and everything to keep my body as mobile as possible, for right now. That's just me. I refuse to just lay around and let life pass me by.

Cindylou

**muddy** · 04-15-2011, 01:03 AM

Thank you CL and those above. Yeah, I know w/you mean about "going for broke". A friend, a shrink, said that cortisone causes tissue damage/necrosis, among a zillion things. Now this is not good. I w/check into marcaine as finally we're having the trip to Europe that w/include walking. Strange, only Tylenol seems to help, moreso than opioids.

Be well. Yes, ten years ago my life changed drastically overnight.

There are so few of us!

m

**Cindylou** · 04-16-2011, 09:56 AM

Muddy, good for you that Tylenol helps. That's pretty amazing, and oh, so much better than opiates. Tylenol, unfortunately, does absolutely nothing for me. Have a wonderful trip in Europe! Cindylou

**KanRunMo** · 05-21-2011, 04:41 PM

"There's always something" (from Sat. Nite. Live - can't think of her name- not Goldie Hawn but a Goldie, I think. )
I've been overdoing exercise and had very bad pain in my upper arm. Tried to get into an ortho but he wouldn't see me because he wanted to make sure it wasn't my back. Pain all night. Saw my PCP. It is either a pulled shoulder muscle or a rotator cuff tear. Hope for the pulled muscle. He have me a corisone shot in my shoulder. So far it's working.