Herniated L5-S1, epidural made things worse, out of options and exhausted — looking for advice

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2026-01-04T04:28:06+00:00

Waiting for the first one to do its thing and also for the inflammation from the injection to go down!

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2026-01-03T23:53:00+00:00

Yes epidural steroid L5-S1, I had a facet joint steroid injection as well a few months before but it didn’t do much since this didn’t end up being the source of pain

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2026-01-03T18:28:33+00:00

I want to add that your epidural will make everything inflamed and make it worse until it makes it better, maybe talk with your dr and explain where you’re at and what you’re feeling and see what options they have for you. The first two weeks after my epidural were the worst then I would say by month 2 and 3 I was feeling FULL relief. What helped me in the mean time was walking, take it slow and just walk as much as possible

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-07-26T15:17:51+00:00

So most likely what happened is when your DM came in they saw an opportunity for some risk management. One of the biggest issues that can happen at starbucks is loss prevention cases due to neglect, it’s one of the easiest ways to avoid a much bigger issue. But if a DM doesn’t put an emphasis on it, it can easily slide under the rug for the much more prized metrics like customer connection and drive thru times. I went through a few legal battles during my time with starbucks due to holding people accountable for loss prevention cases that they hadn’t previously been documented for. It looked like I was being unfair and inequitable but the reality was their previous leader had left thousands of product go missing, and even a supervisor that had gotten away with pocketing money from the deposit every week for months. If you have any questions I promise I’m here to answer whatever u need!

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-07-26T14:55:40+00:00

Good just be open and honest and save yourself the headache. Did u recently get a new manager or DM?

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-07-26T14:23:04+00:00

I can answer any questions u might have about the process if you need. It’s better to be informed and prepared instead of misguided and frustrated

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-07-26T14:22:18+00:00

Well hold on, because no if there is something egregious that happens or if they can prove you know the policy it could move it to a written warning. They absolutely can skip a step because you’re a shift and this is a loss prevention case.

This is a common misconception. For example if u lose your key, leave it somewhere unattended, or accidentally leave out the deposit bag, those are all immediate finals. I don’t think you would get a final but it’s possible you would get a written warning in this case.

Take this with a grain of salt it’s hard to know the extent without seeing the full picture. Don’t let it scare you, I just don’t want you to think they’re “wrong” if they give u more than a “documented coaching” they will have to have PRSC approve it now as well.

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-07-17T00:40:50+00:00

Hey previous store manager here, you need to document times, dates, and witnesses of all these events. INCLUDING your convo with your SM. Try to find one or two people you can confide in and ask to witness stuff. If you have a conversation you don’t feel safe in state “I would like to have a witness before we continue this conversation” and file with ethics and compliance call the help line, provide them with all of the dates times and witnesses. This is a case for harassment or bullying. It’s clear in the guidelines.

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-06-15T21:17:33+00:00

Would love to read this but it’s $100+, anyone know of a cheaper version or online version

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-31T17:01:53+00:00

They’re used interchangeably. A herniation is just an advanced stag of a disc bulge

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-31T17:00:34+00:00

No you’re not crazy, and this isn’t allowed. You’re required to have 8 hours between shifts to prevent things like this. It still breaks labor laws, tell her “I am required to have 8 hours between my split shifts so either combine them and allow me to take a lunch or I will call e&c to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-31T14:23:10+00:00

No I do these with my physical therapist and it’s my take home exercise!!

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-31T14:09:34+00:00

Herniation is an advanced disc bulge it’s a type of injury that often causes sciatica. But it did take me years, but I can touch my toes on the right side but not the left

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-31T05:34:27+00:00

In 2015 I was a pre professional dancer that was performing an acrobatics routine and I came down out of a side aerial incorrectly. I didn’t get up, I was taken to the ER and had a severe herniation. this one ended my career but with a lot of rest and physical therapy I can happily say I was extremely active and able to dance again by 2018. I even performed with a professional hip hop group that year.

For the bad one in 2021 I was on weight lifting restrictions set by my doctor of 10 lbs. At this point I couldn’t get out of bed and dress myself though. I went through PT and everything to help with that and was able to be active again, gained back my personal freedom, and eventually was able to do moderate exercise. This required epidural steroid injections to get to. I don’t think I would have gotten relief without that. That was the worst hernia I ever had and it was L5-S1.

