Injections and Ablation

[akmoriarty]

Hi
I had a myxopapillary ependymoma removed from L1-L3 in 2008. Since then I have had two kids. I have a laundry list of back and leg problems, osteoarthritis, leg weakness, degenerative discs, bulging discs, terrible muscle spasms, just the normal collateral damage that comes with spinal cancer. Since April 2013 I have had about 14 steroid injections to stop the back, leg, and butt pain all on my right side. I would get about 4 days of relief and the pain would come back. I had a nerve ablation three weeks ago, no feeling for 2 weeks and the pain has returned but now it's burning, gnawing, and has just an uneasy feeling. I was on pain medication before this and it worked, but I grew tired of taking meds. After the ablation I stopped taking the nerve medication Keppra, Tramadol (which didn't work at all), and now just take Cymbalta and Baclofen for the muscle spasms.

Now I am at the end of my rope with this pain. I just don't know what else to do to try to relieve it. Has anyone had a similar experience with injections and ablations? I am beginning to think that the tumor did too much damage and it's probably going to be a forever pain the rest of my life.
Thanks
Anne

[Cathy G.]

I too did the injections without a lot of relief. Recently I had a glucose injection to kill the nerves. It helped so much, I actually had consecutive days without pain and was able to cut my neurontin from 3600 mg per day to 900 mg. It lasted quite awhile but the nerves have regenerated so the pain has returned. I have an appointment to have it done again. I was so grateful to find something that gave me some relief. Good luck to you.