Question
QUESTION: I am due to have a ct nerve root facet joint si injection in 2 days. I live alone so what if I get ill at home after the injection. I am a bit scared so please can you advise me of the best thing to do.

ANSWER: Hi Astrid,

I am a little confused, there are no facets in the SI joint. Are they doing both? These injections are only diagnostic and will not solve the problem, expect only temporary relief. I need to know any tests and what other treatment was done that got you to this point.
New techniques have revolutionized spine care and injections are rarely indicated. Give me all the info you can and I will give you options that are superior to this. There shouldn't be any issues with the medication itself, but there can be with the needle causing chronic pain from hitting the wrong spot. Get back with me ASAP and I will give you my best judgment call.

Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com

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QUESTION: Hi, April 2005 I jogged downstairs and hurt my hip. I have had x-rays,bone scan,and MRIs. The last x-ray showed something appearing to grow from my spine to my hip. I have a lot of pain all the time and numbness all down the left side. Nothing is working to ease it. And it's getting worse. I have been told I might need surgery. The description of the procedure I gave is what is in the appt. letter.
ANSWER: Hi Astrid,

What probably happened is the trauma caused you to form a bone spur, this is common and can be very painful. Depending on the spurs blood supply, it may be dissolved with therapeutic ultrasound. Getting injections in the lumbar facets and SI joint doesn't add up. What country are you in? Also, what have they tried that didn't work? I treat these things daily so I can help a great deal.

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QUESTION: Hi,
I have had different painkillers and anti-inflammatory pills. I seem to have strange reactions to these. As with a few other medicines, I get very sleepy and can't function properly. I have tried exercise and rest. I think this is supposed to help to figure out what the problem is and to ease the pain till it's decided what the next step is. I live in Dublin, Ireland. Our medical system is inclined to be a bit on the slow side.

Answer
Well you are in my homeland, my family is from County Louth Dunlear on Ferris Cross Rd.

It doesn't sound like they have done much except mask symptoms instead of getting to the root of the problem. Surgery may be the only solution, I need to see the films or get the report, then I can tell exactly what they think they are going to accomplish. I wouldn't worry too much about the injections, it's just I'll be hearing from you in two weeks with the same issues. I would like to skip the unnecessary 'poking around' and get to the root of the problem. If you have the report from the imaging studies, I would like to see them, why they are going after the facets and SI joint doesn't make sense but I'm 5000 miles away also. I will do what I can to help you navigate through any forthcoming issues. Keep me updated and I'll be a second set of eyes overseeing everything. It's things like this that I wish I could just see it person.

Take care and ask a lot of questions, don't trust any doctor blindly.

Dr. Tim