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cryo ablation?

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Posted 4/24/2010 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi y'all-
I am scheduled to have cryo ablation(sp) May 20th on nerves in my ribs that have been trouble since lung surgery 2+ years ago. I was just wondering if anyone has had this and if it worked very well? I am kinda worried it either won't help or make things worse.

Tale care,
Bill
Posted 4/24/2010 9:08 AM (GMT 0)
I have never heard of that, but maybe someone here will pop in soon.

:)

Flower
Posted 4/24/2010 9:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Bill,
Most of the people I've read about here have had radiofrequency ablation, but I do think I've seen a rare cryoablation. I'm thinking maybe Frances2008, but I'm not sure. She's a member that doesn't post regularly here, but you might try using the search function and see if you pull up anything.

As an aside, I think these are the same two different types of ablation they use for the HALO for the Barrett's esophagus (this will relate to anyone who has Barrett's and not necessarily CP).

Let us know if you learn anything.

PaLady
Posted 4/25/2010 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Bill, are you are you positive it is Cryo-Ablation being done, this technique involves using extreme cold this is why I am asking??????
Posted 4/25/2010 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Bill,
Now that straydog has mentioned it, I think I was recalling some sort of chemical ablation. Now it could be that's related to a freezing technique. I'll be curious to learn more.

PaLady
Posted 4/26/2010 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Y'all-
Thanks for the replies!

It definitely is cryo ablation. They wanted to do it back in Feb, but they couldn't find they right probe they wanted to use. They wanted a larger one than they had because he is worried it will grow back too soon. He doesn't want to do it sooner than 6 months and said he prefers a year. They were in negotiations with a company for a completely new system and just called last week to tell me it was a done deal. They have 4 patients waiting for this and they are doing all 4 of us the same day because the reps will be there to help.
I had never heard of this either, except for the Barretts use as PaLady had said. That's why I asked them several times the first appointment I had and also when I went back for the procedure in Feb. Guess I'll really have to post how things go so anyone else has to do it there will be some info here. I sure hope they give me sedation for this because they didn't when they poked around and scraped on my ribs to find the exact location of the nerves involved. That was awful pain. Even though they numbed the area first, it hurt very bad.

PaLady- I was going to have the chemical ablation at Loyola, but this is closer and they seem to be more in tune with this problem more. Loyola was only concerned with the skin area and not the real problem in my ribs. They numbed the skin and asked me how it was. I told them the skin is numb, but my ribs still hurt like ....! He seemed really confused when I told him it still hurt just as bad.
I haven't heard anything new about the barrets stuff yet either. I have to go back to the GI doc this week and plan on asking them about it. Well if I remember I will. LOL!

Take care,
Bill
Posted 4/26/2010 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
Bill,
Yes, you'll definitely have to post after you have this - or even before if you learn more about it. I have a hunch, though, you may not be as sedated as you'd like. Usually with these procedures they need to make sure they find the right location and that may mean you being able to give feedback. If that's the case, think of it as a temporary offering for some longer term relief! I could be wrong, though.

Good luck!

PaLady
Posted 4/27/2010 7:00 AM (GMT 0)
PaLady-
The first time I was there they found which nerves were causing the pain and marked them in someway so they could freeze them the next week without digging around in there again. so they said anyway. I am not sure what they marked them with and I am sure it is gone by now since that was Feb. 11th. They did say I have to have a driver, but that's probably just as a precaution though.
I will definitely post what it all entails. Starting yo think I am going to be a test dummy or something. LOL! I sure hope it does help. I am willing to endure the half hour of severe pain to have a chance at no or low pain afterwards. He did tell me he has one patient who comes in once a year and has this done.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/25/2010 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all-
Well had the cryoablation last Thursday. Took about an hour and 45 mins. They had to find the correct nerves again before they froze them. They used a catheter to get the saline to the nerve and used a probe with liquid nitrogen to freeze it. They froze it 3 times, 3 mins, 6 mins and 9 mins. With time for thawing in between. The worst part was them locating the right nerves again, bu there was some pretty intense pain when they inserted the probe because the muscle layers weren't numb and I felt it go through 2 layers. Even with Fentanyl it was pretty intense. I only noticed the freezing part the first time and it lasted about 30 seconds or so. After that I couldn't tell what they were doing. I only felt light pressure when they moved things around.
So far the area around the rib has been quite sore like sore muscles from a workout or something. The rib area had been numb until today. I started to notice some very short sharp pains along the rib. Tonight they have become quite longer and sharper. Unfortunately I don't think it worked this time, but they said it might not at first and may require a second ablation. They did say it most likely wouldn't last more than 3 or 4 months. Not the 6 to 12 they first were saying. He told me that when I come back for a 3 month follow up if it was bad again they would just do the second one then. He also told me that if the second one didn't work he would suggest going the SCS route since it has been almost 2 and 1/2 years since the surgery.
Well that was my experience with the Cryoablation. All in all it wasn't too bad, but was uncomfortable to lay there in one position so long.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/25/2010 9:21 AM (GMT 0)
Bill,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope that maybe it will improve with time, but I don't know if this is how the cryo ablation works. I think the RF ablations may take some time to feel the benefit. BTW I'm scheduled for my HALO procedure on June 3rd - if they don't re-do the doctor's schedule yet another time! I'm having mixed feelings about it, but do want to give it a shot.

Let us know if things improve for you.

Oh, these nerves of ours!

PaLady
Posted 5/25/2010 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bill
My pain may not be as bad as yours, but I understand your problem. I have three "slipping" ribs that cause me pain since my accident a year ago. They are disconnected from the cartilege in the front and roll over each other every time I twist or bend or or sit in a chair or roll over in bed.

I've had nerve blocks in the front that did nothing. I've had nerve blocks near the spine that were pretty good for a month but are wearing off. I don't know if they will try another block or go right to the ablation (probably not cryo). This is supposed to last a year. Maybe.

The only other option I know of is removal of the ribs. But I have 3 of them! So I'm waiting to hear from you again.

Good luck!
Posted 5/26/2010 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
PaLady-
I sure hope they don't change your procedure anymore. I pray it takes care of the Barretts. I still haven't went to the Barretts specialist yet. Today feels like I didn't have the ablation done. I am hoping that is part of the healing process. I am putting off calling them until next week. The other great thing he did tell me was if it didn't work he would work with my surgeon just as in the past for the pain meds. Since my surgeon is local he prescribes the pain meds they agree on.

Alcie-
I have had many nerve blocks on these ribs and now they only last about 3 to 5 days at best. I did have a couple ribs after the surgery that slid around a bit. Mostly when I breathed , was lying down, or bending and twisting. Mine took 6 months to set back in. My surgeon told me this would happen. It isn't anything like you have went through though. If you get pretty good pain relief from the nerve blocks your doctor may try more of them. That's what mine did for a couple years.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 6/27/2010 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all-
Just wanted to give an update. It worked for about 3 weeks, then the pain started returning quickly. I am right back to square one. When I talked with the doctor who was k=helping with the ablation about what was happening he said he wanted to talk to me about the SCS implant when I come in for my follow up appointment. I was wondering how many times other people had tried and failed other ways of easing the pain before going with the implant? Also does this seem too quick to be going that route?

Take care,
Bill
Posted 6/28/2010 8:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Bill,
I'm sorry the cryoablation didn't last. There are of old posts dealing with SCS implants, but I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone on the forum who's had it implanted for rib pain (but I could be wrong).

I wish I knew more about all this, but you might first do a search of old threads, and then start a new thread with your SCS question in the title so people who could help out would see it.

Take care!
PaLady
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