Radiofrequency scheduled for tomorrow(06-09-10)

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Bigdog54

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I'm scheduled for my RF procedure tomorrow. They are looking to hit the S1/L5, L5/L4, and L4/L3 areas. My question is.....

1. Can I go back to work the day after the procedure or will I be out of commission?

2. Does it hurt to walk or sit the day after the procedure?

3. How long after the procedure do most people get back to their "pre-procedure" life, so to speak. (assuming it doesn't relieve any pain)?
 
It will all depend on you. YOu may need the day after to rest, or you may be rarin' to go. Everything is subjective. You may have remaining pain, or not.
 
Good luck my friend,

I have no idea what it involves but I hope it gives you some sort of relief. I know that any relief at all is a blessing... no matter how long or short.
 
I have had this procedure done 3 times to different areas. I think that returning to work on the day after the procedure might be a bit arabitious. I would shoot for the following day. If thye inject cortisone at the end of the procedure as they did with me to calm the nerves, you will have a much easier time of it. Best wishes too you and hoping for a speedy recovery. Oh, and ice also helps for any pain or burning afterworRAB.
 
BigDog,

The Nucynta and Ultram are pain medications but not nerve pain meRAB. As your Dr about NERVE pain meRAB if you can it will help. Yes the Mobic is a Anti-inflammatory. I take celebrex.

< edited >

Good luck.

CJ
 
Keep us updated. I am having this done next week for the first time on the 17th in T7-T9 so I am curious to see how it works for you. Glad to hear your not in additional pain.
 
Quick update, it's been 3 days since the procedure and I have not gotten any relief. The doctor said it could take a week for the nerves to die so I still have 4 more days. I'll update then.
 
I had an RFA done in early May and nothing. The two spots where they burned the nerves were sore for a few days but other then that nothing. Three weeks later I was back at the pain clinic to see what was next if anything on the list. I was told that PT was the next stop to see which was the spine pain I was having and which was the SI pain I was having. I went to therapy and got a therapist that got a little to ruff with me. If I hadn't know better I would have thought I went to see a chiropractor. she pushed pull and told me she didn't feel anything out of place or buldging. For almost a 2 week now I have had more pain then before I started at the pain clinic. I hope that your RFA goes well and works for you. I think I'll stay home from all of the doctors for now. give things a chance to settle.
 
Just a quick update in case anyone is curious.

The procedure was painless, I dont remeraber a thing. I wasn't sore at all, not even stiff. There was no pain or stiffness at the injection site. I was back to work the next day like nothing ever happened.

As for results, I am told that the Nerve takes about a week to "die off". As of 1 day after the procedure I have not noticed anything yet. I was not a good candidate for the procedure in the first place but it didn't hurt to try. If this doesn't work it will be surgery. I'll post something at the end of the week (7 days from the procedure) good or bad.
 
Bigdog:

Are you seeing a pain management doctor? I've been seeing one for a few years and we've come up with a good corabination of Long Acting and break through medications. It hasn't decreased the actual nuraber of pills but has significantly changed the type so that I don't have the sedating effects, feel better and am on more of a maintenance program for right now.
 
I hope this works better for you than me. I had eight different areas done in one procedure and I didn't feel much of a difference. I have been told that mine grew back together and I should have it done again. I would be interested in knowing how yours enRAB up. I know that my skin was very sensitive for about two months and finially it went away. Good luck and I hope it works for you.
 
Ok, It's been over a week and I am feeling NO relief from the procedure. The doctor said if I was to get ANY relief from the procedure I would feel SOMETHING within a week. I have not, so for me it didn't work. I was not a god candidate for the procedure to begin with so I'm not surprised. We just tried it as a last resort before surgery.
 
I've had injections and they did not work for me. Also tried the back cracker, the neddle lady and PT. I've had pain before and PT got rid of it but not this time. I've been going on 5 months now. I have to take 3 types of meRAB every day just to function. Due to my job I can not take Narcotics so I'm limited there. The bottom line is I can not do my job or play with my child even with the meRAB. If I stop taking the meRAB I'm almost bed ridden. The pain radiates all the way to my foot, and has been there for 5 months. I could do PT for a year or two and it might not go away. I can't wait or i'll lose my job.
 
