Nerve cauterize procedure?

Hello all! I posted this in my "home" forum (Fibro) and it was suggested that I post here in CP about it, as you all may have experience with this.

I saw my PM last Friday and he wants to cauterize nerves in my shoulder and shoulder blade area in an attempt to control my pain. If the procedure is successful, he wants to do the same in both of my hips. His logic is cauterizing- killing the nerves what are causing me pain- will decrease my need for medication. He is not anti-medication, but he wants to try to lessen the need for them by doing this.

I'm not completely sold on this procedure. He told me to do some research and put me on the schedule in 2 weeks for the procedure so I have time to decide. I've read several horror stories and a few success stories as well. My biggest issue is what if I NEED to feel that area, but I can't? I don't want to loose feeling completely, I don't want to drop things or be unable to "feel".

Obviously, I'm on the fence about the procedure. I would greatly appreciate hearing any experience you may have had with this.

Thank you in advance!

Hi there

That sounds very like radio frequency ablation that many of us are offered for back pain. I had it in my sacroiliac joints for severe pain. I'm afraid it didn't work for me however that's not to say it wouldn't work for you. Unfortunately the only way to know is to try.

It doesn't cause numbness (at least it didn't for me but I am sure it doesn't). They usually offer steroid and local anesthetic injections first and then proceed in a few weeks to the RFA if the local gives relief, even just momentarily. I live in the UK so there may be variations in the procedures.

I have no experience in the areas you are having problems with but the procedure will be similar I would imagine. I had it done under sedation, just enough to knock me out but still understand commands, and I remember nothing after the sedation was given. My advice to you would be give it a go. If there is nothing to gain you have not a lot to lose. After the RFA I had a fair bit of pain for a bit over a week, if I remember correctly. Pain enough to need meds, maybe a 4 or a 5. If it works you may get good sustained relief for months or more, and it can be repeated.

This is just my opinion, others may disagree but I always think that, at the stage we are at in pain all the time, these things are worth trying if it reduces pain and allows me to reduce my pain meds.

Let us know how you go, and feel free to ask any more questions.

Best wishes

Jane

I think we may not be talking about the same procedure. He spoke of this as an outpatient surgery where he would make an incision and physically "burn" the nerves with a laser. I'm sorry for not stating that before.

Here is a link that better explains the procedure. I hope it's ok that I post this. It's not an advertisement, just explains it better than I can. Mine, however, would be in a different location. It mentions the spine and discs in this article.
www.backsurgery-info.info/idet

I've had the injections (local anesthetic and corticosteroid) without any relief. And I've used a T.E.N.S. unit, also without relief. My PM thinks this more aggressive treatment will be successful, though I'm not sure about it.

I have heard of the nerve ablation procedure, I discussed it with my pm awhile ago. Part of the procedure is to inject the area with pain meds(I can't remember the name) first to see if there is any releif and then move onto the ablation. I did not receive any relief from the injections so I am not a candidate but i would have been all over it. Good Luck.

Hi there...

I'm a bit confused if your Dr. is suggesting the IDET for your shoulder or Fibro pain?

This particular procedure, the IDET, is specifically for disc issues in the spine and was primarily approved/done for lumbar discs.

Hence the name, Intradiscal Electrothermal Annuloplasty.

They place you face down and a hollow introducer needle is inserted into the painful lumbar disc using a x-ray machine for guidance.

Then an electrothermal catheter (heating wire) is then passed through the needle and positioned along the back inner wall of the disc (the annulus), the site believed to be the cause of the pain.

The catheter tip is then heated up to about 90 degrees for 15-17 minutes.

The heat contracts and thickens the collagen fibers making up the disc wall, thereby promoting closure of the cracks and tears. Tiny nerve endings within these tears are cauterized (burned), making them less sensitive.

Then they usually have you wear a back brace for 6-8 weeks along with cautions of any bending and lifting.

So..I would double check about the procedure name as this is not done to anyplace else within the body but the discs of the spine.

From what you are describing for your shoulder or for Fibro pain it does sound more like nerve ablation or RFA as others have mentioned.

This is similar in the sense that it "heats up" the nerve endings to help with pain but it is not the IDET procedure.

I have had quite a few RFAs done and it helped for a certain period of time. But I had extensive disc herniations that needed surgery to help with the nerve pain.

It doesn't sound like something I'd want to have done, I have a chronic pinched nerve in my left shoulder, and there are many times when I can't even hold on to my pants to button them with my left hand. I drop things frequently with that hand, and get really weird electric feelings going all the way down my arm through the last three fingers, if such a procedure were to cause some of that to be constant, I'd go nuts.

Hi,

I'm wondering if that is something a person has mentioned to be once because her father had it done. Does that cause you to have numbness in the limb they do it on? This lady said her dad's leg was numb because of it. I told her there was no way i would do it if that was the case. My pain is in my rear end, goes down my right leg and covers my entire foot. I don't want all that to go numb on me.

If ur doctor is 100% sure it will help I would definetly do a search on the net to find other stories on the subject...then decide.

Good luck!

Heather

 

I had my spine done 3-4 months ago. They would only do one side at a time. I had significant relief. I am seeing that some of you were put under. I was not for this procedure. The numbing hurt but not any more than some of my back pain and it was short so it was tolerable with a few choice words being said :) I did have quite a bit of pain reliefw with very little numbness round the site. Unfortunately, my pain is already back. I will be making another appointment soon as my doctor informed me this can be done many times

Hello folks. For the new people I suggest that you make an intro post & ask your questions there. You will get much better coverage by doing this.

The original poster of this thread has not been to Healing Well in a couple of years. There are numerous old threads on this subject that you can pull up by using our search feature here at the forum. We do ask that you not post on these older threads as we like to keep them off of the main page.

I will lock this thread & we will be looking for your posts. Thanks.