Thread: First Lumbar Epidural Yesterday

Hi all I am new to this site and feel everyone is really compassionate and kind. I just had my first lumbar epiduaral yesterday on L5 and I am very sore today and woke up with a headache. The post instructions say it is not uncommon to have these side effects, but I am a big baby and need some reassurance from the more experienced on here. It is of course sore at the injection site, but it just aches. Any kind words... thanks Lisa

but how is the sciatica today? They say to take a little caffiene if you have a headache since they don't want you to take an anti-inflammatory for a couple days after the injection. Hang in there for another day and try not to get the injection site angrier at you! T

The headache is probably because they lost a drop of spinal fluid. Did they tell you to lay flat the day after if you got headaches? You might find that it will help. There really isn't too much that you can do until that drop of fluid is replaced by your spinal column. If it doesn't improve in a couple days- contact your doctor. It should go away, but if it doesn't, they can go in and add a drop of sterilized water to replace...

If it does not work you may need to finish the series, I did get relief after the 3rd, you will be fine, it all comes with the territory.