Rebuilder's Forum

[rosita]

hi to everyone out there. I have been diagnosed with a pinched nerve and started on a medrol pak. It is only the second day and the pain seems to be getting worse. Has anyone else expereinced the pain getting worse before getting better when on oral steroids?

[Paul]

Hi rosita,

I've never been on steroids so I can't answer that part of your question. Hopefully someone else will jump in and share their experiences.

What I was wondering was, it sounds like they started you off on steroids rather than try more conservative treatment first. Is that true? If so, it sounds a little extreme. It's my understanding that steroids are only used if milder medications such as NSAIDs aren't effective.

I know pinched nerves can be painful, but I would be leary of taking such a powerful medicine as a first step. (Actually I would never take them, but that's a personal choice.)

I would recommend that you get a second opinion as soon as possible. That is a very dangerous medication and it doesn't have a good track record of success.

Paul

[Dana]

Hi rosita,

I agree with Paul. Get a second opinion on those steroids. Doesn't sound like the right treatment to me.

Dana

[caitie]

i have had that before..Havent really heard of steroids as a treatment, my docter just tells me to take painkillers and put up with it. Nice docter he is. But i guess he must be right.

[sherry1]

Hi rosita

I had apinched nerve an was sent to pysiotherapy.
Acupunture worked for me.
An as some other people have said i have never heard of steroids being given orally for such a minor thing. ( no offence)
I am in England an dont know where you live an if things are done differently their.

Best wishes

[Got2buzz]

I too was given a Medrol "shock pack" (6 pills/5 pills/4 pills) by my GP.

The first two (higher) doses were a pain free MIRACLE for me after 5 weeks of hellish sciatica pain. Lower doses did nothing.

Don't count oral steriods out totally. My doc- who is one brilliant guy explained he used them to see if I would be a good candidate for epidural injection. He said it was a good sign that I responded so well to the Medrol.

Of course now I'm bogged down by workmans comp and can't even GET to the ortho doc

Best of luck to all!
_________________
Curtis

[krd]

Hey Everyone

I too was put on a steroid pack. I took it for 6 days and the pain in my calf was definitely lessened. I too was told that this was a good sign that I would respond well to epidural injections.

I had two epidural injections and I am now virtually pain free. I have been going to PT 3 times a week and doing the exercises everyday. Prior to the epidurals, I couldn't even walk 50 feet without being in extreme pain. I now have my life back... back to work, out with the family, walking the dog, driving my car.

Make up your own mind, but for me, I wish that I had done it sooner. Good luck in your decision. Be posting.....

Ken

[Dean]

Hi guys,

Ken, your experience with the epidural has me definitely reconsidering the subject. Up until now, I had dismissed them based on the research reports I've read and all the feedback from people expressing that they didn't help.

I've been following your postings with great interest and it seems clear that they can help some people some of the time... and used wisely, they may be able to help you get past that sciatica "Catch 22."

I hope that you will keep us posted on your progress so we all can learn from your experience.

Take care,
Dean

[krd]

Hey Dean

Sorry that I haven't been posting as much as usual. Yea, I too was skeptical about the epidurals. However, after speaking with my friend the anestigiologist, he tried me first on the steroid pack to see if there was any change in my leg pain. When that happened, he told me that I was a good candidate for the epidural. Being that he was such a good friend, I had to place my confidence in him.

Thank God I did, because it has seriously given me my life back. I had to go sit in a 2 day seminar this last week, and I was able to do it easily. I really wish that I had done it sooner. I know that it doesn't cure the problem, it only breaks the pain cycle so that you can get on with rehabbing. I have been doing my exercises every day and PT 3 times a week. I am amazed at the difference in my strength and my mobility. I know that the exercising will be a part of my life, but I rather have that then to have sciatica.

Also, for all of you exercise buffs out there, google bodylastics. These are resistance bands, and it is what I use at my PT and at home now. They are a great form of exercise for muscle building and back muscle building.

If any one out there is thinking about having an epidural, email me and I will contact you if you give me your phone number to tell you about my experience. I wish you all a fast recovery. Be posting.....

Ken

[sjaltman]

my doctor just gave me prednisone to reduce inflammation (oral steroid) 10 days high dose to decreasing dose. (i have a herniated disc)
so far (4th day) i feel nothing! the next step is cortizone shots. i also want to try this decompression therapy. i am so deserperate i'm almost, after 6 months of pain and a limited life (to the point where i can't drive more than 5-10 mintues in the car), can't sit, just cut me open already. also it doesn't help having to wait 3 weeks between doctor appointments since they are so freakin' pact.

anyway maybe the prednisone will kick in tomorrow. the doc said i could possibly be 80% better by the end of the treatment but i am skeptical at this point.

what about decompression? i've heard some good things about it.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. please i want a miracle.
/

[Tezzar]

Hi to all,

I was also givin prednisone - found fourth day some improvement, had to make a decision though if that was the course I wanted to take. Went off them and started celebrex - 2 times a day 200g. Can't say I have found much relief from them and has been a couple of weeks.

Had cortisone injection 2 weeks ago, pain on second day after worst yet, 2 days a week now I would be happy if they would take my arm off (radiating pain driving me to distraction). Other days are bearable, but only just.

Your right about the time in between apointments - 3 weeks after cortisone before you can see them, then it's coming up to x'mas.

what do you do??
Terri