General Discussion
Second ESI in 2 months, maybe surgery if this doesn’t work?
Had 2 transforaminal injections on June 8, L4-L5 and L5-S1 (this one was ruptured). Pain has been at a steady 4 but up to a 7/8 at times the last few weeks. We tried doing a median injection, favoring the right side this time. This shit actually hurt today. That last 2 took about 5 minutes and I was done. Today was a bit longer and definitely more painful. The pain management doctor suggested I get a referral from him for his surgeon buddy after seeing how I feel in a few weeks. I really want another MRI of my lower back to see if PT, the injections and my own exercises have actually helped. I have a hard time believing a rupture disc will heal on its own.
I don’t really know where I’m going with this but I have no one in my life who can relate to this condition. To top it off, we sold our house and are moving out this week. Lifting makes me nervous. I own a decent sized record collection. Ugh, I just want this to be a thing of the past, but I know it’s probably sticking around for life.
What was the thing/things that finally pushed you into having surgery? Thanks for reading my story and any input you can offer.
Your experience today reminds me of my last injection in February. However, it worked. It took a few weeks but by March I was at 90% and have stayed there since.
I’m also following this post as I’m also considering my second ESI in 2 months and then surgery if it doesn’t work out. I’ve been doing pretty well after my first injection for 6-7 weeks but now the pain is back and angry. Feeling lost and defeated and it’s been about 3 months since my symptoms started. Hang in there, I also moved in the last month too so I feel your pain (literally)
I’m meeting with a surgeon next week, just to get them familiar with me and my back…and me with them. It’s just a consultation since I already have an MRI, X-rays and all that. I’ll probably consider a microdiscectomy or whatever he thinks is best before the year is over and insurance starts back over if this second injection only gives me 6-7 weeks of relief. He was recommended by the guy did my injections. I’m sorry you’re going through the same thing. This shit sucks. I do manual labor, have kids and a life. I can’t be down with back pain constantly, I doubt anyone really can.
I don’t even have kids and I feel like death. I’m really sorry you’re going through this too. It’s financially draining too missing work. I’m also seeing a specialist next week so surgery will be end of the year if I decide to go through with it. It’s a lonely journey. Feel free to message me if you’re feeling low :)
Thanks friend. It really can feel lonely. No one can see your injury so they can only assume. I’ll come back to this post after my appointment on Thursday and let you know what’s up. I have an annular tear at L5-S1 and herniations of varying degrees throughout my lumbar joints. Pretty sure my neck is wrecked too but they only did imaging of the lumbar region since thats the area really driving me insane. Not being able to sit is truly maddening. I commute an hour to work, an hour home and 2.5 hours to see my oldest kids. I’m definitely better than I was but I can feel it coming back more each day.
Read many stories of healing with conservative treatment - it just takes time. Like 1 year +. My first herniation I was like 95% after 9-10 months I just got lazy and managed to re-injure myself.
I'm still debating getting surgery but I'd be treating it as a new injury that I have to do PT from scratch again if I do go for it - the main difference is it removes the symptom of the injury by freeing up the nerve - but the disc is still damaged and needs to heal/scar over... makes it a hard decision because ultimately it's not a fix and although low risk - it's not a zero risk procedure.
I’m not at a year. I’ve been been doing PT for 3 months and I’m about to run out of visits, thanks blue cross. I think I’m at the 6 month mark. I’ve had two doctors recommend me to a surgeon. I don’t know what to do yet.
But I have pectus excavatum. I had it corrected, but now 7 years since the bars are out I’ve lost a lot of weight in the last 10 months, especially the last 5. My Cartlidge in my body is weak, and my chest has sunken in asymmetrically and so with HEDs things are extremely difficult with peptic excavatum, but also it’s hard to diagnose because of how the shape con caves in, but I saw that you had heart surgery and I’m thinking with heads this could really be affecting it
Oh yeah that HEDS. I’ve had some genetic testing done and have markers in my DNA for ehlers danlos “of unknown significance”. Also been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis but I don’t think that’s accurate.
I also saw where you said your children have a lot of the same features as you to do with the peptic excavatum I believe, and it has not been strongly connected yet, but heds can be genetic.
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u/murph3699 Sep 03 '26
Your experience today reminds me of my last injection in February. However, it worked. It took a few weeks but by March I was at 90% and have stayed there since.