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I Have Burning Feeling In My Buttocks And Stiffness After

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Posted on Mon, 10 Feb 2020
Question: I have burning feeling in my buttocks and stiffness after steroid caudal epidural in my back. Will this burning ever go away and how long? I am suffering with this and PA said there is nothing else to help me! Going on since 8/12/2019 I have 2 more steroid epidurals since and it is the same. this does not work for me and I give up. I was better before I did the first one 8/12/19. Will this steroid ever get out of my system in time? Can you answer or a anesthes. or internal med answer??? Help please
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (7 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
The injections are far from guaranteed.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

So, this is a lumbar disk. Without an exam, I can only give general information, and the condition varies. Still, I had one person whose lumbar disk got totally unmanageable after a traffic accident and I had them do an emergency MRI and that was the only reason we found his prostate cancer. So....if you haven't had an MRI, you should get it.

Hate to say it (or type it) but I've only seen injections of any sort work in a minority of patients and I've never seen it where it failed and later worked. The steroids get out of the body by a month. Maybe faster than that if the space has good spinal fluid flow.

There's a lot of other treatments. If someone is having signs of paralysis such as loss of strength, sensation or bladder control then surgery makes sense. It probably won't change the pain but it does mostly help the loss of function fast and reliably.

Tens units are unlikely to make it worse. They can be implanted permanently if they seem to help. But the temporary external ones are usually helpful and are neither dangerous nor costly to try.

Some nerves can be removed either surgically or by injection of toxins to kill off the ability to feel pain. It is likely to cause some loss of function AND, if the pain is from the spine, it can't be used.

Physical therapy has a significant benefit.
There are a variety of non-narcotic medications. Lidocaine patch, gabapentin, pregabalin, are some. BenGay has some effect.

Then, the odd treatments are not necessarily bad for this. Acupuncture probably works in lumbar disk disease. Chiropracty also.

Regards


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (5 hours later)
Thank you. I have had epidurals for years some 3 5 years between. Ever since my pain management doctor, a former anesthesiologist gave me a caudal steroid epidural It had really hurt me for months--- was doing pretty good and then I have this reaction to the drug.
I will try acupuncture, chiropractor. I take 2 oxicontin 2 times a day. In bed my back is aching and buttocks burning. taking 1 pill takes a hour to release this pain.
I really regret that my doctor in California changed epidurals and thought this caudal would be good.
I was married to a general surgeon who passed several years ago. I wish he was still here-a good guy & a great surgeon. Thanks Dr Wachsman



doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
You are quite welcome

Detailed Answer:
I do not know what 2 oxycontin twice a day would mean. I suspect it is two oxycodone with a total milligram of under 50 milligram a day. A dose unlikely to cause withdrawal/dependence.
Oxycontin came in different doses up to 80 mg or more Per Pill! so, four x 80 would be 320 mg or about 10x the dose i suspect you are taking.

And, problems with medicine--any medicine--is disproportionately soon after starting or changing it and NOT common after being on a stable dose for months.

Anyway, you're quite welcome. good question. Hope we helped.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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I Have Burning Feeling In My Buttocks And Stiffness After

Brief Answer: The injections are far from guaranteed. Detailed Answer: Hi, So, this is a lumbar disk. Without an exam, I can only give general information, and the condition varies. Still, I had one person whose lumbar disk got totally unmanageable after a traffic accident and I had them do an emergency MRI and that was the only reason we found his prostate cancer. So....if you haven't had an MRI, you should get it. Hate to say it (or type it) but I've only seen injections of any sort work in a minority of patients and I've never seen it where it failed and later worked. The steroids get out of the body by a month. Maybe faster than that if the space has good spinal fluid flow. There's a lot of other treatments. If someone is having signs of paralysis such as loss of strength, sensation or bladder control then surgery makes sense. It probably won't change the pain but it does mostly help the loss of function fast and reliably. Tens units are unlikely to make it worse. They can be implanted permanently if they seem to help. But the temporary external ones are usually helpful and are neither dangerous nor costly to try. Some nerves can be removed either surgically or by injection of toxins to kill off the ability to feel pain. It is likely to cause some loss of function AND, if the pain is from the spine, it can't be used. Physical therapy has a significant benefit. There are a variety of non-narcotic medications. Lidocaine patch, gabapentin, pregabalin, are some. BenGay has some effect. Then, the odd treatments are not necessarily bad for this. Acupuncture probably works in lumbar disk disease. Chiropracty also. Regards