Facet Joints - Injected, Updated Update, Page 5

Kelly.. do you get muscle spasms a lot? 

Tashakota, that anatomy diagram is way cool. The "event", as I'm calliing it, happened not this past Sunday, but last Sunday - I rode at the show, got in the truck to go home, and when I got there I could not straighten back up. No chance. I walked around like the hunchback, my dad and hubby were asking me what time I would be ringing the bell. [:-]
 
Shelly, muscle spasms aren't so bad now. For the first 4 months after the accident - wow! I was on a muscle relaxer, but didn't feel that it gave me better relief than a heating pad and some Chinese liniment that my MIL has...

Shelly, muscle spasms aren't so bad now. For the first 4 months after the accident - wow! I was on a muscle relaxer, but didn't feel that it gave me better relief than a heating pad and some Chinese liniment that my MIL has...

 
I asked becasue the best thing for me was a "TENS unit". I was having horrible spasms in my neck and shoulders with horrific pain (had to do the lay on the floor at work thing too!) Have they tried this with you?
 
[linkhttp://arthritis.about.com/od/assistivedevicesgadgets/g/tensunit.htm]http://arthritis.about.com/od/assistivedevicesgadgets/g/tensunit.htm[/link]
 
 

My chiro uses one of these on me every time I go there. He never suggested for me to buy one because the pain relief was never particularly long-lasting.
 
Doesn't anyone have a spine segment they'd like to donate? LOL. Healthy persons only, please. []

He never suggested for me to buy one because the pain relief was never particularly long-lasting.

 
bummer.... [&o]

Yeah.
 
I'm sure that I don't necessarily help matters - I still ride, I'm just way more careful and do it less. I've learned (finally, much to DH's delight) to stop trying to lift/move things I shouldn't. But, I'm stubborn and young and refuse to live my life like this. I won't let it slow me down. It's bad enough that I stopped riding for other barns - I will not let it stop me from riding my own horses. I'm hoping these injections work, but I'm doubtful. Maybe it's just cause they scare me, though.

Maybe it's just cause they scare me, though.

 
while they may not be a "miracle cure" kelly.. i think I would take the injections over back surgery any day... back surgery scares me more.. especially anything around my spinal cord. This is why surgery is so often considered "a last resort" because it is more dangerous.  It is rare that complications happen with bad results, but it is always a risk.
 
I would try to keep an open mind to the injections.. maybe the will be fantastic for you.  I for one am keeping my [sm=crossfingers.gif] for ya! []

Doesn't anyone have a spine segment they'd like to donate? LOL. Healthy persons only, please.

 
I wish I could clone mine for you.  After seeing what my friend's been thru, I will never again take things for granted.  I recently lifted some huge, heavy boxes and I could feel a strain in my back and thought the worst.  It was sore for a few days but healed fine.  My husband also had a pretty bad back injury a few years ago, but it too healed up fine within a few weeks.  My friend thinks that the length of time that she was in pain and the bulging disc was pressing on the nerve has made her recovery less than perfect.  Her Dr's did tell her it would take time for the swelling to subside.  They now think that some of recurring pain and numbness is from scar tissue around the surgical site.  Sadly, she's begun to feel that she will live with some level of back pain for the rest of her life, but she's grateful that she's able to at least function better than she had been. 

Well, since today is my last day to chicken out, I've been reading the replies and thinking quite a bit. I've decided to try to go through with the injections Monday, and look into acupuncture afterwards. I'm sure my chiro will know of someone good.
 
That said, the whole thing still freaks me out quite a bit. Guess I'll lay on the office floor and think about it for a couple minutes... LOL. [sm=meditate.gif]

Well, since today is my last day to chicken out, I've been reading the replies and thinking quite a bit. I've decided to try to go through with the injections Monday, and look into acupuncture afterwards. I'm sure my chiro will know of someone good.

That said, the whole thing still freaks me out quite a bit. Guess I'll lay on the office floor and think about it for a couple minutes... LOL

 
Will be thinking about ya Kelly and hoping for the very best relief possible! []

I'll be thinking about you, too!  Maybe try Rescue Remedy before you go?

Thanks guys!
 
And marty, I don't think there's enough Rescue Remedy in the world!

I survived. [sm=party1.gif]
 
I was really nervous, to the point where my BP was way up - which was actually good, since they let hubby sit with me until it was time. At least the sedation they gave me was awesome and I don't remember a thing, LOL.
 
I have to go back in 2 weeks for round 2. So far I don't think that they did a thing, though. My back was still sore when I was sitting only 3 hours after the injections, and by 6 hours after, was worse than it was before (which I suspect was around when the Lidocane wore off).
 
We'll see how it goes, I guess. I told the doctor yesterday that sitting down was by far the most aggravating circumstance. The first time I went to see him was only 2 days after my excruciating attack, so I didn't have the opportunity to properly evaluate the pain at that point. He's thinking now that the herniated disc may be involved more than he initially thought, since sitting is one of the main complaints. He still wants to try the facet joints, though, because it's less invasive than the disc stuff.
 
I would like to thank everyone for their advice, experiences and well wishes!

Glad to hear your "face" joint injections came out OK [8D]
 
But seriously - I'm glad you are OK.  It frustrates me that you are so young and yet have not experienced relief.  I wish you all the best!

Glad the sedation was great!  God love drugs!![]
 
Let us know how the second set goes Kelly.. still [sm=crossfingers.gif] for you! []