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Ablation..any feedback please

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 12/24/2011 10:09 AM (GMT 0)
I have severe back and pelvic pain due many issues all of which are listed below. I am scheduled for the ablation which I understand they burn the nerves. Any feed back that any of you have would be greatly appreciated.
Posted 12/24/2011 10:22 AM (GMT 0)
I understand that it is a very safe procedure. Google it and it will say that there is a 5% chance of something happening with the catheter

It helps with heavy bleeding and they use it for heart arithemias to. The procedures the doctors can do today are amazing.

Let us know how you did with the procwedure. I will pray for you and we will be there with you spiritually.

Merry Christmas
Betsey
Posted 12/24/2011 10:43 AM (GMT 0)
The ablation itself is very helpful if it is done by a qualified physician. This procedure is like anything else maybe it will work and maybe it won't but if it does you can expect 6-18 months of at least partial relief. Mine did work for about a year on my lower back.

One question, did your doctor do any nerve blocks before scheduling the ablation? Before my ablation, my doctor did two different nerve block injections to make sure he was getting the right nerve before the ablation. These nerve blocks only give you temporary relief but I think I'd be nervous getting the ablation if my doctor hadn't done these first. If the nerve blocks don't give you any relief the ablation will be worthless.

There is alot of information on the web regarding radiofrequency ablation so get as much info as you can before having this procedure. Also, I wouldn't consider this procedure unless the doctor will be using some type of anesthetic. Not something you want to do without it. It wasn't painful but I do remember at one point that it hurt but then they increased my versed and that's all I remember.

Let us know how it goes if you have the ablation completed.
Posted 12/24/2011 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lasardo,

I've had ablation's done from C3 to C7 both left and right.

I had mine done by my PM in the hospital. The first time around I had 9 months of pain reduction and the 2nd time 6 months of pain reduction. My PM had told me I could get anywhere between 6 months and 2 years. I chose not to receive sedation. I found the procedure uncomfortable but not unbearable. I can't say as though I'd do them without sedation again. Not sure what I was thinking. lol The whole procedure is done under floroscopy.

My insurance company at the time had me try facet injections first, then I was required to have a medial branch block. The doc already knew what he needed to inject before the blocks but to get the insurance to pay for the ablation we had to did it their way. My PM uses bone scans to see what needs to be injected. He says the inflammation shows on the scan.

I didn't notice any pain relief until about 3 weeks after the ablations were done. Matter of fact my pain level increased for the first couple of weeks. The first week was the worst.

Ice will be your best friend afterwards.
Posted 12/24/2011 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
I had it done on both my neck and back. I got good relief with my neck but it did nothing for my back. Its one of those things that it may work for one but maybe not the next person. Before doing the RF my PM did medial branch blocks to see if I was a good candidate for the RF. I had immediate relief on the blocks and had the RF done. I was given light sedation for both procedures and would not consider doing them without light sedation.All of his procedures like this are done under fluroscopy. I was told if it worked I could get anywhere from six months to a year of relief, some have gone longer. It took a couple of weeks before I could tell much difference. This is not a cure, its temporary and the nerve endings do grow back in time. I think they are well worth trying and they can be repeated again later.I am with Jag, I would not do these unless I had the trial run of blocks to see if it helps.

Take care.
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