Cost of epidural for lower back pain

gagiteebo

Hi guys,

After 16 months of pain I finally have an appointment on Thursday for an epidural for my lower back pain. Hopefully it works! I was just wondering does anyone know how much it will cost? I don't have private health insurance. I'm going in Thursday and staying in day care unit til that night. I've asked hopsital but they seem unable to clarify for some reason I know some of you have had it done!

Thanks

irishh_bob

gagiteebo wrote: »

Hi guys,

After 16 months of pain I finally have an appointment on Thursday for an epidural for my lower back pain. Hopefully it works! I was just wondering does anyone know how much it will cost? I don't have private health insurance. I'm going in Thursday and staying in day care unit til that night. I've asked hopsital but they seem unable to clarify for some reason I know some of you have had it done!

Thanks

where are you having it done and btw , whats the difference between an epidural and a nerve block

Gottalovegreys

Hi,

If you're having it done in a public day ward, it will only be the cost of the bed for a day, which I'm pretty sure is still around the 75 euro mark.

Good luck, hope it helps with your pain

gagiteebo

irishh_bob wrote: »

where are you having it done and btw , whats the difference between an epidural and a nerve block

Cappagh Ortho. Hospital by Dr. Kavanagh...I think they're the same thing to be honest, I could be wrong

gagiteebo

Gottalovegreys wrote: »

Hi,

If you're having it done in a public day ward, it will only be the cost of the bed for a day, which I'm pretty sure is still around the 75 euro mark.

Good luck, hope it helps with your pain

That's great! Thanks a million for your help

irishh_bob

gagiteebo wrote: »

Cappagh Ortho. Hospital by Dr. Kavanagh...I think they're the same thing to be honest, I could be wrong

im not familiar with that hospital

i myself have had two nerve blocks and neither of them worked , the 1st one made the pain worse , if they are indeed one and the same , the proceedure itself is painless as they put you to sleep for a short while

gagiteebo

irishh_bob wrote: »

im not familiar with that hospital

i myself have had two nerve blocks and neither of them worked , the 1st one made the pain worse , if they are indeed one and the same , the proceedure itself is painless as they put you to sleep for a short while

Oh I am sorry to hear that I've heard a mixed bunch of stories from people who've had them, for some it has worked and for others it hasn't. Others have had to get it done 2 or 3 times. I'll try anything at this stage to be honest and just pray it works, anything is better than the pain I am in at the minute.

Glad to hear the procedure itself is painless :pac: I've been having nightmares about the needle

Annuv

I can't offer any advice gagiteebo since I have never had an epidural for my back, but best of luck. I have a good idea what you're going through so hope you get some relief from it all

flossie

I had an epidural at the Mater Private about 2 months ago. Unfortunately it didn't work for me, but i have another one coming up in 3 weeks to try again, before surgery is considered.

Appointment was at 10am, i was called into the x ray department, changed into a gown and went into a standard treatment room. Lay down on my stomach, area to be injected (L4/5) was swabbed, then local anaesthetic injected, followed by the epidural. The anaesthetic is the most painful part, but only like having a regular jab. The actual epidural you feel a build up of pressure but it dissipates within a few seconds. I lay down for 2-3 minutes, then radiologist got me to stand up, checked i was OK (i just needed a glass of water) and i got dressed and walked out. 15 minutes later i was strolling around the streets of Dublin shopping! (my boss gave me a few days off for 'rest'!).

All in all, i was in and out in 30 minutes. I would be surprised if you were in for more than a couple of hours!

VHI covered the cost of mine so didn't have to put a hand in the pocket, all paperwork sorted there and then

irishh_bob

flossie wrote: »

I had an epidural at the Mater Private about 2 months ago. Unfortunately it didn't work for me, but i have another one coming up in 3 weeks to try again, before surgery is considered.

Appointment was at 10am, i was called into the x ray department, changed into a gown and went into a standard treatment room. Lay down on my stomach, area to be injected (L4/5) was swabbed, then local anaesthetic injected, followed by the epidural. The anaesthetic is the most painful part, but only like having a regular jab. The actual epidural you feel a build up of pressure but it dissipates within a few seconds. I lay down for 2-3 minutes, then radiologist got me to stand up, checked i was OK (i just needed a glass of water) and i got dressed and walked out. 15 minutes later i was strolling around the streets of Dublin shopping! (my boss gave me a few days off for 'rest'!).

