anyone had facet joint inections?

evabuk

Hi there, I'm a newbie, and have introduced myself in the appropriate thread, so won't go into all the sorry details here...

I just had (last week) some facet joing injections from my spinal specialist (privately;....thank you PPP) in the lumbar spine....and am horrendously depressed because I've felt minimal - if any - improvements.

I have been told that it can take days for these to kick in, and I know they're not a cure, just a temporary respite, but just wondered if anyone else had any experience of these type of injections, and if they would mind sharing.

At the moment I don't know what to do with myself, as I can't sit, lie or even stand much without pain, in spite of being on slow release morphine!!

any and all replies will be most gratefully appreciated.

look forward to getting to know the community

collettem

Hi, I had injections in my spine in Jan. Had a flare up for about ten days after them before I noticed any improvement. But they did help. Hopefully they will settle down and you will have some benefit

evabuk

collettem wrote:

Hi, I had injections in my spine in Jan. Had a flare up for about ten days after them before I noticed any improvement. But they did help. Hopefully they will settle down and you will have some benefit

thanks, collette, that's very reassuring....I'm just about tearing my hair out here, you've given me some hope

heather1

Hi

When i had my injections my pain was real bad for a week after then it settled down.

Unfortunately they didn't help my back problem or sciatica but that doesn't mean they won't work for you.

Best wishes

theredmanc

hi there im a newbie too, i had injections about 2 months ago. the problem with mine however is Ankylosing spondylitis. the jabs i had was to reduce the swelling in my spine and take the pressure off my nerves, which then stopped my hip from giving way. they told me it would last up to 6 weeks, but 2 months on and only just need another one. so they do work , but it depends on the condition you have i suppose, good luck and i hope all goes well.

elnafinn

Hi Eva

I had steroid injections via xray direction in L4 and L5, I think it was, (lower back) on Thursday last week and I too have a slight curvature of the spine that I believe you have too. I had been suffering on and off since last November with sciatica and physio did not solve the problems although at one point I was painfree from sciatica for 2 weeks - bliss. Then it returned.

The injections on Thursday worked instantly for me. I rested as instructed for 24 hours. I have a slight burning sensation at the end of the day in my leg but it is so very fleeting I wonder if I have imagined it, but I know that I have not and I can live with that.

I also had neck injections under xray direction some time ago and they worked well but of course as you say this is not a permanent solution, as I found out with my neck injections.

I hope you do get some relief from the injections very soon. On rereading your post I fear that your pain is much worse than mine was. Mine was intermittent and I suffered most when walking and standing in one place for a while. Lying down, on the whole was ok but did sometimes wake with pain and so was sitting.

Luv
Elna x

evabuk

heather1 wrote:

Hi

When i had my injections my pain was real bad for a week after then it settled down.

Unfortunately they didn't help my back problem or sciatica but that doesn't mean they won't work for you.

Best wishes

sorry to hear the injections didn't work for you - is your problem in the discs or the vertebrae, or both?

what other measures do you use (meds, exercise etc) to try to keep your condition bearable?

thanks for the response

evabuk

theredmanc wrote:

hi there im a newbie too, i had injections about 2 months ago. the problem with mine however is Ankylosing spondylitis. the jabs i had was to reduce the swelling in my spine and take the pressure off my nerves, which then stopped my hip from giving way. they told me it would last up to 6 weeks, but 2 months on and only just need another one. so they do work , but it depends on the condition you have i suppose, good luck and i hope all goes well.

thanks for the response, redman.
Glad you got some relief - even 2 months is good, and also that they can be repeated. Are you having this treatment privately or on the NHS if you don't mind me asking?

evabuk

elnafinn wrote:

Hi Eva

I had steroid injections via xray direction in L4 and L5, I think it was, (lower back) on Thursday last week and I too have a slight curvature of the spine that I believe you have too. I had been suffering on and off since last November with sciatica and physio did not solve the problems although at one point I was painfree from sciatica for 2 weeks - bliss. Then it returned.

The injections on Thursday worked instantly for me. I rested as instructed for 24 hours. I have a slight burning sensation at the end of the day in my leg but it is so very fleeting I wonder if I have imagined it, but I know that I have not and I can live with that.

I also had neck injections under xray direction some time ago and they worked well but of course as you say this is not a permanent solution, as I found out with my neck injections.

I hope you do get some relief from the injections very soon. On rereading your post I fear that your pain is much worse than mine was. Mine was intermittent and I suffered most when walking and standing in one place for a while. Lying down, on the whole was ok but did sometimes wake with pain and so was sitting.

Luv
Elna x

Hi Elna, thanks for the reply. I'm particularly interested to hear of your neck injections, as I have a problem there too, and my surgeon has suggested treating that area as well. How long did the relief last when you had yours? are you going to have some more?

hugs,
Eva