I know many of us that have had surgery are now with pain management practices and have day-surgery epidural procedures done. I have had a caudel epidural, and the first part of "medial branch block" portion of a radio Ablation treatment - am waiting for the actual ablation part to be done. Unfortunately, my physiatrist insisted on doing it in two parts and my insurance ran out after the diagnostic part was done. Some doctors do ablations with only one procedure; my bad luck that the guy MediCaid assigns me to does it in two.
Anyway, I am still confused as to what the actual procedural difference is between say, a caudal epidural and a S1 joint injection? Or a facet injection? Of course I know they are all different parts of the spine, but I guess what I'm asking is what does each specifically target? For instance, I have nerve pain shooting down the front of my left leg. I also sometimes have it shooting down the middle of my buttock and back of my leg. Which procedures should I ask for? I have very limited medical care, so I have to be aggressive and ask, otherwise I won't get it.
Next week, after waiting ten months, I have an epidural appointment. I know the guy will only do one procedure at a time, so I'll go for the caudel epidural again. What else should I ask for next time? How many weeks apart do procedures have to be? Can you have an epidural one week and a S1 epidural the next? Also, how do others deal with getting up an down on stomach on a narrow table? It is hard with a fused spine because the table is so narrow and nowhere to roll to side?
Also, the pain with the epidural was tolerable, but the medial branch block was hideously painful, and I was crying/screaming in the OR. The needle was going through scar tissue, so the doctor said, and the nerve pain went right to my brain. The IV Fentanyl and Versed did nothing. Suggestions? I would like to complete the Ablation treatment, but am terrified of that kind of tortuous pain.
Anyway, I am still confused as to what the actual procedural difference is between say, a caudal epidural and a S1 joint injection? Or a facet injection? Of course I know they are all different parts of the spine, but I guess what I'm asking is what does each specifically target? For instance, I have nerve pain shooting down the front of my left leg. I also sometimes have it shooting down the middle of my buttock and back of my leg. Which procedures should I ask for? I have very limited medical care, so I have to be aggressive and ask, otherwise I won't get it.
Next week, after waiting ten months, I have an epidural appointment. I know the guy will only do one procedure at a time, so I'll go for the caudel epidural again. What else should I ask for next time? How many weeks apart do procedures have to be? Can you have an epidural one week and a S1 epidural the next? Also, how do others deal with getting up an down on stomach on a narrow table? It is hard with a fused spine because the table is so narrow and nowhere to roll to side?
Also, the pain with the epidural was tolerable, but the medial branch block was hideously painful, and I was crying/screaming in the OR. The needle was going through scar tissue, so the doctor said, and the nerve pain went right to my brain. The IV Fentanyl and Versed did nothing. Suggestions? I would like to complete the Ablation treatment, but am terrified of that kind of tortuous pain.
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