Is there a doctor in the house????

Question

i have a fractured vertabre and 3 herniated dics L-3 L-4 L-5 doc going to try steroids if it doesnt work surgery someone suggested phycical therapy what should i expect after the steroid injection

Answer 1

well the steroids he is going to give you are medical steroids,

there not going to have the same side effects as the muscle building ones do.

Answer 2

RHOID RAGE!!!!!!!

Answer 3

The theory of the steroid injection is that the steroid will decrease any inflammatory responses in the area of the impingement on the nerve roots. Steroids don't work in the first few hours, if they work at all, but will likely be mixed with a little local anesthetic, so you may expect some symptom relief. Backs seem to do more or less what they want to, despite your wishes or those of the physician, so there may not be a dramatic long-term change, but some people do get weeks of relief, if not resolution, of symptoms.

Answer 4

I hope the steroids work (although they've not worked when I've taken them for a herniated disc). It's meant to improve and strengthen the nerves, and you will be on a low dose for a very short period of time. You don't have to worry about losing or growing hair or anything else associated with long-time steroid use.

You should seriously consider physical therapy. The idea is to strengthen the muscles around your back, thereby protecting it. It worked wonders for me.

Good luck!

Answer 5

what in the world did you do???

Answer 6

JdW's answer is good.  If the steroids are going to work, you can expect your symptoms to be WORSE for a few days, and then gradually improve.  Usually, steroid injections are done as a series of 3, and if that doesn't work, it's time to try something else.

The epidural steroid injections will decrease inflammation, but will not affect the disc itself or any bone hat might be impinging on the nerves.

Physical therapy is a good next step, and surgery as a last resort, if all else fails.  (Surgery for documented disc problems usually has excellent results, as it eliminates the problem)

Good luck.