I have pretty severe stenosis and degenerative disc disease and have been dealing with back pain for years...the sciatica that started up a couple months ago was the last straw, constant pain down my right leg if i stood or walked for more than 3 minutes... Made an appt with Dr Dossett at Carrell Clinic and he set me up with a back injection...had it 2 days ago and no more sciatic pain. Don't know how long it'll last, but man it has worked way better than i imagined! I forgot what it was like to NOT have back pain so sure hope this lasts a while!

I’ve had the same injections. First were good for a couple of years until I stupidly lifted something awkwardly. Got another shot and fixed it right up again. It’s not a cure, just a help.

I took them (shots) for a few years until they stopped working. Stenosis, but I never had the sciatic nerve pain in my leg. My back doctor said he could do an orthoscopic procedure but I'm not ready for that. Like I said before, 1, 5mg Meloxicam (Mobic) in the morning and spot treat with Arthritis strength Tylenol when needed.

Ben, you are in great hands with The Carrel Clinic. Great doctors. I use the Texas Back Institute in Plano. Plano Orthopedic does my F'd up bones, etc.

I do the meloxicam as well and between that and this shot, i feel like a new man!haha Carrel clinic came highly recommended by several of my friends in the medical field so I trust them that it's the best place for me! (It'd be just fine with me if i never have to go back though!!haha)

Bulging lower disc. Worst thing I ever did was put off repair. Did the PT, injections even did acupuncture. Started loosing feeling in my foot. Doc said sure take your time. You will beg me to fix that disc when it shatters. The surgery was not difficult, relief was immediate and recovery was short. Never any problems after can do whatever I want. If you are still active, get the dang thing fixed and start living again.

If you’re gonna get surgery, get the best doctor possible. The wife’s brother went for spinal surgery in Little Rock. The doctor snipped (his words) the wrong thing. The BiL has NO bladder or rectal feeling, and both empty whenever and wherever. It’s awful.

I had my only round of shots about 6-7 years ago. They loosened up whatever they needed to, I've never had to go back. Meloxicam is great for arthritis and other pain, though. My cardiologist warns against extended use, though. YMMV.

The LAST thing you ever want to do is let them cut on you. As 603 said, find a GREAT surgeon, and make darn sure there's not another way first.

I had a cervical disc surgery where they fused c2-5 together. Somewhat Limited head range of motion. Dr said if I didn’t get it there was a good chance I’d be paralyzed at some time in the future. Recovery took a while but overall I’m glad I did it. I do forget about it and carry corn bags on my head occasionally!

The shots are ok, they are extremely harmful to cartilage

After a decade of yearly shots, I went stem cells and haven’t looked back. Much better option but it’s expensive

Arthritis in my back, legs and thumbs has me on 2 extra strength Tylenols 3 times per day. It sorta works but I still have to be careful.

My son has degenerative disc that cause lots of issue and he gets some sort of injection that they have to sedate him for and he is done for day and half when they do it. At only early 30's he will have to have something corrected in future.

Had the injection about 2 weeks ago and have been pain free until today…not really pain, but a little numbness in lower back and a bit down both legs after standing in my shop most of the day. Go back to surgeon in 2 weeks so we’ll see what he says. Sure is nice to not be feeling that sciatic pain though!!

That's horrible. Is that the reason they have you sign those papers of release just before you go under?

603 has inspired me to keep up my lower back therapy exercises, try to build my core more, and avoid any surgery. The pain hasn't gone down my leg since surgery in 1986, but reminds me it's there periodically over the years with arthritis moving in.

Very sorry to hear about your brother-in-law.

Do you stand of a gel mat while working? Hope you find a fix. I remember Medicare wouldn't pay for more than 3 shots a year

I don’t think FDA will allow more than three a year. It’s hard on the body

My brother only did two cycles, and now his back is full of acne. It's better to go with less hardcore steroids

I did them on and off for almost 10 years, found stem cells and it’s a much longer term healthier solution

Off and on, I’ve dealt with back pain my whole life. I’m one of the very few polio survivors from about 1950. Yep, I’m old, 81, but that’s a privelege that is denied to most of the 1942 models. It weakened my back and drew up my hamstrings. I had to learn to walk again after leg strengthening exercises.

