Back injections

[Coco H]

I am not entirely sure why I am posting this given I am seeing various professionals about my back!
According to my GP and physio my sacro illiac and L4 or 5 (whatever that is/they are) are the source of the pain.
I tried an osteopath with no real results. When it got to the point of not being able to move - I tried the GP. The result has been several physio sessions and painkillers.
I am still not really mobile and it still hurts. The painkillers do help to an extent but getting out of bed in the morning is torture.
The physio has mentioned injections into the sacro illiac. I have heard mixed stories about these but I am absolutely desperate to get back onto my feet.
The trouble is I am used to running 6 days a week and I am bored out of my mind but as soon as I start moving it really hurts.

[mattikake]

It's good to talk? A problem shared...?

So this is a nerve root injection I assume? What you have to remember about any pain killers is that they only allievate the symptoms, they do not fix the problem. Worst still, while you feel no pain you're more likely to make the problem that's causing the pain worse, as you forget to protect the injury. It should always be a last resort.

Is it SIJ problems or Lumbar 4/Lumbar 5 intervertabral gap?

[Coco H]

As far as I understand it both but I think the SI joint is the one they are talking about as I think I can live with the other pain. I should imagine I am going to be having physio for a long while but I need to get back to daily life as I need to be physically capable of looking after my children.

[Centurion07]

I had the injections, twice, for an unidentified back problem. My missus also had 2 lots for a partially slipped disc.

For both of us the pain relief was immediate but only lasted a few days. Thankfully my back pain went away after a bout of flu(!) for some reason but my missus is exactly the same as before.

I've heard they hurt like hell if they don't knock out you beforehand so that might be something you want to check up on. Aside from that you have nothing to lose really. They'll either work or you'll be back to square one.

[Centurion07]

mattikake said:

...while you feel no pain you're more likely to make the problem that's causing the pain worse, as you forget to protect the injury.

That very much depends on the cause of the pain. In my case the consultant seemed to think it was just serious inflammation caused by working around the intial pain IIRC and therefore removing the pain would allow me to get moving properly and using my back as it was designed to instead of protecting it to avoid the pain.

[davhill]

Had 3 separate goes with.this.type of injection...dorsal root.ganglion nerve blocks for an S1/L5 disc prolapse.

Injections 1&2 each dropped.the.pain level by 30 percent-ish for three months. Injection 4 involved 3 simultaneous.jabs at.three levels. Very little.pain relief.that time.

None hurt particularly. They numb you up.with local anaesthetic.first, then the.main needle.is guided with.X-ray pics. Each.about.30.mins of a.job.

The.man's quite.right...they.don't fix.anything but the lessened pain is welcome.

[dreamer75]

I know it sounds basic but have they talked abut an si belt and exercises? My si gave me a lot of issues, which turned out to be weak core and back meaning the si would lock in place, out of alignment. The belt to support it for a bit while I strengthened the relevant muscles, and it sorted itself out. Lots of per back issues, but at least this one went away!

There is a gentle exercise you can do to unlock the si, I am guessing your physio has ruled all this out but worth asking?