Lumbar Spine Stenosis

[thaisabai]

I am suffering from spinal (lumbar) stenosis and want to avoid surgery.

tried out so far is lots of specific exersises, weight loss and chiropractic which all helps, but not enough.

I still have to take painkillers (Ibuprofein) on a daily basis and want to get rid of these.

My next step I am planning is an epidural steroid injection at a local hospital (cost between 15,000-30,000 Baht).

I am reading a lot on the internet, but reports are very controversial.

Has anyone had an injection before and experienced relief and how long?

appreciate any comments

thaisabai

[Rimmer]

Best I move this to the Health Forum

[lopburi3]

My wife has had two operations to remove deposits and very much trying to avoid another and has been prescribed Neurontin 300mg daily so you might ask it that is an option. Wife hates to take extra medications and has used for one month and then avoids until pain requires again (often 6 months later) and has been doing for about 3 years now.

[awayfoe]

many people have very good result with harpagophytum after 2 or 3 month easy to buy with internet i use it for very strong arthrose degenerative and the result is incredible

[Sheryl]

First of all, steroids can only reduce inflammation temporarily, they will do nothing to alter an underlying structural problem. And it can cause many long-term ill effects on both bone and muslce.

The first step, if it has not already been thoroughly done, is to determine whether or not the stenosis is in fact the cause of her pain. the fact that she has it and has back pain does not necessarily mean that the one caused the other, especially if the degree of stenosis is not that marked. Many doctors make the mistake of assuming that any abnormal finding m -- be it some degree of stenosis, or disc prolapse -- accounts for the pain and it is not always so. Needless to say, if the cause is incorrectly identified, the treatment is unlikely to help.

I would suggest you consult Dr. Wicharn at the BNH Hospital Spine Center, he is world class. I have known him to zero in on causes that other spinal specialists missed or mis-diagnosed.

[thaisabai]

many people have very good result with harpagophytum after 2 or 3 month easy to buy with internet i use it for very strong arthrose degenerative and the result is incredible

is harpagophytum available in Thailand?

thanks

thaisabai

[Sheryl]

many people have very good result with harpagophytum after 2 or 3 month easy to buy with internet i use it for very strong arthrose degenerative and the result is incredible

is harpagophytum available in Thailand?

thanks

thaisabai

I don't think so. And in any event, it too is just an anti-inflammatory. If your pain is due to nerve compression from a structural defect, it will at most give just temporary relief.

[awayfoe]

many people have very good result with harpagophytum after 2 or 3 month easy to buy with internet i use it for very strong arthrose degenerative and the result is incredible

is harpagophytum available in Thailand?

thanks

thaisabai

I don't think so. And in any event, it too is just an anti-inflammatory. If your pain is due to nerve compression from a structural defect, it will at most give just temporary relief.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15150687

[Sheryl]

many people have very good result with harpagophytum after 2 or 3 month easy to buy with internet i use it for very strong arthrose degenerative and the result is incredible

is harpagophytum available in Thailand?

thanks

thaisabai

I don't think so. And in any event, it too is just an anti-inflammatory. If your pain is due to nerve compression from a structural defect, it will at most give just temporary relief.

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/15150687

Exactly my point. It gives only temporary pain relief. It does not in any way correct the cause. if the OP's pain is actually due to pressure on nerves due to a narrowing of the vertebral column, that needs to be addressed.

[shepsel]

I have had two spinal fusions. Before the first one, I was on pain killers, took spinal injections, and finally had a fusion. The problem with the injections as well as pain killers is that they only last for a limited period of time, and eventually the body gets used to them and they become less effective. Healing from the first fusion took over a year, and I was pretty well okay, but I had to learn my limitations. The need for a second fusion came on all of a sudden, as there was no gnawing pain before the disc collapsed, and I had to go for immediate surgery in Thailand as the pain was unbearable. I have pretty well healed, and I do have to watch myself as too much activity cause low grade pains.

I would try and live without surgery as long as I could if I were you. There are many side affects from pain medications including depression and of course constipation on morphine based drugs.

[wpcoe]

I would suggest you consult Dr. Wicharn at the BNH Hospital Spine Center, he is world class. I have known him to zero in on causes that other spinal specialists missed or mis-diagnosed.

+1 on the recommendation for the BNH Spine Center.

[dominique355]

I have had stenosis, if I remember correctly, about 9 years ago. Terrible pain and no painkiller would help.

At that time I lived in Zurich (Switzerland) and went to see a specialist in the local university hospital. He made me two spinal injections with little effect.

Then, a week later, I went back and his assistent gave me a third spinal injection and within minutes my situation improved. Now, 9 years later, I am still fine, no recurrence ever.

So far my personal experience.

[thaisabai]

I have had stenosis, if I remember correctly, about 9 years ago. Terrible pain and no painkiller would help.

At that time I lived in Zurich (Switzerland) and went to see a specialist in the local university hospital. He made me two spinal injections with little effect.

Then, a week later, I went back and his assistent gave me a third spinal injection and within minutes my situation improved. Now, 9 years later, I am still fine, no recurrence ever.

So far my personal experience.

thanks for the info.

That means I could possibly need up to 3 injections; not cheap at 20,000 Baht each!

thaisabai