Twice a day, I put the ball of my foot to a wall and lean forward stretching my hamstrings. Then, about 4 or 5 days per week, I walk a mile. If I don’t do those things, I won’t be ambulatory for long.

Well it’s been a month now and so far so good!! I get a little pain here and there depending on what I’m doing…went and watched a football game yesterday and the bleachers didn’t make it feel very good but the majority of the time I’m doing well and the sciatic pain hasn’t returned yet. We cancelled my appt from 2 weeks ago because I was feeling good and he said there was no need to come back right now… told me to call when I need him, so hopefully I don’t have to make that call anytime soon!

I'm still recovering from standing around Thursday. I'm at least an established patient now with a pain management doc, after an initial visit. 'Hope I don't need him.

Nothing gets me worse than standing around.

Same here. On my feet a lot on Thanksgiving Day. After 5-10 minutes, I'm doing the bend-over at the waist stretch for the lower back and looking for a place to sit. Have had many pain management docs over the years, and everyone wants to start at the beginning... child's play, my man. Now I'm adding my neck to the mix. Doc says I might need a new one.

I've had lots of injections with varying degrees of success, but the most successful treatments other than meds have been radio-frequency ablations that destroy the medial branch nerves... at least for a while.

Footwear plays a huge role in back pain, especially when you feel after standing for long hours. The insoles will break down in about 300 miles (about 6 months to a year for most people) and starts a whole chain of issues. Tight hamstrings and calves will cause it too.

That is one thing that i've tried to do a better job of is stretching and wearing better shoes to work in my shop (i wear good tennis shoes everyday to school). I have never been a flexible person, as a matter of fact, i'm probably the most UNflexible person you have ever met and that has definitely contributed to my back issues, so i am working on that. I also wore crocs and Hey Dudes to work in my knife shop for the longest time and have since found that if i wear my work boots, my back doesn't hurt (as much) being out there all day standing up. I have moved some of my equipment around to where i can do some of the stuff in a sitting position rather than having to stand all day long.

Redi-thotics insoles work for me. They are more durable than the ones you get from Walmart.

Sciatica is usually caused by stenosis of the lower spine. Bend over & touch toes is a good stretching exercise for it. Yup, very painful.

I think that my back problem is arthritis. Just turned 82 yoa. Heating pad helps. Bending over gets painful. But, I’m spending way too much time sitting on my dead butt in a recliner. Got a new Steel back brace yesterday from WalMart that seems to help. The hard plastic ones are useless.

Are the stem cells something your dr recommended or how did you end up there? How often did you need them, when did you start seeing the benifits?

Have you seen any side effects from the Tylenol, how long have you been taking them?

My doctor use to have a clinic in Panama, now has one in Southlake and BVI. He offered them as an alternative, Its been 4 years, since last pull and injection. It’s best thing I ever did, but its was out of pocket 100%.

I have had back injections over the years and the shots worked for a while. I was glad for the relief. PT really seemed to help so there is that. The shots I have had in the last 5-10 years have been 0-1 pain level. The very first one with no lidocane was a 10.

Just got done with hip injections. First one did not help. It was in the wrong area. Shot pain level 8. Second injection using x-ray for guidance was pain level 15+!!! Took 5 minutes to get to the right area and felt like he was using a screw driver!!!

TKM, not sure what side effects I ought to or could see. Family Doc said I could do it.

The biggest difference / help has come from a strap on back brace with a flat metal piece
at the back. The plastic braces are useless. Walmart, Academy and I guess other places have them. But the biggest deal is the piece of metal in the back. It keeps me from “crooking” my back and forces me upright.

Sitting here in a recliner without the brace and no pain. First time in months. I’ll put it back on tomorrow morning.

well my shot is starting to wear off now, dangit...can feel the sciatica come back, but not shooting all the way down my leg yet, and not constant like before, but i'm sure it's just a matter of time... well, i got 2 good months out of it!

All I've ever had is the knee shot.
Nearly zero pain level.