Steroid injections into lumbar

[1standarduser]

I understand it's very common to get Cortisone injections into the lumbar (lower back) to help with herniated disks, sciatica, and general back pain.
However, this does nothing to heal the injury and only reduces the pain for a few weeks.
In fact it's likely that too many shots will weaken the area.

In my case, my L3/L4 is a little herniated, the L4/L5 is much more herniated on both sides sending pain down my legs and my L5/S1 is degenerated.

Are there any other injections that instead of just covering up the pain, would actually help some of the symptoms?
For example, prolotherapy, anabolic steroids, stem cells, HGH, or whatever.

If you know of some, please provide medical studies or your personal experience with the therapy.

Thank you!

[lovbyts]

I have a LOT of experience with lower back due to surgery on L3/L4 in 2005 and L5/S1 2007 Herniated and ruptured.
For the sciatic nerve (pain down the legs) use Ice. You need to do it 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off at least 3 or 4 times in a row and 3 or 4x a day of not more. it should get better in one or 2 days of consistent icing. If not then ask your doctor for prednisone. The Epi Dural Steroid injections are a last choice as far as I'm concerned. I have had doctors talk me into it 3x with NO or VERY little change except it HURTS especially the last time.

Surgery should also be a last choice. I had no choice. 1st one was due to injury from 1985 that kept getting worse until I could not walk or stand more than 10 minutes at a time.
2007 was due to rupture and instantly being 90% paralyzed from the waste down and enough pain I wanted to just end it permanently.

HGH could help but I would only get it from a longevity clinic, not anything online. 99% out there is fake. Dont waste you time or mony.
There are no anabolic steroids that will help, sorry. If there was I would be using it/them for this.

Anti inflammatory help and then a lot of core strengthening. The back takes a long time to heal, just like the shoulders do.

what is your history of what happened?

[cindylou_38]

What about never block shots.

[lovbyts]

What about never block shots.

I wouldnt do those. It's good to know if something is wrong and better to fix it than ignore it. I have read where to many people have more problems after including a friend of mine.

Best thing is to check some of the forums for people who have lower back issues if you dont think it will get better over time and need to manage the pain somehow.

[1standarduser]

what is your history of what happened?

I appreciate your well thought out reply.

It's hard to say what originally caused the injury, as my back has been a problem since I was a child.
When I played baseball I threw out my shoulder at 12. Evidently this affected my rotator cuff and spine on my upper back.
Also had some minor neck and hip injuries from karate at 12 or so.
Car accident at 16, but that seemed to get better from physical therapy.

The point where it all came crashing down is when I was training Thaiboxing in Asia at 28 and the repeated kicks day after day wore on me.
I stopped, and after a few months went back to weight training as that always seemed to help. Things got better. Still painful, but I could still go hiking and do lighter sports.
Couple years later, doing squats/deads or anything that compressed my back made it worse.
Stopped doing lower body work.

Most recently - wakeboarding totally ****ed me up. My entire life my right side was the problem. Right neck, right rotator, right leg pain from bulging disks in lower back.
This time, I hurt the left and all the other pain I feel is less than the left butt and leg from the new disk bulging.

I tried Chiro, massage, etc but with no noticeable difference.
Now doing PT with a sports doc, and that seems to be working, although very slowly.
Currently, he has me focusing on NOT stretching my hamstrings, not bending over, no compressive lifts, no hiking, no sports.
He has me working on strengthening my low back, glutes and hamstrings in order to tighten and even shorten them.

I do not want surgery, but life sucks when you can't do what you enjoy.