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Have Herniated Disk, Nerve Pain. Had Nerve Root Injection. Scheduled Lumbar Steroid Epidural. Is It Safe?
Hello, I hope you can help me.
I had an MRI which revealed I have a herniated disk at L5 causing nerve pain down my right leg. I had a nerve root injection at the end of August which was meant to relieve inflammation and allow my disk to heal. Unfortunately it only gave me a few days relief and the pain is back. I am due to have a lumbar steroid epidural in 1 months time but have just found out I am 5 weeks pregnant. I have not yet informed the chronic pain clinic through which I am being treated, I believe the injection I am booked in to have in 1 months time will be done under intensive imaging. My query is- is it safe for me to still go ahead with the injection (I need to inform the clinic) will they still perform the lumbar epidural (I will be 9 weeks pregnant when it is due to take place). Also, is it likely I will be able to go through to full term with pregnancy?
Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.
I had an MRI which revealed I have a herniated disk at L5 causing nerve pain down my right leg. I had a nerve root injection at the end of August which was meant to relieve inflammation and allow my disk to heal. Unfortunately it only gave me a few days relief and the pain is back. I am due to have a lumbar steroid epidural in 1 months time but have just found out I am 5 weeks pregnant. I have not yet informed the chronic pain clinic through which I am being treated, I believe the injection I am booked in to have in 1 months time will be done under intensive imaging. My query is- is it safe for me to still go ahead with the injection (I need to inform the clinic) will they still perform the lumbar epidural (I will be 9 weeks pregnant when it is due to take place). Also, is it likely I will be able to go through to full term with pregnancy?
Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.
Sat, 28 Sep 2013
Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.
It is not recommended or advisable to get exposed to radiation (in any form) during the first trimester of pregnancy (during first 3 months). This is because "Organogenesis" (formation of body parts) occurs in the foetus during the first 3 months. If you are exposed to radiation during this period, there is likely possibility that the foetus may develop congenital abnormalities.
There is no surity or guarantee that a lumbar epidural steroid will provide you relief through out your term of pregnancy.
Hope this information is helpful .Good day
It is not recommended or advisable to get exposed to radiation (in any form) during the first trimester of pregnancy (during first 3 months). This is because "Organogenesis" (formation of body parts) occurs in the foetus during the first 3 months. If you are exposed to radiation during this period, there is likely possibility that the foetus may develop congenital abnormalities.
There is no surity or guarantee that a lumbar epidural steroid will provide you relief through out your term of pregnancy.
Hope this information is helpful .Good day
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Hi, thank you for your question.
Some doctors do the lumbar epidural without x-ray, but others will need x-ray for it.
You should not have the injection if any X-ray needed.
I personally will not perform any spinal injection on pregnant woman, but I advise you to contact the pain clinic team and check with them if they are happy to proceed with the procedure.
best wishes.
Some doctors do the lumbar epidural without x-ray, but others will need x-ray for it.
You should not have the injection if any X-ray needed.
I personally will not perform any spinal injection on pregnant woman, but I advise you to contact the pain clinic team and check with them if they are happy to proceed with the procedure.
best wishes.
I find this answer helpful
2 Doctors agree with this answer
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