All in all, i was in and out in 30 minutes. I would be surprised if you were in for more than a couple of hours!

VHI covered the cost of mine so didn't have to put a hand in the pocket, all paperwork sorted there and then

i was sleepy for nearly a day after the nerve blocks and wasnt allowed drive for two days afterwards , im supposed to be having a spinal cord stimulator fitted in late september although im having second thoughts as i have chronic pain in two different areas and the pain specialist doesnt seem that confident that he can kill the pain in one of the areas , was given some litreature on the stimulator and considering whats involved and how you would be forced to manage your life around it , unless i was 100 % sure of success , im not sure i could happily go ahead with it , im not the luckly type and cant face the prospect of further disapointment , been on nerve pain killing drugs for nearly four years but they only really take the edge of the pain i have whats called complex regional pain syndrome in my rib area but i also have lumber spine wear and tear in the back , according to various pain sites , spinal cord stimulators work best for dealing with arm and leg pain ive no trouble in those areas , the worst part of living with pain is that you never get used to it , its often said that mental pain is worse than physical , as someone who has lived with both , physical is much worse , if i could get rid of the physical , the mental would follow suit :mad:

flossie

Irishh_bob,

What you're going through sounds awful Sorry to hear that. I'm guessing then that nerve blocks are completely diffetrent to epidurals? Can anybody shed some light to that? I wasn't allowed to drive for a day or 2 after the procedure.

Hoping something will get sorted for you reloatively soon

Floss.

dannyo666

Nerve block is where the injection is right next to the nerve to contol pain to stop the flow of pain signals to the brain.An epidural is the area of space between two vertabrea,usually a cathether is placed in first and then some sort of anasthesea.Theres loads of types of epidurals.They all do sweet damn all ime. but thats just me.Epiduarals are a lot sorer than nerve blocks also ive found again thats just me

Remember an epidural is just the space between the vertabrea and there are a few different ways to to have an epidural.Took me ages to realise this

irishh_bob

dannyo666 wrote: »

Nerve block is where the injection is right next to the nerve to contol pain to stop the flow of pain signals to the brain.An epidural is the area of space between two vertabrea,usually a cathether is placed in first and then some sort of anasthesea.Theres loads of types of epidurals.They all do sweet damn all ime. but thats just me.Epiduarals are a lot sorer than nerve blocks also ive found again thats just me

Remember an epidural is just the space between the vertabrea and there are a few different ways to to have an epidural.Took me ages to realise this

i can see you have a much broader understanding of theese two proceedures than i do , let me ask you a few things , can nerve blocks make the pain worse than before , im convinced that my pain was worse afterwards but ive spoken to several pain specialists since and they all rubished the idea , also , is thier anything between a nerve block and a spinal cord stimulator , spinal cord stimulator seems to be the ultimate step in tackling chronic pain , the last throw of the dice or so to speak but is thier anything which is less invasive and life altering

dannyo666

Ive had 5 nerve blocks and was worse after 1 block but it settled again back to my "normal" pain:mad: after a week or two.Ive never had any relief from them,nothing-not even 1%.Waiting on another scan(number 8) and some sort of nerve test whereby they stick acupuncture like needles into your lower back to see if the nerves are firing and reacting the way they should(cant remember the name)

Ive had 2 epidurals,i was told i was one of the first in Cork to have this type done,its called a ractz catherer(spelling might be off) and again no relief,that was5 weeks ago

As for anything inbetween a nerve block and a spinal cord stimulater,i really dont think there is and im in the same boat as you,looks like ill be going down that road.Your right,it is the last throw of the dice......

