Finally an epidural= not good

[mytruck]

In California: After 7 months, I finally got my chance at some relief. I had an epidural (first one ever and now the last) 10 days ago and want to find out what I now an in store for.
When the needle hit the nerve between the C7 and T1, it shot a pain hard to discribe through my problem areas. Next, the needle hit another nerve having no relation to any of my problems and completely numbed the right side of my body. During the recovery, my heart rate dropped to where I almost passed out and was sent home once I was able to walk. That evening, I broke out into an uncontrolable sweat, fever hit 102 and my heart rate sky-rocket. I ended up going into the hospital and was there for 2 days because I got an infection from the epidural.
Short story has led to this question: My problem areas have now more painful symptoms that before the injection and I have not recovered feeling in the majority of my right side. I tried to call the place I had the epidural done, but they have not returned any calls (been 3 days now) and my lawyer has called WC and they are having a hands off of the numbing and hospital.
Any suggestions where this is going and what I should expect?

[Cycler]

Was your procedure done using floroscopy for direct visualization of needle placement ? I read of horror stories such as your is the legitimate pain journals talking about quality issues now that so many Drs are doing these procedures as there is so much money in them !! There is of course a related increase in the incidence of paraplegia reported due to spinal cord damage from bleeding and infection that is raising concern about the lax indications for the procedures themselves. Speedy Recovery !

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

Goosh, I remember mine, was in a lot of pain, not thinking about doing research first. No fluoroscope was used. I was naked on the table, with a sheet over me. The needles went in, something got hit (nerve), the only thing left on the table was the cheeks of my butt, sweat running off every part of my body and onto the floor, enough to where a mop was needed. I thought I was going to have a Heart attack. I advised the doctor the next time he comes into the room to check on me, that my frame of mind will be different, and I promised him he will loose all of his teeth. He never came back, and a nurse released me. Never again, will I do something without performing the research first.

[bronco54501]

I have had a few allready and never had any problems except left foot and leg were numb for about 5 days. But they did it using floroscopy and I go in for another epidural tues along with getting the facets done at same time........ I just want to say sorry to hear........

[Lilly]

OMG!! I simply cannot imagine such a horrible experience! I once got a novacaine shot at the measley dentist, that hit a nerve...and I can tell you, my (Jayne's lame attempt to bypass the Bad Word Filter) left the chair like a rocket!
Mytruck, I can only imagine the pain you must have endured in your neck area!!!!!
Do you have a lawyer? If so, what does he say about it? If it is permenant, it seems to me it could be added to your claim! I hope it wears off soon...numbness is hard to tolerate in any body part!

Lilly

[Lilly]

OMG!! I simply cannot imagine such a horrible experience! I once got a novacaine shot at the measley dentist, that hit a nerve...and I can tell you, my (Jayne's lame attempt to bypass the Bad Word Filter) left the chair like a rocket!
Mytruck, I can only imagine the pain you must have endured in your neck area!!!!!
Do you have a lawyer? If so, what does he say about it? If it is permenant, it seems to me it could be added to your claim! I hope it wears off soon...numbness is hard to tolerate in any body part!

For some reason the post above caught onto a sentence about Jayne and BX4 that WOULD NOT edit out...as i tried to fix it 4 times!!!!!!! Sorry Jayne & Bx4 !! NOT Jaynes lame attempt to bypass the word filter!!!!! LOL

It did it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It should read "my (Jayne's lame attempt to bypass the Bad Word Filter) left the chair like a rocket!!

Lilly

[jayne]

not to worry Lilly its Admins way of being cheeky.....lol

[sparkey]

I know exactly where your coming from. When I went in for mine I forget the name of the procedure but they use rods placed in the back of your neck and then they put other rods inside those and inject fluid. I remember this doctor put all the first rods in the back of my neck and then heard him say " Sh**" really loud to the nurses. I was laying there wondering what on earth he could be saying that for. He then told the nurses he put the wrong size rods in and had to redo them all. I had ABSOLUTLY nothing for pain for that procedure except the needle of numbing fluid ( novicane).

He then put all the correct rods in. I lifted my head out of the pillow when he was done and had black mascara everywhere where I was crying so hard from the pain. He felt so bad and kept saying he was sooooo sorry. Etc. He then prescribed me 50 percocets. This doctor NEVER would prescribe narcotics to me for all the visits I had with him tilll that day. I NEVER EVER went back for another one of those procedures again. It was a Radial fleuroscopy. Something like that. Very painful. I made my next appointment with him and told him how I was still in so much pain after that exam. He said there is no way I could still have pain from it.

I then made the next appointment and went and paid the 20 dollars co-pay just so I could face him and tell him off. The next day he had a letter mailed to my home of how he tried to help me etc. and that he is sorry things did not work out, and wishes the next doctor could help me better. Funny thing is, he use to be my boss for the surgical service dept. I worked in SDC for 5 yrs. He was the director of SDC...

The only thing I can say is they make you sign a release before they do the procedure that there could be complications etc. and that you sign off on that to release them from any wrong doing. I do not know how that is going to work for you trying to do something for causing the infection etc. I think they have their butt covered with the release form you signed. I could be wrong also. Good luck.

[bronco54501]

I too had to sign off my rights, but I was warned first. You see, I have had mrsa through the blood stream and he warned me that there is a chance that it could be come infected again easier.... But I weighed my options and hoped for pain relief.................Bronco


Ps. I go in tomorrow for another series of injections and pray that they will be the final ones that give relief....

[Cycler]

what you sign is called an Informed Consent Release after the various risks of the procedure being explained to you. Good Luck bronco.