Back Pain Support Group

When they did the procedure the doctor had a hard time placing his needle. It caused severe pain down my arm into my elbow then into my fingers. Twice he tried ... and wow... raw, organic pain. He said I had really bad stenosis. A lot of narrowing. (To be honest ... does that make a difference?) Anyway ... he finally placed the needle. However, ever since the epidural ... yesterday ... my elbow and underside of my arm ache. The bone hurts, the skin hurts. It hurts to touch my skin. It hurts to run water over my hand. Is this normal? Also, I am ... well ... hot... really, really hot. My face and neck are so flushed I look sunburnt. I wonder if I could be having a reaction to the epidural??? I just don't know.

If anybody has any advice they could offer me ... I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

- Jen

TKR which has kept me more down that up and out. I have had several cortizone shots in my neck, thorasic, cervical, and lubmar spine. I did get the flush face, arms, and chest. Felt like I was going to burn up. I had to take alot of Benedryl for it to go away. I ended up with fever blisters. Have to go now the new med is putting me out.

kjv1956

I'm sorry to hear you've been having such a hard time. For a routine epidural, most patients aren't completely sedated, tho since you had such a hard time, if you go back again, you could ask to be lightly sedated, since you have so much stenosis. Yes, stenosis will make a difference. Stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, the space between the discs and the bone will be narrowed, and so if it's really bad, then it can be difficult to place the epidural in the correct spot needed to get the medication where it needs to go. That can really make a bit difference, actually.

Also, you might be experiencing a more drastic reaction to the cortisone than others, so if it's really bad, hopefully you would have been to the doctor by now. How are you feeling? Let us know when you can.

Hugs,

jen