Hello, I hope you can help me.I had an MRI which revealed I have a herniated disk at L5 causing nerve pain down my right leg. I had a nerve root injection at the end of August which was meant to relieve inflammation and allow my disk to heal. Unfortunately it only gave me a few days relief and the pain is back. I am due to have a lumbar steroid epidural in 1 months time but have just found out I am 5 weeks pregnant. I have not yet informed the chronic pain clinic through which I am being treated, I believe the injection I am booked in to have in 1 months time will be done under intensive imaging. My query is- is it safe for me to still go ahead with the injection (I need to inform the clinic) will they still perform the lumbar epidural (I will be 9 weeks pregnant when it is due to take place). Also, is it likely I will be able to go through to full term with pregnancy? Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.
Hi, thanks for writing to Chat Doctor. It is not recommended or advisable to get exposed to radiation (in any form) during the first trimester of pregnancy (during first 3 months). This is because \"Organogenesis\" (formation of body parts) occurs in the fetus during the first 3 months. If you are exposed to radiation during this period, there is likely possibility that the fetus may develop congenital abnormalities. There is no purity or guarantee that a lumbar epidural steroid will provide you relief throughout your term of pregnancy. Hope this information is helpful. Good day