Saphyre started this discussion ·
My friend might need Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections for some neck issues and is looking for some feedback on their efficacy. I thought this would be the perfect place for some feedback. Anyone have info?
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Saphyre, I haven't had the steroid injections, they skipped that and did surgery for me because it so severe. I have had 4 friends who have had steroid injections. 3 of them for lower back, 1 for cervical. they all told me that the first two times worked great and by the third it wasn't effective. I don't know what your friends medical issue is, but it is probably worth a shot. the steroid injections are usually a temporary fix. however, when they are working at their best they can give you up 6 months relief. Hopefully someone who has actually had them will add to this.
Does she need these shots because of pole?
Saphyre ·
No PoleMoves. She has genetic neck issues.
I agree with above comment a close friend (older male) I used to take care of and bring him for injections to neck very often.evry two weeks.. He also was relieved for short periods from them and now thinks they did serious damage from over use.... He is now doing physical therapy instead of the "quick fixes route" and is doing much better gaining strength where he needed more support so to say helped him tremendously :-)
Hi Saphyre, I'm in my second year of anesthesia residency. We don't do our chronic pain rotations until our 4th and 5th years but I did look up some information from the best sources for this type of question. These resources are what all of our board exams are based off of and are updated frequently so they are pretty good! Obviously, research happens very quickly sometimes so there may be some very recent breakthroughs not in my resources, but if it was something monumental, I would have heard about it from my attendings! Anyways, as lilredridinghood said, epidural steroid injections are a temporary fix. They work on the basis of their anti-inflammatory effects and can provide relief in the short term, but studies haven't shown any significant effects for long term pain relief. However, they can be very useful in a multidisciplinary approach to pain in order to facilitate further therapies - for example, if someone's neck pain is so severe that it really limits their ability to do physiotherapy, a cervical epidural steroid injection can provide them with the short term relief that would allow them to start working on their physiotherapy. Make sense? Hope that helps!
Saphyre ·
Oh, thanks Lola! That is some great information and the part about the physiotherapy makes perfect sense. I will pass this along to her. xoxoxo
Please do your homework! As others have posted this is not a forever fix. The pain management business is rampant with doctors that are needle happy and can bill major fees to insurance. I know there is a time and place for this, I am not totally anti this process but do the research. I had surgery, could not avoid it for lumbar disc issues. I had considered a steroid knowing it was a temporary fix, but at that very time the tainted steroid injections were appearing across the country and I decided not to do it. I am doing great after surgery. But, it took me several PT's( found one that specializes in sports and dynamic movement) and lots of patience. Try to find a good network of PT,massage therapists, acupuncturists- it takes a team approach for this stuff.. good luck.
