I just had one,
@Insomniac. No lidocaine in mine--just a steroid. But yeah...low back structural collapse and what I was told, rather briskly, was that it was my only option at this point. I was not sure at all, but after doing a bunch of reading, decided to give one injection a go.
Most of the studies I read found that there was little actual improvement from these procedures, that NSAIDS in high dosages worked as well. My neurologist poo-pooed them, saying that the American Neurological Association had put out a statement suggesting that they are not efficacious. The one thing that seemed interesting, other than the possibility it would relieve pain, is that they are used as diagnostics. If a particular nerve ending/part of your anatomy is injected, a positive response suggests that that is what is causing your pain. For me, there is enough disarray that I thought it would be worth a go if only to see if the identified culprit was what we think it is.
Had it on Wednesday, so I am a little more than 48 hours out now. I can report: the procedure was fine. No issues for me. The steroid seems to have flared POTS, which really isn't all that surprising now that I think about it. Also, for the first time in a decade, I have enjoyed two weeks of incredible blissful almost normal sleep. That ended right after the injection. Hopefully I will find a way to get it back, but knowing that sleep does not come easily for you, I thought it was worth mentioning. That is a particular kind of torture we all want to do our best to avoid.
Pain is very slightly diminished. Obviously I don't know how much pain you are in, but mine ranged from manageable to ... not. Right now, it is in the manageable arena, but it hurts. I was informed that for some people the effects continue to increase over the course of up to 10 days, so I am not ready to make a final call on this, but ....
I know someone who absolutely swears by this method of pain relief and has been doing it for 25 years about 3 times a year. She says she goes in bent over and unable to walk without excruciating pain and comes out ready for a five hour walk. Not me, but we are all different.
Do you have an injection scheduled? I can update as the next week passes. At least if there is anything definitively better or worse. Wishing you good luck with trying to decide. If I can put my hands on those papers, I will send them to you.
