facet injection

[Guest guest]

hi, i had my facets done in may and and it was in my lower lumbar, where i

have my rod.

It is very painful when they inject and i could tolerate iti was taking that

much gas and air i nearllyknocked my self out, plus i was sobbing so much i

couldn't cope with it they were going to abort it, I would not be able to

describe the pain except my advice would be if your given the choice be sudated,

i

was awake and well i would never ever do anythng like that agian.

I have very severve chronic pain. i had my op in jan 2002 for lower lumbar

scolosis of over 50 degrees, which was missed for a lot of years, and i didn't

find out till i was 21 and now being 26, am really depressed about how much

pain im in which nobody seems to believe.

I have reduced flexibility and not being able to do everyday actitvities and

enjoy them like i used to gets me down, i thought i would try anything

suggested to help the pain to get back normal, so having my facets done i

thought

would work, it hasn't and after was very sick for weeks, and the pain got worse

and i was very stiff.

Now they are saying that i shouldn't have it done again but to have an

epiduaral instead, and also try acuputure, but i know deep down that nothing is

going to work, i've got this forever, If i knew what i knew now i don't think i

would have had my op, i was in pain then but no where near has much as now.

it might work for you, i don't know your situation or how bad you are, but me

personally i would still try things just incase it did work.

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

It has been awhile since I posted and I hope this finds everyone

well or as well as can be expected given our various situations.

I am wondering if anyone on the list has any experience with facet

injections? They are used for chronic pain and are similar to a

nerve block. I recall someone on another list - whose opinion I

valued - having difficulty with them - so I am hesitant to go ahead.

That said, my pain management physician has booked one for November.

(I am having it done in Halifax, and have to say the Pain

Managment physicians there have been wonderful to work with!). I

told Patty - my doctor - that I would research it first and she

knows me so suggested I not over research it but I am a little

scared about it.

I certainly do not consider myself a wimp (having had so many

surgeries and other painful procedures (you know- the ones they say

will only hurt a little bit and then...) but lately my veins balk at

the first sign of something that looks like a needle and I recently

had a bad experience at an ER where a nurse had much difficulty

finding a vein and treated my arm like a pin cushion. I have set a

limit at three chances to get a needle in the vein (after an

experience where a nurse attempted nine times and had no luck). I

left the ER without having the IV and had to settle for an

alternative relief. So, I am wondering just how this procedure will

be, if it's worth it (My understanding is it helps some people and

others not at all).

Does anyone know if there is anything in the medical literature

about scoliosis and facet injections or facet injections in people

with hardware? (I have searched the Med School library and various

databases and have not found anything but I have only looked for a

day).

Thanks in advance.

Have a great day!

Cheers,

Gail

[Guest guest]

Hi again,

Thanks so much for all your helpful and thoughtful replies.

, I do hope my experience is not like yours! Do you suppose

they did not give you enough medication? That does happen from time

to time in some hospitals.

Do you go to a Pain Clinic where they *should* take your pain

seriously?

I also do agree that the administration of versad may well be not

easy - given my unco-operative and errant veins. However, if my

doctor herself would do that, she may be able to get it in. I have

had different experiences with versad. I've had procedures where I

remember very little but others where even with it, I was awake and

alert the entire time. (I do think that may have been a

miscalculation of the amount or just nerves). My doctor says I can

have more sedation if that becomes a problem. (I actually think the

entire Pain Clinic personnel know I am worried about this.)

I really hope it will be short term pain for long term gain. In

other words, that it helps alleviate some of the pain and is not a

horrible experience.

Can anyone tell me if it is similar to the pain one experiences in a

mylogram or spinal tap? I have had both and neither were fun but

they did not overwhelm me either. (My veins were fine though, lol)

I am sort of looking for a point of comparison. I've never had an

epidural so I cannot compare it with that. I'd love to try it with

full anethesia but my lung capacity is not really good enough to do

that for just a procedure like this.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences.

Cheers,

Gail

[Guest guest]

Hi Gail! I 've had the the mylogram and my facet injections were no where

near as painful. Not even close. Des