Got Injections in my Back

idlehunters
idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Yesterday I went in to The Pain Management place to receive injections into my fractured T7/T8 Vertebre. I am on Oxycondone every 4 hours around the clock for the pain and I want OFF them. Addiction scares the heck out of me. If there is a way to get rid of the problem so I don't have to take the pills... I wanna try it. I had fractured the T7 when I fell and hit my back into the corner of my desk just before Xmas. After a few months I thought it had healed because it didn't hurt no more. WRONG..... Between painting and "HELGA" the massage lady.... I ended up with a refracture... in addition to the fracture the vertebre had actually shrank or condensed half the size as the others. Evidently this left some free play in the area and the stress then took out the T8 with an additional fracture. Sure...why not??? My Onc sent me to see this specialist at the pain management place. Terrific guy. He said plan A was to inject dye first to trace the fractures and pinpoint treatment area. Then to insert the steroids..Cortisone into the inflammed area between T7/T8.


Well.......The day BEFORE i went for the injections I was loading my car at Walmart and the wind caught the door and SOMEHOW shoved the door mirror into my front right rib area.....Sure...why not??? LOL.... Yep..took my breath away...hurt like a mother (u know what)and left me in more pain than I was having in my back. OH BROTHER! I don't know if its fractured too...or just bruised..don't really matter. What did matter was I had to go get those injections the next day..... lay across a pillow under my tummy...with my forehead in a Gel pillow and OMG...it was killing that new injury so bad I was crying. They finally removed the pillow to ease the strain and I did get thru the needles in my back. I could watch the procedure on the xray machines as they were doing it and it kinda made me sick. No wonder my back was hurting...that fracture looked like a wedge of cracks...and man that vertebre was REALLY smaller than the others. BUT.... that injection took immediate effect and ALL pain in my back stopped..immediately. Doc said that was because of all the numbing stuff and it would take bout 8 days to know for sure if it worked. Felt great today...even went fishing. BUT...I could not stop taking the pain pills cause NOW that front rib is killing me. 2 STEPS FORWARD AND 1 BACK????????? Thats ok... I still feel ahead of the game.

Anyway.... Plan B.... if pain is still in back on day 8??? Then on the 22nd of this month they will do another procedure that takes about 90 minutes. They will do another injection but this time will use a cement (caulk ..if you will) to fill all cracks solid and build up the shrunken vertbre. they said they have fantastic results with this. So, thats where I stand right now. Front rib area will heal on its own.

Let me bring up 2 other topics. While he was in the spine area he took a biopsy of some tissue mass..... he said he was there...and NO EXTRA CHARGE. (LOL)...so why not. Now that has me wondering. Also....and I have been wondering this for a while.... Do you think I am having all this "easy bone breaking" because of Neulasta injections I had for many months? I know it does strange things to your bones.... or even perhaps just the chemo itself has weakened this spring chicken???? LOL...... I feel like I need to walk around like a 95 year old woman until my body gets stronger. Yep....the just don't turn off the chemo and all good....NOT. I see it's gonna take a while to get that extra step back!!

Wow...didn't mean to ramble like that.... ok..I lied..I did to. Love ya guys!! Thanks!

Jennie

Comments

  • mom_2_3
    mom_2_3 Member Posts: 953 Member
    #2
    Jennie
    I hope that the injections work for you. I had unbelievable pain from a compressed vertebra in my neck. I had the steroids injected and they worked great. I was able to completely discontinue pain meds and haven't had the back pain since.

    Good luck to you!
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #3
    mom_2_3 said:

    Jennie
    I hope that the injections work for you. I had unbelievable pain from a compressed vertebra in my neck. I had the steroids injected and they worked great. I was able to completely discontinue pain meds and haven't had the back pain since.

    Good luck to you!

    WOW!
    Thats great news! Encouraging too.... I hope I get those kind of results. Thank you for that!

    Jennie
  • JDuke
    JDuke Member Posts: 438
    #4
    idlehunters said:

    WOW!
    Thats great news! Encouraging too.... I hope I get those kind of results. Thank you for that!

