I Just Had A Nerve Root Injection In L4/l5 And

Posted on Tue, 10 Sep 2019

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Tue, 10 Sep 2019 Answered on

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Question : I just had a nerve root injection in l4/l5 and there was a local anaesthetic first and then the steroid. That was about 2 hours ago. My sciatic pain down my leg hasn’t got any better and now there is a deep ache in my buttock. Does this mean the injection has failed? Should I get some immediate relief from the local anathestic?

Answered by Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It is too early to feel corticosteroid injection effects.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor service.
I read your query and here is my advice.

The fact that you aren't feeling any better 2 hours after the injection this doesn't mean that corticosteroid injection failed.
The deep pain you are feeling in buttocks may be caused by the injections and local anesthetic doesn't provide much relief because it's effects are gone two hours after being injected.
You may feel better gradually the proceeding days and may feel the desirable effects up to 5 days after corticosteroid injection.

Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (1 hour later)

Thank you for your reply. I thought that the local anaesthetic would immediately make the pain better if the injection was done in the right spot. I know the local wears off but is it true that if the local doesn’t stop the pain (referees pain down my leg) then the injection is in the wrong spot?

Answered by Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (19 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Local anesthesia site of injection don't match the site where corticostero

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
I don't think that injection is in the wrong spot just because the local didn't remove the pain.
Possibly the doctor didn't inject it so deeply in the nerve root or in every nerve root or injected just enough anesthetic to make the injection easier not to totally stop the pain you were feeling first.
So I believe that you don't have to worry about feeling pain after local anesthetic injection, it's site of injection don't match the site where corticosteroid injection is done.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (2 hours later)

Thank you. my final question is: now my referred pain is getting much worse. its been about 10 hours since the injection. is there a reason that i have more pain in the referred area in my thigh, even though the injection was in my back? do younthink that means that the injection in my back has hit the right place? because i read that its common for there to be swelling and psin at the inhection site but it diesnt say if more pain in the referred pain sites is normal.

Answered by Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You may feel better in 1 to 3 days.

Detailed Answer:
I think the pain in leg is getting worse because of the trauma of the injection and possible swelling in the injection site which is normal. You are feeling pain in your leg because the injection was done in spine in the nerve roots which inervate the leg.
You are feeling more pain since local anesthetic is weaning off.
I believe you will start to feel better in 1 to 3 days as corticosteroid injection start to work. If you still have pain which is being increased you may try to contact the doctor who did the injection to you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng