Spinal Injection Procedure

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone had a safe and Happy New Year. I wish all of you a happy and prosperous 2020!

As I stated in a previous post, on January 3, I had my first spinal injection.

I would like to share my experience to maybe help those who are anxious about it.

Not everyone is the same and not every hospital or doctor has the same protocol but I hope my experience is close enough to help those who have no idea how it was going to be.

When the doctor told me he wanted to try spinal injections, I was ready for anything (except surgery). He gave me some paperwork explaining the procedure etc. I understood it but for whatever reason when it comes to doing something with my spine, I am anxious. I always have that dark thought if he moves that syringe a tiny off, I could be paralyzed and another awful result could occur.

The day before, the Outpatient Surgical Center called me and asked me what time I wanted to go in. That was different. They usually tell you what time to get there.

So the day came and we arrived on time. Since I preregistered online, I only had to sign a few papers. Hubby and I sat down and within 10 minutes I was called. They brought me into a room with several beds like a recovery room with curtains. I really wouldn't call it a recovery room but hopefully you get my drift.

It brought me back to when I was a little girl at New Orleans Touro Hospital in a children's ward after surgery. There were some fond memories and then there were some not so fond memories.

They gave me a gown to change into. (I jokingly asked the nurse why on the instruction sheet it says to wear loose clothing when I have to wear a gown. She said she didn't know but that was a legitimate question!). 

They offered mild sedation but  I declined hoping nothing can be worse than the pain I was in. I overheard the nurse tell other patients the mild sedation would be Benadryl and something with a p.  They hooked me to the blood pressure machine. They allowed my Hubby to be with me until I was rolled into the injection room.

The staff was excellent. I couldn't ask for any better bedside manner, compassion and efficiency.

After about 10 minutes, they came to get me and told Hubby to wait in the waiting room. They rolled me into the injection room and I transferred from one stretcher to the other. The nurse told me to get on my stomach.

One, it's hard to breathe laying on my stomach. Second, when you have back pain, it is the worst position to be in. But I just closed my eyes and concentrated on my breathing exercise I do to calm me or when my asthma flares up or in severe pain. 

Making conversation I asked the nurse how many days of the week do patients come in for injections. She said the area we were in is the place for injections. Patients came in every day for injections. My doctor does them on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Later on, when I was home I thought of how many people in this area has pain to have a center to give injections every day.

About several minutes doc came in. Action started. The nurse helped the doctor prepare the injections. I kept looking at him thinking this doctor doesn't look like my doctor but it was. They just look different in their scrubs. He explained to me that since my back hurt both sides he was going to inject both sides.

He said he was going to apply some iodine to sterilize and it would be cold. He didn't lie. Then he said I'll feel a little pressure. I knew that was the epidural. After a  minute or two, he said he was going to inject the medicine and I may feel burning and some pain.  I can't explain the pain but it went through my body for a few seconds. He did the other side and the same thing happened. It was over.

They rolled me back to the ward and called Hubby to my side. An aide offered me something to drink. The water was so good! Then after a few minutes, the nurse had me get up to try to walk but my leg was numb. So we had to wait another 10 minutes. After 10 minutes I was still unstable but the numbness was better. They discharged me and a young man wheeled me to the car. We were off.

We arrived at 6:45 am and on our way home at 8:30 am. Now that was

The doctor said I would probably have to have 3 at intervals. That day and the next day I was pain-free. Saturday night my leg pain came back full force but my back is much better.

Before the injection, the leg pain was only at night. Now it is all day. They told me to take Tylenol for pain. I take it at night to sleep. I have my legs raised when I sleep. When my foot hits the floor in the morning, there is a severe shock that my foot involuntarily goes up causing more pain in the calf. I do this 2-3 times before I get on my feet. It hurts so bad I just wanna cry. It makes me curse like a sailor sometimes. It's like I stepped on a live wire. I go back to the doc for follow up in a few weeks.  

 As I've always said I am blessed to have my Hubby. I cook, mostly something I don't have to be on my feet for long. Hubby helps or does the dishes.  He has to put the clothes in the washer and dryer because bending aggravates the pain.

However, I am now comfortable with having another injection. I hope sharing my experience helps those who are hesitant to have the injection. It is very simple but you have to have patience because you may need to have more than one.