    Jennie

    Hi Jennie
    So sorry that you are being bombarded with all this! Enough already!!! Just to let you know that I am thinking of you and wishing good results with this procedure. If you should have to have the "cement" treatment, I have this to share. My 86 year of father slipped off a ladder (yes he is a stubborn man) 3 years ago and had a vertebrae fracture like yours. It took them 24 hours to diagnose the origin of his pain, but once they did, they did the cement procedure and it worked immediately and effectively. He has had no further problems with it at all (still won't stay off a ladder). So if you do have to go that route, hope your experience is the same.
    Blessings to you,
    Joanne
  • eric38
    eric38 Member Posts: 583
    #5
    idlehunters said:

    WOW!
    Thats great news! Encouraging too.... I hope I get those kind of results. Thank you for that!

    Jennie

    Why can't you stay out of trouble?
    Jen - stay away from tables and car doors or basically anything you can fall on or get hit with. We are going to have to put you in a giant bubble. Maybe at the least wrap you in bubble wrap. Then when you fall there will Be a lot of popping but not from you.
    Eric
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #6
    Jennie,
    I am sorry you had
    Jennie,

    I am sorry you had so much pain! I am glad you are being taking care of, + hope soon it will be 2 steps forward + 0 steps back!
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #7
    eric38 said:

    Why can't you stay out of trouble?
    Jen - stay away from tables and car doors or basically anything you can fall on or get hit with. We are going to have to put you in a giant bubble. Maybe at the least wrap you in bubble wrap. Then when you fall there will Be a lot of popping but not from you.
    Eric

    SHUT UP ERIC!!!! LOL.... I'LL SHOW U TROUBLE!!!
    YOU JUST WAIT TILL PALOOZA!!!! YOU BETTER BRING SOME OF THAT BUBBLE WRAP WITH YOU CAUSE I AM GONNA MAKE YOU SHAKE A LEG WITH ME AND IF I FALL...... U GOING DOWN WITH ME DUDE!!!!! REALLY...... THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN. THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING THESE ENCOURAGING STORIES. GETTING BACK TO A SORT OF "NORMAL" STATUS SURE AIN'T AS EASY AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. I HAD NOT REALIZED THE FULL EFFECT OF WHAT MY BODY HAS BEEN THRU....WOW.... CAN'T WAIT TO GET THE POOL OPEN. SWIMMING IS THE BEST EXERCISE ALL THE WAY AROUND. HEY ERIC....MAYBE YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME POINTERS ON THE MASSAGE TECHNICS.....IT SEEMS "HELGA" AIN'T DOING ME GOOD!!!! YA'LL TAKE CARE!

    JENNIE
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #8
    the gift of chemo just keeps giving and giving ...
    I am so sorry you have been having so many problems with your bones! Have you been tested for osteoporosis? I know I have it and I am sure it's from chemo as I will be turning 50 this year and had never had any issues prior to. I sure hope this new treatment gets you some control over your pain so you can get back to living and enjoying!
    mary
  • WinneyPooh
    WinneyPooh Member Posts: 318
    #9
    I thought...
    Jennie,
    I thought i was the only one who was clumsy, I picked up a fence section that had fallen down
    put it back where it belonged only to smash it down on the bridge of my bare foot, two days ago and even tough i did not break it it sure did hurt,

    Your new name will be forever flopsy bunny( bunny from the childrens book, one with the button eyes.

    hope your back gets better
    Winnie
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #10
    WinneyPooh said:

    I thought...
    Jennie,
    I thought i was the only one who was clumsy, I picked up a fence section that had fallen down
    put it back where it belonged only to smash it down on the bridge of my bare foot, two days ago and even tough i did not break it it sure did hurt,

    Your new name will be forever flopsy bunny( bunny from the childrens book, one with the button eyes.

