Tips up front: do your research, understand your condition, learn some mitigation strategies to help offset the pain and get your epidurals when the pain isn't excruciating. The epidural shots will go smoother when your pain levels are less than a five.
I was referred to Dr. Gordon by a neurosurgeon to receive a series of epidural injections for pain management caused from herniated discs.
He answered all of my questions and provided limited but useful recommendations to help mitigate my pain levels when I had/have sciatica flare ups. Understanding that there isn't much you can do: build core strength, stretch, walk, etc. if you decide to forgo surgery.
Best of all, he even took time between patients to see me same day when I had debilitating pain from a sciatica flare up. I couldn't stress how awesome this was and I was very appreciative. Even though that shot hurt significantly, which, should've followed my own recommendations to never get a shot during a flare up.
The procedures are quick, you're in and out in less than 30 minutes. During each injection he walks you through what he's doing, where he's injecting, the pain you can expect, pressure, etc. "that pressure is good news, it means we hit your nerve."
Great, yeah, except it just feels like a meteor crashed into your back causing a massive tidal wave of fire, fury, pressure and pain that begins in your butt and ends at each end of your body. By the third shot, I was just like look Doc, I don't want to know the details, give me the gas, give me the shot and get me out of here.
If I had to complain about the office, it's with their time management and lack of communication. Of my five appointments, two of them I was waiting in the waiting room for over an hour. Additionally, I didn't find out that they offered gas to offset the pain and anxiety of having a needle jabbed into the nerve of your spine which royally pisses your sciatica off until the meds kick in until after my second injection.
It would have been nice to know and an option I would have taken following the first shot. These things are painful. That said my third injection went a heck of a lot smoother than my first two and I have to thank the nurse who gave me the gas, held my hand, and rubbed my back while I screamed expletives into the pillow following the injection. read more