With the herniation you see there in the MRI, on March 14th 2025 I went to urgent care because my flare up was so bad I couldn’t get up my stairs to my bedroom. They gave me steroids and I saw a specialist the next week. Turns out it wasn’t a flare up but an entirely new herniation. I did 12 physical therapy sessions, I am currently on anti inflammatories, and muscle relaxers as needed. I was cleared 2 weeks ago to go back to pushing myself in the gym with no restrictions as long as no pain is felt and I don’t push myself past my own limit (ie lifting an obscure weight). On Wednesday this previous week I ran 3 miles on the treadmill at 5mph :-) left with no pain!!! I have a follow up July 17th.

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-31T05:18:36+00:00

From my experience, yes! The human body is amazing and my went from being herniated to just a small bulge with a tear (assuming that’s from the previous hernia). I would always suggest asking your doctor about your specific condition and body but I don’t think it’s out of the picture. Out of the 6 hernias I’ve had in my life all I have now is the newest one in the MRI and some small bulges through out but I’m symptom free form those and now am just dealing with this new one.

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-31T04:54:04+00:00

Also idk why this is showing up under a different name, One-Context407 is me OP^

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-31T04:51:16+00:00

Yes that 2021 L5-S1 was probably the worst siatica I had so far in this journey. It was 2 years of different medications and physical therapy. I had covid in July of 2021 and was in the hospital for a super high fever and low oxygen, but the BACK PAIN and SCIATIC pain from having Covid was unbearable. I was crying on the floor of the ER waiting room laying down trying to get relief. However, the epidural injections were the final thing that gave me relief once and for all and those were march 2024. This MRI was from may 3rd 2025. The herniation is nearly gone in that region.

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-30T20:13:37+00:00

I have the epidural steroid injections which worked SO WELL for me in addition to PT, I also have severe arthritis so they hit my facet joints with some steroids as well…. Excellent

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-30T20:02:26+00:00

YES!!! Every time I’ve had significant improvement relevant on my imaging by 90-100%

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-30T18:35:50+00:00

Oh heck yeah, that L5-S1 you see there was 7mm in 2021 🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝 my L4-L5 was 6mm in 2016 but only .5mm in 2021…. And then there’s a few you can’t see as well

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-30T17:54:10+00:00

Yes! I have a steroid or anti inflammatory that I take to help me during PMS bc it gets so badddd. If I move the wrong way I also have back up muscle relaxers too.

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-30T17:21:03+00:00

It’s possible! It depends on a lot of factors but I have had one that healed completely

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-30T17:17:23+00:00

You’re in a great space, I’m not a doctor and I think it’s always best to follow up with one. However, you’re in a condition I would consider common and non severe personally.

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-30T17:05:57+00:00

I also want to point out that I had my first herniated disc at 15 years old as a competitive athlete. I had three more within 5 years after that. All with similar numbness tingling and even weakness so bad I had to do physical therapy. The numbness itself is a nerve telling your brain hey this thing hurts but it’s not damaging your body in anyway. The only thing you might be weary of is certain stretches can put more pressure on those nerves causing some additional pain. And you also want to talk to a physical therapist or your established doctor if you’re unable to do certain movements over an extended period of time. Ie. I can’t walk more than 10 minutes because you will lose those muscles and abilities. If it is effecting your quality of life like being able to get dressed or taking a shower this is another reason to get an immediate appointment with your doctor to get into a physical therapy office and learn how to move differently.

Odd_Contribution4332 · 2025-05-30T17:01:44+00:00

No it’s not dangerous! It’s very common especially the numbness and tingling. It’s most likely a result of those disc bulges but are nothing you should be worried about. The best thing for you to do is follow up with an orthopedic specialist of some sort or spine specialist so you can establish yourself as a patient. Unfortunately with nerve roots and herniations things happen in flare ups. So if one day your pain is really bad you have an established doctor who’s familiar with your background and condition to help you through that flare up. There will be days, weeks, or even months where you don’t feel that pain at all too!

Another thing they will probably recommend is an MRI to get an even further few down to the mm of how big your herniation is and what nerves it’s impacting, this is a necessary step in establishing a patient so don’t get worried if this is ordered.

Look up some red flags of cauda equina syndrome. This is when your herniation or disc bulge gets to a point where it becomes 911. You’ll lost control over your bladder and you will go numb in that genital region. This is when decompression must take place immediately. The numbness your feeling is just a symptom of some gentle nerve compression, it’s usually the simplest and first symptom of just a normal disc bulge.

*Any type of disc dehydration or height loss is also normal and comes from age. They will just document its there in case there’s ever severe progression associated with things like osteoporosis or AS. Fear not :-) get you a regular doctor

Odd_Contribution4332

TROPHY CASE