Cortisone injections for lingering pain after a vertebral fracture.

[Clair2014]

I fell on the ice 10 months ago and sustained a chip fracture of my C7 vertebra. The fracture was of the anterior superior part of the vertebral body so there was no spinal cord involvement. Immobilization didn’t work very well because cervical collars rested right on the injured part of my neck and were very painful to wear. As a result, I was instructed by the doctor to rest for four months and was not immobilized. After four months, I was still having a lot of pain so follow-up x-rays were done and showed that the vertebra was not fully healed but was healing. I was offered physical therapy, which I declined due to the expense, and was told to continue resting for another two months after which I was released to full activity.

I have been back to full activity for several months now but my level of pain hasn’t improved at all since May. I have a lot of trouble sleeping because I can’t lay down without pain. I do have a special pillow that does help but it’s not great. My doctors are recommending cortisone injections and I see a specialist on Wednesday. I’m nervous about doing the injections and was wondering if anyone has had them done and if they thought they helped? I’m also curious to find out how painful the injections are and how much down-time follows them? Thanks in advance.

[akstaj]

I broke T-12, L1-5, and S-1 six years ago and started injections this year because of hip pain when I sleep, could have sworn it was bursitis, nope bulging disks and scar tissue. I am great until they wear off, getting ready to do a third round before the end of the year because deductible has been met. I have had no side effects.

[Clair2014]

Thanks for the response! I am schedule to have the C7 injected on Tuesday. Crossing my fingers it will help!

[equisusan]

Hope you got some relief Clair. I’ve had numerous injections including a few in the muscle with some dex. Ahhh horse people will do anything won’t we?

Inflammation is likely your source of pain and if so the cortisone will help. If not then investigate possible muscle spasms as the cause. Physical therapy would help you if you can swing it.

[Clair2014]

[QUOTE=equisusan;8409247]
Hope you got some relief Clair. I’ve had numerous injections including a few in the muscle with some dex. Ahhh horse people will do anything won’t we?

Inflammation is likely your source of pain and if so the cortisone will help. If not then investigate possible muscle spasms as the cause. Physical therapy would help you if you can swing it.[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, relief from the cortison injection was short-lived. I had no more than a week to 10 days of relief and then the pain started coming back. It is now back in full force, especially when the weather changes. I’m disappointed but my doctor warned this could happen. As of now, I’m just planning to live with it and hope it improves over time.

I did have trouble with muscle spasms for a while and tried physical therapy and trigger point injections. The trigger point injections actually made the muscle spasms worse but over time the muscles have relaxed and seem fine. The only pain that lingers is directly from that specific vertebra and no one can really tell me if it will get better or not.

Oh well, it was worth a try…

[walkers]

Ice Ice Ice, use Ice pack 3-4 times a day. NOT heat. Cortisone shots are good for diagnostic and since it didn’t work you should get MRI and have it read by neurosurgeon not just radiologist.Remember if they missed something things could get worse and have permanent damage and very important to remember that a MRI won’t show everything. surgeon will tell you that until they take a look they won’t know whats wrong. Is it possible you are hurt somewhere else and pain is referred?
Forget trigger point you’d do better with Swedish soothing massage to relax the muscles and hot tubs are great just stay away from heating pads. Think inflammation , you don’t want to add heat to heat but a deep hot tub will stop the spasms.
And pain meds are important don’t let them scar u with nonsense about addiction.
Some new drugs out our extended release u take 1 a day.

[Everlong274]

Ice is best, not heat, as it will reduce the inflammation. Injections did nothing for me. I broke my back (S5/L1) in 2011. I could not agree with walkers more. You may develop a physical need for the medication, but if its doing its job, its something to be concerned with. Pain inhibits healing, leading to more pain, leading to more issues. Address the pain! (I was a hospice nurse for a long time and could chew your ear off with stories about people refusing pain meds and suffering until they agreed to try it and the relief they found).