Workers' Compensation Discussion Forums

I went to get my first series of ESI today and it was a nightmare. Of course I was scared because I had never had it done before and didn't know what to expect.

Never did I dream it would be worse than what I could ever imagine. There was a little prick with the numbing shots no biggie. Then came the contrast ok actual pain but nothing to bad. Then came the stuff that he shoots around the nerve. That was HORRIBLE pain I actually screamed loud enough the people in the waiting room heard me. He asked you felt that? I was like uh YEAH. Then he ask where I felt it at and I showed him and he said hmmmm. Not sure what that was all about but did it ever hurt. Then my entire left leg went totally numb I couldn't feel a thing. He asked me if my leg was hurting now and I said no I can't feel it that is was totally numb. That is when he told the nurse that they were going to do one up and gave me more numbing shots higher above that. I was doing good with that one then all of a sudden there was this horrible sharp pain and I screamed again and he asked is your leg still numb? I told him it was then he asked if the numbness was lightened at all and I told him no it was still totally numb. So he goes to work on the right side and with that side I felt the little numbin pricks and then just a little pressure here and there and that was all no pain other than the little pricks. Now here it is over a hour later and my left leg from the thigh down is still numb and above that my hip feels like someone smashed it with a ball bat. My lower back feels like it is about to snap in two. I tried asking him about the pain and numbness but he butted in and said okay your done she will clean you up then he left the room. I asked the nurse about it but she didn't know. So now I am sitting here with a numb leg and more pain in my back than before. My hip is even hurting now when before it didn't . Has anyone else ever had this type of experience before?

oh dear Jesus I am so sorry....no I never had these shots you speak of but some on here have hang tight someone will be by.....but if the pain keeps up I would head to the nearest ER

I've had 4 ESI's and never experienced the pain you are.

I would pm Bad Boy with the info from you post.

He might know what is going on.

Thanks guys I am starting to get a little worried about this because the numbness is not so bad now but since it has faded some the pain has gotten impossibly worse

Ouch is right and I feel your pain. I have had a 4 so far and will tell you the last one was a killer. I too complained about the numbness and yes instead of a baseball bat It felt like ballon or a softball under my skin betweem my spine all the way to my side and down to hip. If the numbness is going away its a good sign, but as far as the pain, on my last injection my pain lasted almost 2 weeks and out weighed my original pain. If you dont see improvement within a day or two you should let them know again or go to er..
But I really do feel your pain on this one and I must say I'm sorry your going through it..

Hey Bronco, Did they do anything at all to help with your pain? My doctor was in a rush to get out of the room with me and didn't want to talk to me about anything. As for the numbness if I sit down or lay down the numbness in my leg comes back full force. If I had to judge the pain I would say at the minimum it is 50% more pain that what I have felt through all of this it is worse than the day I was injured and wow I thought that was bad. Who knew it could get worse. I woke up this morning and the pain has not let up a single bit . I am not sure how much more I can take. I left a message for my PM doc and my PTP doc to call me last night but still haven't heard from them. I guess I will just have to keep taking my pain meds and hope the call. If it gets any worse I am going to the E.R though.

I had 6 of them many years ago after my first back injury. Never experienced any of this. I am so sorry you have. Please if it continues that bad go to the ER> Feel better and please keep us posted.

Hey Cap thanks I might just find myself in the E.R before this weekend is over . I am just so angry right now because I went to get help to make the pain go away at least some not to make it worse than it has ever been.

I just seen my neighbor/friend who is a EMT at the hospital when I went to get my bloodwork. We talked for a good little while and he told me that the last one that was done hit a nerve and caused some nerve damage. I also talked to a nurse there who told me her mother went to this PM doc (the one my reg doc wanted me to go to) and that he takes pictures continuously as the needle is going in to make sure it is going in the righ place. Looks like I should have not let the IC company scare me into going where they wanted me to and instead used my own ins. and went where my doc wanted me to in the first place. The one I went to didn't take pictures continuously when he was inserting the needle.

This should have been done under flouroscopy....no if and or buts. I had a bad experience with a radiologist who attempted to do this without the flouroscopy and I was ready to fly off the table because she kept hitting a nerve. Then she had the nerver to tell me, I don't know why you are having this much pain. She then had to have someone come take an X-ray to check the placement of the needle. She was on a nerve and she did not come back in the room to finish the procedure, someone else finished it. That just goes to show you, some do not know what the hell they are doing and then have the nerve to question the pain you are in. I remember her name and when I need a radiologist for procedures I always make sure this one is not on staff. If she is, I make sure I tell them my experience with her and let them know they have to schedule me with someone else but not this woman. I will never forget that day as it was an aweful experience. I hope you start to feel better from your procedure. Take care!

Cajun Hugsssssssssssss,
MJC

I have had ESI. I would never let anyobdy inject anything into my back with out useing a fluoriscope. They need to see and know where they are inserting a needle at. Sounds like the EMT may be right, probably hit something in your back with the injection, since they had no idea where they were injecting at,. I would have it checked out if it were me.