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Posted 1/12/2010 12:39 PM (GMT 0)
I had my follow-up appt at the PM docs yesterday following my facet injection at L-5/S-1.  Since I had good results, the pain decrease was short lived since no steroids were used, I will have a nerve block done on Feb. 8th.  She said a 50% pain reduction for 6 hrs is required for me to have the RF ablation done.  Is this what everyone else that has had this procedure done were required to do?

If the lumbar RF works then we are going to start working our way up my back.  Of course this isn't a fix so once we get to the cervical area it will probably be time to start over in the lumbar area again.

It would be nice to be able to move faster with these injections but with money being tight with me not working & being denied my SSDI I can't afford to go more than once a month.  At least my PM allows me to have my injection and get my scripts during my regularly scheduled appt.  Then the next appt we review my results and schedule the next injection for the following month and so on.  At this rate it takes 5 months to complete all the testing & RF if all goes well.

Posted 1/12/2010 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
Can RF be done for headaches, does it help decrease the headache pain??

Suzane
Posted 1/12/2010 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure Suzane. My pain issues are all in my back along with osteoarthritis in the rest of my body. What they do before RF is try to find the nerve that is causing pain. After finding the nerve they insert a needle then heat the needle. This is supposed to damage the nerve so it won't be able to send pain signals to the brain. Don't know if this would help with headache pain.

I guess they used to cut the nerve but found that this could cause ghost pain or where you could feel the pain even with the nerve cut.
Posted 1/13/2010 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
   Hello Jag! I'm happy for you! All of us hope all goes well for you too!
Posted 1/13/2010 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Jag,
That's great news. You know, proceeding slowly when it comes to nerves is probably best. I'm not sure you could do RF's all the way up your spine, but then I'm not a doc. I know people can have them in more than one area, but it might be difficult to find each nerve causing pain. Maybe if you get rid of the major ones causing pain, the others will be manageable. It's just great that they are being able to locate the problem nerve.

Tmj - I've heard of it being used for TGN. I would think it would all depend on the cause of your headaches, and again, the nerve causing the pain has to be isolated. Jag gave a good description of what it is.

Good luck, Jag!

PaLady
Posted 1/14/2010 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
 

   Dear Jag,

 

     Oh this could be really good! I mean this could finally help to break the cycle!!!!! I know RF is temporary, but youve been in extreme pain for so long it is high time you were able to get help! Of course I am extremly jelous. Ive wanted RF ever since I heard about it, but I am not a candidate. I was thinking about something thou. You said money was tight and that....

 

~~>"once we get to the cervical area it will probably be time to start over in the lumbar area again."

 

     ..So, I dont know anything about the "details" reguarding RF. Just steroids, but with my steroid I get half back done in one procedure (up to max allowed steroid meds). It help cut the overall cost and number of times I get procedures. On the negative side it knocks me out of comission for a day and entire limbs are rendered numb for 12 -15 hrs. which makes using the restroom rather tricky... But, again, I havnr a clue if they can do something like that for RF.  Would be very cool if you could get multiple areas done and cut down cost and overall down time.

 

       Gosh, I sure hope it works!!!!

 

*warm huggs*

    dani

      

Posted 1/14/2010 6:10 AM (GMT 0)
PaLady, I actually have three areas that give me the most problems so I'm hoping we can tackle these and lay to rest some of the muscle spasms I have constantly going on.
Posted 1/14/2010 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Jag,

Sorry for being ignorant, but what is RF? I hope that it helps you, and that they're able to do it in a way that cuts the cost but gives maximum results!!

HUG!
Jenna
Posted 1/15/2010 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
I had ablation done on my cervical spine and it was very helpful for about 6 months. The nerves do grow back, at different rates for different people, but the first ablation was a great help.
Hope this works for you!
Posted 1/15/2010 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Great news Jag!!! Hope they continue to help you. Also hopefully SSD will change their mind soon which will certainly help take the pressure off! Hang in there my friend! Better days are coming!!!
Your SSD hopefull Buddy,
Pete
Posted 1/15/2010 3:39 PM (GMT 0)

   Good morning Jag! I have fallen behind on keeping up with you....just wanted you to know that I'm thinking about you..and jope your doing well.

     Your Buddy,

    Michael

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