I'm hurting after being rear ended

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Well, I finally had it done.

Remember my car accident of 31 August? Weeks of physical therapy helped. Took several weeks more of laying around visiting relatives.
Finally decided it's as good as it's going to get.

Tired of hurting with every move, I finally got the Epidural Steroid Injection. I'm sore and thinking only of myself at the moment.

So what are epidurals?
The human spinal cord is an organ controlling sensation, movement, vascular construction, sweating, and hormone production. Similar to the brain, the spinal cord is well protected with spinal fluid, which is contained by a few layers of membranes. The outside layer of the membranes is the thickest and strongest layer, named dura. In the spinal canal, there is a loose space between the dura and surrounding bone structures called the epidural space, where spinal nerve roots exit the spinal cord and spinal canal to reach every part of the body.
Epidural injections mean delivery of medications to the epidural space.
Epidural steroid injections are used to reduce inflammatory response of the spinal nerves or discs, caused by a variety of reasons. Selective nerve blocks are also called transforaminal epidural steroid injections. The medications are selectively delivered to particular spinal nerve roots through neuroforamina, which are canals that the spinal nerves use to exit the spinal column. If the pain is relieved by selective nerve blocks, it suggests the pain generators are related to inflammation in those particular nerve roots. Therefore selective nerve blocks are not only therapeutic but are frequently used for diagnostic purposes.
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Robert

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Hi Robert...not sure why I missed this but this is the first I heard of your accident. Sorry about your accident and back pain.

I have chronic back pain due to degenerative disc disease and previous ruptures. At home we joke that I have had more epidurals than my wife has or ever will (hopefully) and it provides temporary relief which allows some healing to take place. With degenerative discs the pain always returns eventually and I do not get these anymore. They have provided weeks of pain relief in the past.

I hope you get better.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Sorry to hear about your pain, it is something my sister has suffered from for several years, and I know how bad it can get from her reports. I wish you health and healing.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Remember my car accident of 31 August? Weeks of physical therapy helped. Took several weeks more of laying around visiting relatives.
Finally decided it's as good as it's going to get.

Tired of hurting with every move, I finally got the Epidural Steroid Injection. I'm sore and thinking only of myself at the moment.

So what are epidurals?
The human spinal cord is an organ controlling sensation, movement, vascular construction, sweating, and hormone production. Similar to the brain, the spinal cord is well protected with spinal fluid, which is contained by a few layers of membranes. The outside layer of the membranes is the thickest and strongest layer, named dura. In the spinal canal, there is a loose space between the dura and surrounding bone structures called the epidural space, where spinal nerve roots exit the spinal cord and spinal canal to reach every part of the body.
Epidural injections mean delivery of medications to the epidural space.
Epidural steroid injections are used to reduce inflammatory response of the spinal nerves or discs, caused by a variety of reasons. Selective nerve blocks are also called transforaminal epidural steroid injections. The medications are selectively delivered to particular spinal nerve roots through neuroforamina, which are canals that the spinal nerves use to exit the spinal column. If the pain is relieved by selective nerve blocks, it suggests the pain generators are related to inflammation in those particular nerve roots. Therefore selective nerve blocks are not only therapeutic but are frequently used for diagnostic purposes.
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Robert

You need more than 1, 3 is what they say you should have, I had 3 and the last one had a hot needle to kill the nerve.

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

If you can, try to get to someone who specializes in minimally invasive procedures for the spine. There are several new options that may be available to you that don't entail major surgery. You may have to travel to Baltimore to get some of the newer treatments.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

You need more than 1, 3 is what they say you should have, I had 3 and the last one had a hot needle to kill the nerve.

To bring everyone up to speed:

After the first 16 sessions of physical therapy, we visited with relatives for a month just before Christmas. I delayed being injected, but ...

We had plans set for the Hawaiian trip and I didn't want to hurt so bad.
So, in mid-March I decided to get the first steroid injection.

Three days before we were to travel, a deep vein clot developed in my right leg. I shot up Arixtra each day of the trip and got on coumadin when we returned. Anyway, the steroid had worn off before our ramming the country was concluded.

Started therapy all over. After another 16 sessions, they didn't see much improvement.

The spine specialist ordered another CT myelogram. Got the OK to get off coumadin for the pictures to be done.

Today, went in for the reading. He talked SURGERY. I want to try injection #2 first. He's OK with that.


Robert

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

If you can, try to get to someone who specializes in minimally invasive procedures for the spine. There are several new options that may be available to you that don't entail major surgery. You may have to travel to Baltimore to get some of the newer treatments.

I'll be looking into some of it. Do you have anymore information on this?

[chellej Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chellej]

Robert

You mentioned that the other party only had $10000 in coverage. I am going through something similar and the other parties insurance paid the maximum and suggested I file with my insurance for uninsured motorist - this clause also covers under-insured motorist. It won't help your pain but may help your pocketbook

Hope you feel better

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

I'll be looking into some of it. Do you have anymore information on this?

Keep in mind, I am not a health care provider, but a health and science reporter. The two devices I was thinking about are X-STOP and Superion. Both are designed to open up the space in the spine and take the pressure off the spinal nerves.
Information about X-STOP can be found at The X-STOP Spacer for the symptoms of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
There are physicians in the Baltimore area providing this treatment.

The Superion device is still in clinical trials, but you may be eligible to participate. Here is the contact information for the Baltimore area:
Greater Baltimore Neurosurgical Associates at GBMA Recruiting
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21204
Contact: Jackie Murphy, RN 443-849-4282 JMURPHY@gbmc.org
Principal Investigator: Reginald Davis, MD

Even if it turns out that you are not eligible for either of these treatments, you can at least get a dialogue going with physicians who are at the forefront of more cutting edge spinal technologies.
I wish you luck. Please feel free to PM me if I may be of further help.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

I can surely empathize with you. I'm out on permanent disability because of my back and my leg. I hope you feel well soon. Shaggy

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Got the injection yesterday. Have stiffness but not hurting today.

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

Robert best wishes and hope that you get feeling better soon.

Got the injection yesterday. Have stiffness but not hurting today.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Opting for operation - wish me luck

Tired of not doing but for the resulting hurt.
Not resigning myself to lying low for 20 years. Muscles are turning to flab.

I want to do some things.

Going to try for some relief. Operation scheduled for May 10.

[catwgirl Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close catwgirl]

Good luck. I hope everything goes well and that you will be back to your old pain-free self soon.

[jd2601 Member Find all posts View Profile Close jd2601]

I wish you well. I had a dissectomy and removal of bone fragments on L3 a week ago. Prior to that I was unable to walk and lost bowel and bladder function. They decided to do emergency surgery.

It took about a week after surgery to start walking again and bladder/bowel returned. Made it around the block yesterday. Three weeks ago I was on the treadmill for 60 minutes at 4.5 mph. Quite a change. Surgeon said at 6 weeks I will start PT.

I did try steroid injections. Most folks say not to do the surgery but if nothing else works there are not many options. It is also tough being on the narcotics for too long.

Good luck on the surgery and I am sure you will get some relief.

Jd2601