Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 10/21/2008

Question
QUESTION: I had 2 epidurals, the first one I could barely sit for 2 days.the 2nd one I still have pain in the injection site which makes it hard to sit for more than an hour. On the second one I had to be rushed to hospital and meds slowely taken out of back by a sonigram machine or something like it. The tail bone is in constant pain. what is it?

ANSWER: Judith
I am really sorry but I don't have enough information to even start to guess what is going on here. I also haven't a clue what sort of machine could take the meds out of your back.
I really need to know a bit more - how old are you, what were the epidurals for, how long apart were they, what drugs were used.
Sorry
Dr Ian Jackson

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Dr. I am a other wise healthy 47 year old female who has sacroiliac pain and sciotic nerve pain in back due to continuous lifting at work. It has been a problem for 5 years now. The doc gave me an epidural about three weeks apart. He used a sonigram machine, I think she rubbed it on my back to break up meds or something in injection site.He tried to use smaller needle when I complained that I was having severe pressure like my spine would burst, but it wouldnt work. hope this helps more thank you for your time.Ever since My tail bone hurts when I sit?

Answer
Hi there
I had a feeling this might be linked to chronic pain management - this is really outside my area of expertise.
The sonigram is (I assume) an ultrasound machine and perhaps they were trying to use this to reduce any bruising left from your injection. Epidural injections can help people with back problems but the success rate is not much better than 50-60% and there is always the chance it will make things worse for a while.
As I stated above this is outside my area of training but if I was having problems like that then I would avoid further attempts at epidural injection to help.
I ahve back problems and the epidurals I had did help but what worked for me was taking up regular exercise. I cycle and swim as much as I can fit in to my busy schedule and I always have more problems when I am unable to adhere to this. Sorry I can't help further.
All the best
Dr Ian Jackson