Yesterday, I had a lumbar steroid injection for the firs time.

[zanne]

Mother! The injection itself was painless, but when he put the medication in, I also screamed! The pain traveled down my right leg in a flash and it felt like an elephant was sitting on it! Now, I can manage to steel myself for pain when I know it's coming, but I wasn't told about this pain. I really, really hope it helps with my back pain because if it doesn't I have to go through it again and I don't know if I can do it.

Has anybody else here had these injections and if so, how painful was it?

[The empressof all]

1. I had one about a year ago

It did feel really creepy. It helped a great deal. I haven't been back to get another one yet but my pain is slowly returning so I will be getting another one eventually

[zanne]

2. But was it painful?

I'm trying to find out if it's "normal"to feel that kind of pain with a steroid injection.

[The empressof all]

3. I wouldn't call it really painful

But what I would call pain may be different than your tolerance. It wasn't childbirth. It wasn't a severe menstrual cramp. It wasn't a migrane. To me it felt uncomfortable and rushing discomfort. It wasn't pleasant and now that I think about it I wish I had been really warned before they put the needle in on what to expect. The Dr did warn right before he pushed the medicine in but by then the needle was already hanging out of my back so I wasn't gonna change my mind. Personally, I think I'd almost rather have a root canal but it wasn't so awful that I wouldn't do it again.

[Warpy]

4. I had one years ago and had pretty much the same reaction

It hurt for about three days and then settled down. My back was better after it than before it, but that could have been time and rehab, too.

I haven't had one since. I use ice immediately when my back decides to jump up and bite me and manage with that, alone.

[otohara]

5. Terrible For Your Immune System

I had a few, they did nothing for me, except weaken my immune system - I got really sick with candida for a couple of years.

[libodem]

6. I'm having another one on Thursday

I've had several and yes they do hurt. Mine help for awhile but the back/leg pain seems to return in a few weeks. This will be the first one since I had the spinal fusion. Maybe with the disc space stabilized they can calm down the sciatica.