u/Averagejoe_mogul

Back story: Reherniation of the same L4/L5 disc after a MD 3 years ago. This time smaller and not causing as severe symptom but still a pain (literally).
I’ve had one prior ESI during my original injury that did nothing but send me to surgery faster because of how severe it was.

Was told by the doc we did a “two-level” injection at L4/L5 and L5/S1. Not sure which exact order he did them in but whatever the second one was DAMN. The contrast followed by the medication itself hit directly on whatever nerve root is super irritated because I felt an immediate intense pressure and burning from back to toe tips, like the nerve pathway was going to pop out of my leg.

Will it help? Idk. I do t have very high hopes to be honest. Obviously I don’t expect anything to change soon, honestly expecting it to get worse for a few days. I obviously read about people who have done multiple and changed nothing, but I’ve seen/read about people getting one or two and being good for years. Would love to hear anyone else’s experience.

Back story: Reherniation of the same L4/L5 disc after a MD 3 years ago. This time smaller and not causing as severe symptom but still a pain (literally).
I’ve had one prior ESI during my original injury that did nothing but send me to surgery faster because of how severe it was.

Was told by the doc we did a “two-level” injection at L4/L5 and L5/S1. Not sure which exact order he did them in but whatever the second one was DAMN. The contrast followed by the medication itself hit directly on whatever nerve root is super irritated because I felt an immediate intense pressure and burning from back to toe tips, like the nerve pathway was going to pop out of my leg.

Will it help? Idk. I do t have very high hopes to be honest. Obviously I don’t expect anything to change soon, honestly expecting it to get worse for a few days. I obviously read about people who have done multiple and changed nothing, but I’ve seen/read about people getting one or two and being good for years. Would love to hear anyone else’s experience.

This bout of sciatica (L4/L5 reherniation compressing L5 nerve root) started when I noticed sitting, especially in a car for long periods, brought on burning in my foot. As the weeks have gone on now lying on my back brings on all my burning symptoms as well. I find it strange because in my mind those of two completely different positions.

Also I can get up in the morning, do basic tasks around the house, do PT, and take the dog on a long walk with very minimal symptoms. But after all that? Lay on the couch to watch TV and here comes the hot, burning, wet feeling all up and down my leg and I spend hours flipping and flopping around in bed waiting for the burn to die off.
So aggravating.

Looking for opinions. I’m a 31M, had an L4/L5 discectomy March 2023. Always had random aches and nerve sensations since then but never really “painful” until March of this year.

What started as a burning sensation in my thigh when I would sit has slowly evolved into burning and aching throughout my entire leg basically all day no matter what position I’m in. MRI Confirmed a right-sided reherniation at the same disc level, just not as bad as the first time.

I have an ESI Friday but I want to plan ahead. My pain is never intense, at worst a 6/10 but usually a 3 or 4, but just a CONSTANT low grade burning that never goes away. Been trying everything and it’s like I’ll move around some and things seem to “loosen up” and symptoms die down, then the minute I sit or lie down it all flares even worse.

If you were me and the ESI only provided short-term or no relief would you have another surgery? Has anyone out there had a second surgery when symptoms weren’t 10/10. It seems silly because I don’t have excruciating pain or neurological deficits like before, but it’s enough pain to keep me out of work (law enforcement), and it just seems like nothing is trending the right direction.

Like the title says, I’m curious is anyone else has the same issue I do. I don’t really have the classic “bend/twist/move a certain way and get stabbing pain” sciatica like I did the first time. I have this low grade burning sensation mainly in my foot but carries up and down my leg as well. It gets a bit better with movement but not by much. Sure there’s some aches and cramps in there first thing in the morning or if I lay still for too long but the man issue has been this constant burning and it’s driving me nuts cause nothing makes it better.

I’ve read that it’s indicative of my issue being mainly chemical inflammation rather than purely compression. I already know I have a reherniation but not nearly as bad as my first time around so the inflammation over compression theory makes sense.