Cortisone injection for Sciaitca

[ExPratt]

Ive had on and off problem with my lower back on and off for over 20 years , I used to get regular sciatica down my left side every couple of years or so, That actually stopped for a few years and when my back went there was no Sciatica , just a very sore back which started to improve after a few days.

Last Sunday I woke up and my back was sore as the day went on it developed into very bad pains in my right calf so much so that I couldn't stand up at all. I went to the local hospital yesterday actually needed a wheelchair. The doctor wanted to book me in for a Cortizone injection in the offending area of my spine for Saturday (Tomorrow). Ive read quite a few articles on the net and the results are hardly fantastic and disputed by many. Anyone know of or had this treatment ? I though it was a bit drastic

As mentioned my backs been bad on and off for years so I know when something is not usual. I had an MRI a year ago and it was just a bit of arthritis "Spinal degeneration" and they gave me Arcoxia for when it played up

Apologies for incorrect spelling in Title

Edited March 20, 2015 by ExPratt

[Pikiss]

After consulting three spine specialist (1 in Finland, 2 in Bangkok) and resorting to all imaginable self-help (massage, physiotherapy, exercise, inversion therapy etc) he decided to try one more thing: He got 9 shots of cortisone to his lower back pains in Bangkok Pattaya Hospital 6 months ago.

After a couple of days the pain went away completely. It lasted about one week and the pain came back basically over-night but was milder than before. Now after 6 months the pain has been building up to be as bad as before the injections. His doctor back home said that the injections must have helped because he is feeling the pain much more stronger now.

A word of warning: He got a really bad case of shingles (herpes zoster) to his face a few weeks after the injections. One month in really bad shape (fever, lethargy), 3 months of constant headache and itching in the face, and he’s still feeling the symptoms. Some say that cortisone injections near you spine can wake up a dormant shingles virus and in his case this seems to be true. In hindsight he says he would rather have continued to battle with the known enemy i.e. the back than the shingles.

[thaipod]

Cortisone is quite often only a band aid and lasts 3-4 months. There is always the Chiropractic solution if you have to adjust the L4-L5 spinal vertebrae for relief.

There is also the problem of alignment caused by pronation and leg length discripency where giving pelvic drop and stress on the L4-L5 inflaming the nerve and your muscles going into spasm. You might have to look into custom made orthotics with a heel lift to get the correction.

[ExPratt]

Thanks Gents. I also read about the allergic reaction including face rashes as well as the short term benefit. I'll give it a miss.

I've decided to take the longer Route ,. I read up a few articles today about the stretching , icing and relief exercise. My back pain itself is sore about a 2 out of 10 from what I've had before , However the pain in my calf when I stand up is way up there. I don't think I've damaged my disc. My MRI scan a year ago diagnosed Degenerative Disc Disease.(Arthritis) A Dramatic sounding diagnosis until you realize 40% of people of my age have it. Its just wear and tear with a few strains and pulls thrown in over the years.

I was prescribed Arcoxia , which I only took when my back was bad, so I'll be needing some more. If I took my scans into a Hospital in Thailand along with diagnosis letter would they prescribe me more ?

[NickJ]

I would stick with the arcoxia. Its dosage depends on how long you think you will be on it as they have 60 90 and 120 mg ???? Or something like that. When I have a flare up I take 100mg of diclofene....real cheap here as its Thai made. You can buy both without a scribt....not all pharms have arcoxia however.

Edited March 20, 2015 by NickJ

[ExPratt]

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I would stick with the arcoxia. Its dosage depends on how long you think you will be on it as they have 60 90 and 120 mg ???? Or something like that. When I have a flare up I take 100mg of diclofene....real cheap here as its Thai made. You can buy both without a scribt....not all pharms have arcoxia however.

Thanks ,I was told that Arcoxia are milder on your stomach for long term use. I was prescribed Diclofenac years ago by the local GP, I just kept going back getting repeat prescriptions every month and I and up passing blood, no advice then about eating before you took them or not using constantly, having said that they were quite good at reducing inflamation

[cooked]

My sciatica was healed by one painful injection of cortisone in my bum. I could hardly walk before it, couldn't walk at all afterwards. Things got better and I was working again in a week. However in my experience, the longer you leave things like this, the more difficult it is to heal them. Even acupuncture used to work when I was younger, it hardly has any effect now.

[ExPratt]

Thanks ,How long did the procedure take ?

I'm going to persevere with stretching ,ice and anti inflammatories for a while .Perhaps some acupuncture as well. Im having a bit of a break from work for a few months , so now may be the time to sort it out. I didnt like the sound of some of the cortisone injection side effects , though is seemed to work well for you

[chopin2]

All NSAIDs can cause gastritis and stomach ulcers but Arcoxia is one of those with less risk for that. If you prefer another NSAID like Diklofenak, its possible combin with Omeprazol to protect the stomach from irritation.

Another problem with the NSAIDs is the increased cardiovascular risk, especially with high dose and long term use. Of all the NSAIDs, Naproxen is the one proven to have lowest cardiovascular risk. Particularly patients with known cardiovascular disease who cannot avoid using NSAIDs, Naproxen is the drug of choice.

[NickJ]

On a full stomach for sure. And with Arcoxia its the least doasage you want ro take long term.....and you have to shop for the best price....the bigger pharms are the best.....

