A caudal injection is actually an injection into the lowest portion of the epidural space. Mine was a combination of steroids and lidocaine.

July 17th I went in not knowing what to expect, prepared for the worse. Overall, it was not the worst thing that I’ve physically had happen to me, but it was damn close.

I went back to the prep room, changed into a medical gown and socks, and waited. It was anxiety inducing. They finally came with a wheelchair to get me and wheeled me into a procedure room with 4 women (medical) in it. It’s been a while now so I feel like the table they made me lie on my stomach was attached to something similar, but smaller, than a CT Scan. I went in knowing the injection is guided by x-ray because I ask a lot of questions and take a lot of notes because I don’t usually remember later.

If you’ve read my other blog posts than you know I have a very high pain threshold. So, I’m lying stomach down on a table, ass out for all four ladies and my head on a pillow unable to see anything but the wall. They put what I believe was beta iodine (because my ass what a reddish orange before I got in the shower when I got home). I was so tense and stressed out that the portion prior to the needle is a little fuzzy. I assume they used topical lidocaine where the needle was going to be placed.

They use an x-ray machine to guide the needle into the correct location of the very bottom of your spine. It goes right into the top of you butt crack 🤦🏻‍♀️. The needle is most definitely felt and is very unpleasant, but I’ve had worse pain. Dye is injected at that point to they can check the x-ray and make sure it goes to all the right spots. The purpose of this procedure is to calm down all the nerves of your lower back so the pain lessens or goes away. This is temporary relief though, apparently this procedure can be repeated about every 4 months.

When they pushes the dye I felt immense pressure in my lumbar spine. Like A LOT, I think I mumbled something and tried to breathe. “You’re doing great” I heard from one of the ladies behind me. Then they say, groaning into the pillow and say “holy balls” (which if you know my affinity for swear words is a quite impressive feat for me). Another voice behind me said it was okay to scream (wtf) I’m not screaming I thought, I’ve had worse. I have never in my entire life felt like my lower spine was being filled with something that it felt as though it would explode inside my body.

It is a very intense and odd feeling and once I was done I thought I’m not sure I’d do this again. They offer it for you cervical spine and orbital injection which I haven’t even researched because it sounds like it would go into my brain but it used for cluster headaches.

The rest of the day and the next day my tailbone hurt and sitting was very uncomfortable. The second day after the procedure my lumbar spine had significantly less pain. The weird part was I am used to pain in my ENTIRE spine. So to have significant pain started around my belly button and going up was super confusing and weird.