I dont know where you live bob but the santry sports clinic in dub seems to be where the top guys are,probably gonna make an appointment very soon to see a doc keaveny,loads of comments about him here in this area

What happened ya bob?

irishh_bob

dannyo666 wrote: »

Ive had 5 nerve blocks and was worse after 1 block but it settled again back to my "normal" pain:mad: after a week or two.Ive never had any relief from them,nothing-not even 1%.Waiting on another scan(number 8) and some sort of nerve test whereby they stick acupuncture like needles into your lower back to see if the nerves are firing and reacting the way they should(cant remember the name)

Ive had 2 epidurals,i was told i was one of the first in Cork to have this type done,its called a ractz catherer(spelling might be off) and again no relief,that was5 weeks ago

As for anything inbetween a nerve block and a spinal cord stimulater,i really dont think there is and im in the same boat as you,looks like ill be going down that road.Your right,it is the last throw of the dice......

I dont know where you live bob but the santry sports clinic in dub seems to be where the top guys are,probably gonna make an appointment very soon to see a doc keaveny,loads of comments about him here in this area

What happened ya bob?

i saw doctor keaveny for around two years , he performed a nerve block one me although his nerve block wasnt the one which increased the pain , that was doctor pollard in beaumont , im now seeing doctor declan o keefe in st vincents private , i far rather doctor o keefe than keaveny , when it comes to spinal cord stimulators , doctor o keefe is among the top if not thee top consultant in the country , hes unlike any doctor ive ever met before , plain spoken , earthy and without an ounce of pretentsiousness , he told me the 1st day i met him that thier would be no fcuking around with nerve blocks under his watch , his exact words

dannyo666

Sounds like the guy for me-sick of all the spoofers out there.Any idea of how long of a wait there is to just talk to him-seems like a guy whos in demand.Already haveing things done here in Cork but would defo get upto him for a 4th opinion for just a chat to see what he reckons


Thanks

irishh_bob

dannyo666 wrote: »

Sounds like the guy for me-sick of all the spoofers out there.Any idea of how long of a wait there is to just talk to him-seems like a guy whos in demand.Already haveing things done here in Cork but would defo get upto him for a 4th opinion for just a chat to see what he reckons


Thanks

ive only ever seen him as a private patient , waiting time for a consultation was usually around five weeks , hes a blunt man so be prepared

dannyo666

Well bob,you were right.Hes blunt as anything-so am i so it was a good match:)

Gotta get a spinal cord stimualter fitted.NTPF are going through so many changes with all the cutbacks they told me they mightnt cover it after the 3 month wait even though i have a medical card so my options are:

1:Pay privately for it at 30k:eek:
2:Wait for 18 or so months

Decided to go pay for it-i gotta do it before i freak out.Ive begged,borrowed and stole(not really stole) the money but i see it as giving me my life back so i can work and socialise again so family have kindly paid for it even though loans were required-ill pay em all back no question.

Getting the trial in 2 weeks for €1,500 which is gonna stay in for 3 weeks and if that works ill be getting the 10 year battery fitted,Doc o keeffe is very sure itl work so fingers crossed.If it doesnt work i cut my losses at €1,500 but hes very sure itl work,ive tried everything else

Looking forward to a new life i must say after 3 years of no life,spoof doctors,stomach exploding tablets and endless nerve blocks that didnt make a difference

Last throw of the dice................bricking it tbh:rolleyes:

irishh_bob

dannyo666 wrote: »

Well bob,you were right.Hes blunt as anything-so am i so it was a good match:)

Gotta get a spinal cord stimualter fitted.NTPF are going through so many changes with all the cutbacks they told me they mightnt cover it after the 3 month wait even though i have a medical card so my options are:

1:Pay privately for it at 30k:eek:
2:Wait for 18 or so months

Decided to go pay for it-i gotta do it before i freak out.Ive begged,borrowed and stole(not really stole) the money but i see it as giving me my life back so i can work and socialise again so family have kindly paid for it even though loans were required-ill pay em all back no question.