[Sheryl]

You might also try lumbar traction. Most hospital PT departments can do it, or there are home devices (of wide range of types and cost) that od it as well.

I have a table type one, non-electric, works with a crank, bought in Phnom Penh for about $250 and it works miracles for me whenever my back acts up. Has also dramatically helped quite a few neighbors. It's made in China, don't know if you can find it in Thailand. In PP it was sold in a store selling exercise equipment.

Quite a few such devices on Amazon, though I don't know if would ship here.

Lacking a device meant for cervical traction, one of those exercise table things that slants with place to hook your feet (for sit-ups) would also work as long as it is on a steep slant, in that case gravoty will pull you downward stretching out your vertebra.

[chubby]

home traction for lumbar/low back probably won't work, for any possible efficacy it's going to have to be high poundage , which is not possible for low back, for neck/cervical , maybe some possible good effect, but traction while widely used , is to my understanding still somewhat dubious, albeit, of probable high safety vs. long term Cox II/NSAID/anti inflammatories...

as with any medical thing, a forum review of your case, is probably sub-standard, need to know one complete physical and medical history for optimum utitility methinks....

having said that, keep in mind MRI/CTs and back pain notoriously are non-correlated , except in extreme or obvious conditions , also any pain > 6 months, becomes chronic , and requires, a management to match , find any pattern to the pain , and keep a journal , etc ........ goodluck

You might also try lumbar traction. Most hospital PT departments can do it, or there are home devices (of wide range of types and cost) that od it as well.

I have a table type one, non-electric, works with a crank, bought in Phnom Penh for about $250 and it works miracles for me whenever my back acts up. Has also dramatically helped quite a few neighbors. It's made in China, don't know if you can find it in Thailand. In PP it was sold in a store selling exercise equipment.

Quite a few such devices on Amazon, though I don't know if would ship here.

Lacking a device meant for cervical traction, one of those exercise table things that slants with place to hook your feet (for sit-ups) would also work as long as it is on a steep slant, in that case gravoty will pull you downward stretching out your vertebra.

[ExPratt]

Thanks . I looked at a few chiropractor type information links yesterday on you tube. Made some sense actually, said not to do hamstring of calf stenches as by definition your nerve is "Trapped" and putting a load of weight on a trapped nerve is not a great idea. Recommend pelvic stretches and stretches at the core of your body , holding a squat for 30 seconds. Apparently these stretches help to tilt your pelvis forward and relive pressure in the spine. Ice every 2 hours for 20 minutes and at the Moment a handful of Ibuprofen and an anti acid tablet. Some minor improvement , still very painful when I walk , can do about a minute hobbling before I have to sit down , which is better than before where I could only stand up for about 3 seconds before the pain in my calf put me back on my arse

[kaorop]

I was able stabilize my back issues by long term stretching, by long term I mean years, took about 3 years to be relatively pain free.

I did it in the shower with warm to hot water running on the areas i stretched every time i showered.

Hope you can find relief.

[ExPratt]

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I was able stabilize my back issues by long term stretching, by long term I mean years, took about 3 years to be relatively pain free.

I did it in the shower with warm to hot water running on the areas i stretched every time i showered.

Hope you can find relief.

Thanks mate. As mention Ive had sciatica on and off for 27 years but this one is nothing like I've had before , its on my right side for the first time and my back isn't really that bad , a bit sore when I turn over at night but nowhere near chronic. I asked the doctor if it was Periformis syndrome ? trapped nerve in Periformis muscle in your arse rather than spine. Stretches are a bit different for that so am doing those as well

[JDGRUEN]

OP - I had three Celestone - steroid injections directly into the vertebral space next to where the Sciatic never branches off of the spinal cord This is in America back in the early 1990's ... The results were fantastic - immediate relief and after the second and third injections months later... the back problem subsided to barely noticeable. I do have flare ups when I do something like fulcrum lifting - instead of bending and using the knees to assist in picking things up...

You can get a bit of a steroid high - a bit hyper or agitated - but not lasting.

The problem is caused by the inflamed Sciatic nerve as it has come in contact with the disc tissue - likely ruptured disc tissue. The inflammation is similar to an allergic reaction and removing the inflammation quickly is the best route.

The injection is NOT given directly into the Spinal Cord -- just into the space in the area of the junction of the spine and the Sciatic nerve.

I highly recommend the procedure - if the doctor has much experience in using this technique ...

[NickJ]

Be very careful with chiropractors. Im not saying they are all bad. But if you get an over zealous one you could be hurt. The same goes for one who doesnt know what he or she is doing, they just cost a small fortune. I think most posters here are making sense......long term fixes are best ie stretching and strenghening. And physical therapy for flare ups and a bit of correct drug therapy......being trim around the middle as well......sleep posture everyrhing matters.

[ExPratt]

I had a Russian Osteopath , Chiropractor in Penang, He wasn't a small bloke and he pulverized me by giving me a "Loosen up " massage before he started on my back. I felt good and the back had settled down after a couple of days but the hour I spent in there was torture

At the moment I've improved , can walk about the house but still get very painful "Cramp" in the side of my calf. I'm having a few seconds between standing up and actually walking to let the pressure on my back settle when the weight comes on. Taking Arcoxia and one called NOUSIC. , Ice every 2 hours and doing some stretches, 3 different stretches 3 times a day.