    hope your back gets better
    Winnie

    Oestoe....
    Yeah Mary...... I got a touch of the stuff.... and some degenerative something too...why not??? LOL..... and Winnie..... You are definately not alone in the clumsy department.... good thing I don't drink often!!!! Going back fishing,.....c ya'll

    Jennie
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #11
    idlehunters said:

    Oestoe....
    Yeah Mary...... I got a touch of the stuff.... and some degenerative something too...why not??? LOL..... and Winnie..... You are definately not alone in the clumsy department.... good thing I don't drink often!!!! Going back fishing,.....c ya'll

    Jennie

    cancer the gift that keeps giving and giving......
    Hugs Jennie,that is about the only help I can offer. After twelve years chemo has done quite a job on my immune system. I have severe poly arthritis that has attacked my nerves,my kidneys,my veins and my joints and tendons. I have tried lyrica,prednisone(never ever again,I would shoot myself before having pred again)endep,codeine based drugs. They either did not work or had side effects worse than the original problem. I now take methotrexate(more chemo) and panadiene osteo which may as well be suppositories for all the good they do. My left shoulder has been frozen for over a year and now my right shoulder is starting to freeze. I don't know what I will do. One of my mates suggested I super glue the backs of my hands to my legs and take up riverdance. I was too sore to take a swing at him and with the neuropathy in my feet and legs I wasn't game to kick him.
    All i can say is that you have my deepest sympathy,hugs again ,Ron.
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #12
    ron50 said:

    cancer the gift that keeps giving and giving......
    Hugs Jennie,that is about the only help I can offer. After twelve years chemo has done quite a job on my immune system. I have severe poly arthritis that has attacked my nerves,my kidneys,my veins and my joints and tendons. I have tried lyrica,prednisone(never ever again,I would shoot myself before having pred again)endep,codeine based drugs. They either did not work or had side effects worse than the original problem. I now take methotrexate(more chemo) and panadiene osteo which may as well be suppositories for all the good they do. My left shoulder has been frozen for over a year and now my right shoulder is starting to freeze. I don't know what I will do. One of my mates suggested I super glue the backs of my hands to my legs and take up riverdance. I was too sore to take a swing at him and with the neuropathy in my feet and legs I wasn't game to kick him.
    All i can say is that you have my deepest sympathy,hugs again ,Ron.

    HAHAHAHAHAHA!
    "One of my mates suggested I super glue the backs of my hands to my legs and take up riverdance" OMG! You could have head butted him! :)
    mary
  • GOOFYLADIE
    GOOFYLADIE Member Posts: 232 Member
    #13
    Hey Jennie
    Bubble wrap, Eric, you and the Palooza!! Now that may be something I may just have to sit at the drive thru and beg for coinage so I can definitely get there. I wish you guys so much fun and huge family togetherness while you are all there. Have a great time. Glad you are on your way to healing and found your way to where you need to be Jennie, so they can get you fixed up, and out whoopin and hollering!
    Make it a Great Day!
    Goofyladie (Cass)
  • karguy
    karguy Member Posts: 1,020 Member
    #14
    Good luck
    Good luck with your plan B if plan A dosn't work.When you injure your ribs it can hurt alot,I had 3 of my ribs cracked once,and it hurt just to breath,good luck with that too.I'll pray you heal quickly.
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #15
    I am in somewhat of the same boat
    However, the shots didnt work for me and I had three of them, I am still in a great deal of pain, and I take the pain pills and hate them. I have been on them for so long I am so totally scared to come off of them, but I would in a heart beat if I could stop the pain in my back. I once thought it was cancer, but a bone scan said it was clear. My pain doc sucks, she is more worried about how many pills she prescribes then finding out why I am in pain. I am so depressed and constantly in pain, I really dont know how I get up everyday to go to work. My PC has me on some meds for depression, havent been on them that long so not sure they are working, but have to give it some time. Sorry for rambling just wanted you to know, that if you are taking them because you are in pain, then you shouldnt have any problem stopping them, thats what I was told anyway. Sure hope your feeling better.

    Beth

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