Had steroid back injection? Recommend?

[Alicia64]

I have bad sciatica that goes from my lower back into my -- let's say -- way upper thighs. I hurt daily. Pills have had really annoying side effects.

 

I'm doing physical therapy and am very good about doing my exercises. I use heat and cold packs.

 

The next thought is having a steroid shot.

 

One dr. was gung-ho about it, but my current dr. seems reluctant and said, "I'm not going to talk to you into it."

 

When I pressed her as to why she just gave me vague answers.

 

If you've had a steroid shot or thought of having one, what do you think?

 

Thanks!!

 

Alley

[zoobie]

I haven't, but clients get them frequently. Have they done X-rays or MRI or other testing to see if it's more than sciatica? Unless you're allergic to medicines, there's not really a downside. The shots either help or they don't. If your doctor is blowing your pain off, find another one. I hope you get some relief soon.

[creekland]

I haven't had them for my back, but my dad has had them a few times now for sciatica.  They really help him.  He says they don't make it 100% better, but about 70 - 80%, and to him, that's a definite relief.  Allow a couple of days (maybe more) to feel the changes as right after the first time he had shots he was wondering if he'd made the correct decision.

 

If you determine that they are right for you, I hope they work!

[Lady Florida.]

I've had them frequently. They work for a while and that's good enough for me. Sometimes it only lasts a month, sometimes I can go as long as six months with relief. I try not to have them too often, but do usually end up with 1-2 a year, and spend the rest of they year trying to get relief in other ways. 

 

PT and exercise helps briefly. Pain meds help until they wear off. Ice packs help for a while. 

 

I've found that everything is temporary. I would suggest trying it at least once to see if you get relief.

[Paige]

I found them painful and unhelpful. 

[Lady Florida.]

He says they don't make it 100% better, but about 70 - 80%, and to him, that's a definite relief.  Allow a couple of days (maybe more) to feel the changes as right after the first time he had shots he was wondering if he'd made the correct decision.

 

 

 

I get 50-60% relief. My doctor thought that wasn't good, but to me half as much pain as before is a definite improvement. And yes, don't expect immediate relief. It can take as long as a week for the medicine to take effect.

[MBM]

If the shots don't help, consider using a PEMF device. That was my first choice when I had lower back pain for months that didn't go away with anything. PEMF therapy worked very well but it took a few weeks before the pain went away completely for me. I use the Almag device and in fact, I'm using it now! It's very relaxing. For sciatica, you could probably also use the Sota device which is less expensive ($350-ish vs. $550-ish). The Sota is good for pain deeper in the body. The Almag covers a wider area and the magnetic part is different.

 

http://drpawluk.com/updates/back-pain-lumbar-disc/

 

It sounds weird but it's great. And, you can use the device for years.

 

I also like the idea of prolozone therapy but it can be hard to find. I haven't had to use it yet, but I'd definitely consider it.

[Momof3littles]

Over time they can affect connective tissue.  I think of them as a temporary thing, TBH.

 

If PT isn't helping, have you considered trying another therapist?  How long have you been doing PT?  Do you have a diagnosis?  What is the PT treating you for?  Sciatica has many possible causes, so your trajectory sort of depends on what your diagnosis is.

[gingersmom]

Maybe go see a pain management doctor.

[Princess Ariel]

I have had one in my upper back (had pain radiating down both arms, two buldging discs in my neck).  Anyhow, it was only done right after I had an MRI, in the same facility, by a specialist doctor who does many of these everyday.  It took a few days, but I had relief, good relief for a long time afterward. I have not had to have another one since and this was at least 3 years ago.

[Tap]

I have two blown disks, L4 and L5. For me, my sciatic pain isn't just random inflammation, it has a root cause. 

 

I get sciatic pain so severe that it can leave me almost unable to walk.  There have been times when I have to hold on to walls to walk around my house, due to the pain.  I was down to about 10-20% or my normal activity level due to pain, and even that was very limited activities. I chose a pain clinic to do the shots that used anesthesia to sedate me for the shots since they were going into my spine. I have been known to nearly punch my dentist if they hit a nerve right, and didn't want to move during the shot. 

 

 

I had a series of shots a few years ago.  The day of the shot, I would go home and go to sleep.  When I would wake up, I would be in severe pain from the shot.  You need to plan to be very, very still for a couple of days for the medicine to work the best. Over the next day or so, that shot pain would fade and then I would be pretty much were I was without any relief, but I would be tired and sore all over from laying around so much.Once I got up and moved around, over the first week or so, the sciatic pain would start to fade.  I would get about 6 weeks of relief from a shot.  Not complete relief, but enough that I could walk without support and could do about 50% of my normal activities before the injury.  I couldn't go hiking, but could grocery shop if someone carried the bags.; I could sit in a chair, instead of just lay flat etc.  The didn't last too long for me though only a month/month-and-a-half.  I had 5 shots over the course of about a year.  They kept me walking but honestly after the last one, I decided that I really needed to find a different solution.  The doctor who did the shots was a specialist in pain management and tried different locations for the injections.  It wasn't the practitioner, it just wasn't the right answer for me. 

 

 

As an alternative, I have had a shot int he bursa of my hip 10 years ago. I had the bursa pain for 10-15 years (misdiagnosed originally as calcium buildup).  This was my first steroid shot. It was very, very helpful and I never had the problem again.  

 

 

 

 

[Elisabet1]

For sciatica..definitely go with the chiropractor first. Take a few visits and see if it gets better.

 

I have done the shot in the back before. In fact, that was how I found out I was pregnant this time. But I would not use it for sciatica.

[school17777]

I have had it. It took the pain away immediately. I had leg pain as well and that diminished a little everyday. I recommend it. I have a standing order for whenever I need one.

[Slartibartfast]

I had cortisone in one of my discs in my spine. It did help some.