More pain when rhizotomy wears off...anyone?

Swaye, I've had rhizotomies also, they last about 4-6 months for me.  I have noticed when it stops working the pain is worse than ever.  I'm going in June for more back shots if the back Dr. is willing to do so without cortisone steroids.  The cortisone shots helped more than the rhiz's did.  But I have diabetes so the cortisone is not good for my blood sugars.  I cannot understand the unwillingness of your Dr. to prescribe the pain meds for you.  I have no problem.  Have you been to a pain clinic?  One medicine that helps my back, knee and hip pain is the ointment Voltaren Gel.  It's a script but in-between times when you are waiting for pain meds, you could use it.  I have had great luck with that.  It is available as Diclofenac as an oral pill, but I find the gel works better and is better for your body to use the gel.  Good luck.  Brenda

Thanks for the replies Susie & Brenda - the pain is very specific when the rhizotomies wear off. It is not like fibro pain or even back pain. It is like 'hot' nerve pain as if they are on fire. At first I didn't exactly put this together that it was from the rhrizo's wearing off. I just happen to be hit head on around the middle of October but only at around 30 miles an hour. I thought because of the accident that it caused the problem the last time but now that I have repeated it once again, I can see the pattern from the 3 in a row. I didn't seem to have the flare up so much the first time and I only did one side instead of both so maybe that made a difference.

I take Lyrica for fibro pain and it does seem to help a bit with this nerve pain too but vicodin is the only thing that reduces that hot, burning pain. It starts as soon as I wake up and start walking or standing so I know it has to do with movement or inflammation. I am trying to explain this to the doctor and she said it sounded unusual. I know 4 months is not a long time to be okay and feel worse but I am only taking the doctor's advice and she keeps telling me that they usually last longer each time and that people don't usually have to keep repeating them over the years. I still can't figure out why I seem to always have the 'unusual' problems and nobody seems to be able to help me long term. Every doctor, chiro, massage therapist, MD, trigger point therapists eventually says they can't help me and I don't know why I don't get better. Right now I am being told it might be a food allergy and my body is reacting to that. More money out the door and of course, I have been denied for any disability because I was not disabled enough. It is hard to find the energy to keep fighting this. I feel so bad for really sick people who need the help like yesterday.....

Yes, Susie - I did buy the Voltaren gel onlne through Amazon which took about 2 months to come from the UK. It does help a bit but not enough to really get me through a night sleep. Thanks for all your advice. If anyone else has anything to offer, I would greatly appreciate it!

P.S. My doctor is very technically good which is why I think the rhizo's work for me. I do think that her clinic may have been targeted though because now everyone has to take mandatory drug test monthly and suddenly you have to tell her exactly how many pills you are taking a day and she will only write a prescription out for that many pills and not one single more. This means you can never do too much in case you flare it up and run short. It seems an unusual way to live. I feel like I can't do anything and my mornings are spenting counting my medicine to make sure I can make it to my next appointment. swaye