Whiplash injury, will facet injections work?

[beckiejbak]

I've been reading up on these injections given for (in my case) neck and shoulder pain, along with headaches. They sound sort of painful. Most people who have had them had disc damage and I was wondering if anyone had had them for muscle, soft tissue injuries. It seems the frequent muscle spasms cannot be controlled very well with meds. The dr. wants to deaden the nerve that keeps putting me in pain. But my pain is not excruciating, just chronic most of the time. My stomach, however, is rather ripped up from all the ibuprofen (800 mgs. per tablet) and vicodin taken.
I've done the gamut- p.t., chiropractic, acupuncture, etc. Is there anyone out there who has had these for a whiplash type injury? How successful was it?
Also, I teach first grade and am hoping not to have to take any more time off than I have this year. If I get it done on a Friday, can I work on Monday?

[moose53]

((((((Beckie)))))),

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/moose53/MINIS/HUGS/huggiebears-mini.gif

I'm sorry that you're hurting so much. I've had 3 or 4 whiplashes. They are NOT fun :(

I've also had epidurals in my neck, too; but, never for a whiplash.

I have a real sensitive stomach too. I've actually gotten ulcers from too strong medications.

I'm surprised that they're giving you ibuprofen and vicodin. I would expect a muscle relaxant (like Flexeril) would do more good -- a muscle relaxant plus stabilizing the neck with a foam collar.

If you truly are suffering from a whiplash-type of injury, I don't think you should get the epidural. In all the experience that I've had with my spine -- both cervical and lumbar problems for over 30 years -- I don't think an epidural will help.

How long ago did you get injured?? Was it a car accident??

In all of the whiplashes that I had (all caused by car accidents), I was never out of work for more than a week, except for one time -- that was a really strange accident, multiple collisions. I think I was out of work for two weeks with that one.

What kind of doctor are you seeing?? Who diagnosed the whiplash?? How long ago was it diagnosed?? How long have you been out of work??

You mentioned going to a chiropractor. I've had really good luck with them for other problems. This particular chiropractor hasn't been doing 'adjustments' to your neck, has he??

PT surprises me too. A whiplash-injury is torn muscles. They just have to rest and heal. I don't know what good PT would do. I'm really confused by the course of treatment that you've gone through.

None of us here is a trained medical expert (including me). All we can do is talk about our own experiences. I'm just concerned by all the different treatments and by the strength of the drugs that you've been given. It seems like 'overkill' -- what the body (what the neck) really needs for a whiplash is time to rest and to heal.

Hope you feel better. Hugs. I would get another opinion about the epidural -- I don't think it appropriately addresses the medical issues that you're having now.

Barb

PS: You might want to also post this message on the Spinal Disorders (http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=251) forum. There are a lot people much more knowledgeable about the back than I am. Forgot to welcome you to BrainTalk, too http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/moose53/MINIS/HUGS/empathy.gif.

[adams001]

This whiplash injury is very dangerous and this happen in most of the accidents. This will lead to even coma stage. Sometimes loss of memory too. Facet injections is a try for this injury but we can't tell this will help to give back the brain.

Brainhealthandpuzzles - Whiplash Brain Injury (http://www.brainhealthandpuzzles.com/whiplash_brain_injury.html)

[Smithc]

I agree w/Barb. If it is a muscle tear it needs to rest and heal. Chiro and PT seems like an odd choice to me.

Flexeril I have found is a good muscle relaxer. It makes me sleepy during the day so I used to take it mostly at night.

Soma was the only muscle relaxer I could function on.

[Shown]

I agree with Adam, whiplash is the number one cause of Secondary Brain Injury. And the brain is very very sensitive and vulnerable, and a hard thing to get diagnosised and treated. And like he said "will it help give the brain back." Dont let them mess around with this, you should have already been over a neck sprain. My husband suffered whiplash, and his brain went untreated, now we have good days and bad days, last night just happen to be a bad one. He takes Relpax for his headpain, either that or Maltrax. The Neuro perfers the Maltrax, and the Relpax on an as need basis, last night was one of those nights. Relpax is over $25.00 a pill and you can only take 2 in a 24 hour time frame, he was taking Vicodin up to 8 a day, that is not good for you.

This whiplash injury is very dangerous and this happen in most of the accidents. This will lead to even coma stage. Sometimes loss of memory too. Facet injections is a try for this injury but we can't tell this will help to give back the brain.

Brainhealthandpuzzles - Whiplash Brain Injury (http://www.brainhealthandpuzzles.com/whiplash_brain_injury.html)

Not sure if any of us helped you with your problem, but it is always nice to know, hey I am not alone, there are others to talk to. You found a great place. You scroll down and you will find a variety of topics including traumatic brain in jury and others.

Welcome to Brain Talk!

Shown

[londyn12]

I guess i don't agree with anyone. Don't know if you went threw with it or not since you posted this awhile back.But i was is in a car accident almost 2 years ago and suffered a simaliar injury and I still suffering from it. I have been getting Facet injections in my neck for the past year now and they have helped a ton, but I am still suffering from muscle spasms so we will be trying Botox for that. I get my injections from c2-c7, I am sleeping when they do it because i have to be still. It does not hurt at the time. You will be a little sore the next day. You should only miss work the day of the injections and that is it. Hopefully it works to calm down the muscles and when all is all said and done I can have my life back.