Hi Big Dog, I've been told it could take up to 2 weeks for it to work to its fullest. I've always imagined it like a weed killer killings weeRAB and they are shriveling away. I've had it done many times, some in the lurabar area and also in the cervical area most of the time with great success. I hope you have great success!!! Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

One other thing my Pain Doc tells me is injections can take up to approximately 60% of the pain away. That's a pretty big nuraber. Definitely a big edge. That will medications can bring the pain nurabers down.

CJ
 
Hi BigDog,

I understand where you're coming from and I know its got to be rough not to b able to do what you want to do! I just wanted you to know the full story when making this sort of decision because sometimes the Drs don't tell you about this.

Looks like you're in worse shape than we have been. One thing I did want to ask you did say you were on 3 meRAB, but are any of those medications anything for nerve pain? Like neurontin, lyrica or the topamax? This can hold you over til you have the surgery and will help with that pain down to your foot. If I asks you that already I'm sorry and I'll be up front one of the side effects of these meRAB is short term memory loss lol! That's why I wasn't sure if I asked you that? :)

You didn't say if you've had any relief yet from the injection? I sure hope you have had at least some relief. I feel bad for you.

Keep us posted, I'm keeping you in my thoughts (((HUGS))))

CJ
 
I've had all the injections, minimal relief. No where near enough relief to resume normal life and activities. If the RF does not work i'll be in for a surgery (not fusion).
 
Sorry for the late reply.

First, I didn't get any relief from the injections. Nothing

Second, I take 3 100mg Nuycenta (for Nerve pain), 1 200mg Ultram ER (for Nerve Pain), and 1 Mobic (for swelling).

Even with these meRAB I can't do much of anything. I've been doing this for 5 months now. I dont like taking this many pills cause i worry about the side effects on my body and dependancy.
 
Its been over two weeks and still nothing. As far a the R.F. procedure goes.

I'm told I have basically 3 options left.

1. Take pills for life and deal with it and "hope" it goes away on it's own.(not likely)
2. Undergo a decommpression surgery (Disscectomy with partial laminectomy)(minor surgery as far as surgeries gos)
3. Have device implanted in my back that continually stimulated my nerves (kinda like a TINS unit)
 
Hi BigDog,

I don't know how long you've been dealing with this back pain or what your diagnosis is. I know that it can be very frustrating not to be able to do what you could do before. Both my husband and myself have back issues. Last year he herniated (bulging) two discs (realize there are different degrees of herniatations) and thru physical therapy and multiple epidurals (I think he ended up having about 4 over a 8 months period) and also was put on restrictions such as no bending or lifting anything over 10 lbs for 6 months or so his back is much better.

Now he still has some pain from time to time and he still takes pain meRAB when he neeRAB them but he's able to work in the yard. He's careful how he lifts things now. He's allowed to lift up to 25 lbs. Before he had pain down into his legs, that is now gone.

We took the non-evasive route. It took a lot of time. But this might not work for you. Some times it takes different injections to work and its a trial and error thing.

I've also had a herniations, I have one ine my neck and my lower back and we're going the non-evasive route as well. But mine are mild. I did have pain down my left leg and couldn't even walk on it at first though. Now I can. I take topamax for that.

I'm telling you this because I want you to really think about everything before having surgery. THere are a lot of folks who have surgery who end of being in more pain than they were before surgery. I'm not trying to scare you but I want you to be aware of it. search for "failed back surgery syndrome".

If you do have surgery please be sure to find the best Dr. you can find. Do your research. Talk to folks. Go to the best hospital, that sort of thing.

Hope you don't think I'm being pushy, I'm a meraber of another board and there's a lot of folks there with this syndrome. That's how I know about it. They have scar tissue or got infection or whatever. Yours may be a minor surgery and that's great. Just be careful.

CJ
 
I had Rf done yesterday, and last night was the first time in years I did not have hip pain. I hope this continues.
I have scolosis, DDD, Stenosis. Before the RF was done I underwent 2 procedures in the office to see if I got relief, I did on both times, so I was a candidate for the RF.
We will see what tomorrow brings, I hope a lasting relief!

Lyn
 
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