How effective are steroid injections compared to surgery for degenerative discs in the spine?
Question:
So, before I accept the recommendation for sticking a needle into my spine several locations for weeks, I'd like to know if it's worth taking the chance. Do steroid injections work for disc repair? Or should I seek out a surgeon instead.
Answers:
Who is recommending the steroid injections?? This is usually the advice given by a neurologist( neurosurgeon). There are is a series of events before surgery is the only option. Most times, the first step is Physical Therapy to help with strengthening exercises that will reduce the pain. When this in ineffective, then the steriod injections are next. Steroid injections work great for tennis elbow and even rotator cuff tear. I had cervical spinal stenosis( narrowing of the space where the nerves lie) in addition to cervical disk protrusion, and arthritis. I opted to try the steroid injections into my neck. The first one seemed to irritate my symptoms but, I thought that was normal. After the second injection, my symptoms were so much worse. I made a follow-up appt. with my Neurosurgeon and he agreed that after 2 injections, with the severity on my symptoms, to not take the 3rd injection. So, in this case, I would suggest that you speak with a neurologist and ask for recommendations. Some insurance companies will insist that other options are tried before they will pay for any surgical intervention. I had my cervical spinal fusion ( 2 metal plates) June 06' and, I'm pain free. Consult with a Neurosurgeon, bring you MRI test ( on disc). I hope that this helps and Good Luck.
Steroids don't repair discs at all, to my knowledge. Any help they do (by reducing inflammation) will be strictly temporary. Also, degenerative disc is a real poor reason to get surgery. Exercise, get massage, use ice packs and see a Chiropractor (flexion distraction is good along with normal chiropractic treatment).
I get injection into my spine every 6 -9 weeks the shots help alot but my condition is different then yours.
There are always two sides to every story so let me share my thoughts with you about surgery
If something goes wrong you will have to live with it for the rest of your life but if it goes well then your in good shape for awhile but complications can set in later in life for example a root canal may be good for so long but what happens when things start to sour
The shot on the other hand is something you try if it works great if it doesn't you can still have the surgery.
I would never tell you what to do because the choice is yours its you life and I wish you well
I hope I helped a little
I've never heard that steroid injections promote new cell growth. Once a cell is dead, it's dead. The only place this is not true is in the brain. My husband had steroid injections and facet injections. Neither worked for more than 2-3 weeks. Saying that though, it varies from person to person. What didn't work for him may work miracles on someone else. I do know one thing...back surgery is ALWAYS a bad idea. First if you have injuries in every part of your spine, how will a surgeon determine which part to fuse. Basically, the surgeon takes bone fragments and puts them where the disc should be, then you have to lay flat for 6 weeks in order that the the fragments can mend into 1 big bone. It leaves you with a "fused" vertabrae and depending on where they fuse you at, it can be impossible to bend as if when you have a disc. I worked for a Chiropractor and he would tell a patient when it was fine to have surgery, he wasn't the type to say no all the ti,e. But, there were only a handful of times when he thought it a good idea. Ask about Radio Frequency Ablation, it burns the end of your nerve, hence, stopping the pain. It's not a fail safe idea but it worked ok for my hubby. the Dr. needs to have an idea which nerve is causing the pain, which requires a different type of CAT scan. I don't remember the name of it but your Dr will. I would make surgery a last resort, yes, there are a lot of lawsuits re: steroid INJ but there are alot more about the diagnosis Failed Back Syndrome rsulting from fusion.
The chiropractor I see has only had one person who ended up doing surgery in over 40 years. I have thorasic outlet syndrome and one hollowed out disk and see a massage therapist as well. A co-worker that had surgery is in chronic pain and on disability now because things went wrong.
Two resource books are The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies (for muscles that can help a lot) and The Physicians Complete Guide to Vitamins and Minerals (I dont remember the author) for things like when you are getting too much vitamin D and it is causing problems in the gall bladder - eat lots of dark green vegetables to absorb the extra that your body is not using.
Steroids will at times relieve the pain from inflammation. On the negative side, prolonged injections will cause rapid deterioration of the discs in the area of the injection. I've never heard the steroids will facilitate growth. Get another opinion. An orthopedic surgeon told me 1 time the steroids are poison & he wouldn't take them. Use it as a last ditch. Try a chiropractor.
Well steroids do rebuild muscle, kinda seems logical that it would help with cell regeneration. As a person with degeneative disc disease myself, I have had 3 laminectomies, recovery was aweful. the last surgery was done by a Neurologist, it was awesome I went into the hospital contorted by pain and unable to walk, 8 hrs later walk from the hospital on my own steam. I ahve been dealing with this for years. I heard about a new procedure that rebuilds vertibrae with a synthetic material.
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