Living with Epidural Injection

I have had my second of three epidural blocks. The first one was totally ineffective in any pain relief but the second one seems to have reduced the pain in my right hand and arm by about 75% but 5 days after the injection, I have tingling and numbness in my arm and hand. It is very weird but it is better than the pain I was experiencing. My next and last injection will be in June but they will be injecting the facettes down my neck due to the severe pain there.

I am being treated by West Coast Surgery Center in Los Alamitos, CA. They are truly wonderful. I was reading many articles where they saw that injections are given with a local anesthesia but where I am treated they put me out which is a must for me. I would not do this procedure if they did not offer full anesthesia The staff here are wonderful, professional and really put fears to rest (pun intended). I know that I may not be able to avoid surgery but at least I will have done all I can to avoid it.

I have had mild reactions to the procedure and medication, such as headaches and body ache but it is minor compared to the pain I was dealing with.

My suggestion is that you research all you can before you decide what is right for you and if you think that this might be the right step then talk to your Dr. and just do it. And I would insist on somewhere that provides general anesthesia There is no reason why one would have to endure this procedure without it.