Getting the trial in 2 weeks for €1,500 which is gonna stay in for 3 weeks and if that works ill be getting the 10 year battery fitted,Doc o keeffe is very sure itl work so fingers crossed.If it doesnt work i cut my losses at €1,500 but hes very sure itl work,ive tried everything else

Looking forward to a new life i must say after 3 years of no life,spoof doctors,stomach exploding tablets and endless nerve blocks that didnt make a difference

Last throw of the dice................bricking it tbh:rolleyes:

i spoke to doctor o keefes secretary a week ago , im waiting to hear back from quinn insurance as to whether they will cover the spinal cord stimulator proceedure , i cant imagine being in your shoes and having to pay for it out of my own pocket so if quinn refuse to cough up , il have to just join the public waiting list :mad: , i can understand why you might be a bit nervous about the scs but at the end of the day , what choice have you , the status quo is intollerable , personally speaking , id risk death itself rather than be in permanent pain for the rest of my days , good luck anyhow

Hal Emmerich

dannyo666 wrote: »

Well bob,you were right.Hes blunt as anything-so am i so it was a good match:)

Gotta get a spinal cord stimualter fitted.NTPF are going through so many changes with all the cutbacks they told me they mightnt cover it after the 3 month wait even though i have a medical card so my options are:

1:Pay privately for it at 30k:eek:
2:Wait for 18 or so months

Decided to go pay for it-i gotta do it before i freak out.Ive begged,borrowed and stole(not really stole) the money but i see it as giving me my life back so i can work and socialise again so family have kindly paid for it even though loans were required-ill pay em all back no question.

Getting the trial in 2 weeks for €1,500 which is gonna stay in for 3 weeks and if that works ill be getting the 10 year battery fitted,Doc o keeffe is very sure itl work so fingers crossed.If it doesnt work i cut my losses at €1,500 but hes very sure itl work,ive tried everything else

Looking forward to a new life i must say after 3 years of no life,spoof doctors,stomach exploding tablets and endless nerve blocks that didnt make a difference

Last throw of the dice................bricking it tbh:rolleyes:

How the fuk is 30K justified?????????:eek::mad:

It's not like it's revolutionary or anything.

dannyo666

Cheers bob,im only bricking it because this is my last shot otherwise i will have no life forever like now.I cant see quinn insurance company not saying yes to a scs if its needed in your case,otherwise whats the point of having insurance?Disgusted the NTPF are not covering this anymore but with all the cutbacks its to be expected i guess.Would you really wait on a list for 18+ months?

@hal Emmerich-The bulk of that 30k is the cost of the 10 year battery.A couple of years ago you would need to recharge yourself via a special blutooth device.Im only so f****ed up because of a previous surgury which went tits-up 3 years ago and the surgeon that did it denied it for 2 years even though i signed a waiver -Welcome to the wonderful caring world of the HSE!!!!

30k to get my life back?All day long lad...would got it done somehow had it been 50k tbh....woulda robbed a bank or something...honestly cant take it anymore

irishh_bob

Hal Emmerich wrote: »

How the fuk is 30K justified?????????:eek::mad:

It's not like it's revolutionary or anything.

are you familiar with the proceedure ?

dannyo666

http://www.painin21stcentury.com/speaker-declanokeeffe.html



http://www.chronicpainireland.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=561&PN=1


Great links there lads,the first one from the man himself........

Hal Emmerich

irishh_bob wrote: »

are you familiar with the proceedure ?

No, I know someone who has had surgery and epidurals so I just try and keep up to date on what's out there.

LegacyUser

I have been getting lumber epidurals for 4 years now.
Some hurt, some not so bad and some very badly but braced the pain and then it subsided in about a minute.

They work really well for DDD and I can walk, run, and do all kinds of activites, I normally would be winching in great pain.

Some patients use IV sedation, but I opted not too because it doesn't help the pain, just relaxes you, and I want to drive home myself.

I get them every 3 months as the med wears off.

BUT !!!!!!!
This last time, it felt like I was hit by lightning straight down my right leg to my foot and hung there in my foot with no exit. I screamed out (never had I even complained, I took it) and my leg automatically jerked, I had not control. They had to hold me down because the pain was unbearable, and I had a needle in my back. It subsided after 2 minutes but jeesh !

Doc doesn't understand it either, she said she has not seen that happen before and especially in my case. She says I'm her toughest patient, and I am just a wee little thing.

So now.......I am terrified to go back, but if I don't I will be a bit disabled in movement and stamina.......and not is not acceptable to me at this point. I am an active person.

Has anyone heard of this. Does it mean I have nerve damage from so many shots?