Chronic Pain Support Group

it sounds like a one time thing and thats it the nerve is finnished . I'll have to read about nothing great about killing nerves but sometimes its got to be done . I don't think its a bad or tough procedure ....nope I looked it up and I think you're going feel pretty good after . Good Outcome wishes to you

How did your surgery go? We were looking at this for my 9 year old son who has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. We ended up not doing this and doing a baclofen pump.

How long was your recovery? How is your pain now that you have had this surgery?

Good luck!

Mommie2CodyBug

I had rhizotomy done before my first spinal surgery, and it only provided relief for about 4 months, so it did not work for me.

Banff - The Rhizotomy procedure is not a surgery, is just a set of shots. There is more information below...

What is facet rhizotomy?
The goal of a facet rhizotomy is to provide pain relief by "shutting off" the pain signals that the joints send to the brain. The pain relief experienced by most patients who have this procedure lasts months or even years.

How it is done
Patients who are candidates for rhizotomy typically have undergone several facet joint injections to verify the source and exact location of their pain. Using a local anesthetic and x-ray guidance, a needle with an electrode at the tip is placed along side the small nerves to the facet joint. The electrode is then heated, with a technology called radiofrequency, to deaden these nerves that carry pain signals to the brain.

Serious complications with facet rhizotomies are rare. A new technique using pulsed radiofrequency does not actually burn the nerve, but appears to stun the nerve. This technique appears to be even safer than the regular radiofrequency technique, but does seem to have the drawback of not lasting quite as long. Some specialists (such as the author) prefer to use the pulsed technique in higher risk areas such as the neck.

The procedure takes about 30-60 minutes. Afterwards, patients are monitored for a short time before being released.


Facet joint rhizotomy or medial branch neurotomy can effectively treat low back pain emanating from painful facet joints unresponsive to steroid injections. This efficacy hinges on the technical skill of the physician performing the procedure. Each facet joint is supplied by two small nerves so two needles must be placed to treat one joint. Findings of a recent surgical anatomical study have confirmed the accurate course of these nerves targeted in this procedure providing more compelling evidence for proper needle placement. Safe needle placement is critical in avoiding complications related to inadvertent injury to nearby structures leading to increased back or new leg pain. Although symptom reduction may be appreciated within a few days, facet joint rhizotomy should not be considered unsuccessful unless no pain relief occurs by 6 weeks after the procedure. Evidence shows that 60% of properly selected patients experience at least a 90% reduction of their low back pain that is sustained for 12 months, and 87% obtain at least 60% relief. If low back pain symptoms return over time, repeating the procedure can restore similar pain relief. However, one must keep in mind that these results are attainable when completed by well-trained interventional spine specialists experienced in executing these procedures.

I had it done. It's also called a Radiofrequency Neurotomy. It didn't work. I don't know if it did extra damage either.

Has anyone had the neuro-stimulator inserted into their neck for chronic nerve pain there?

djcbrit, I had a friend who had a nerve-stimulator put in for treatment of migraines, she said the first week went pretty well...but after that no relief. She had it done at Mayo Hospital and Clinic in Rochester was happy and excited about the idea of less/no meds but now it's been 3 months and she's miserable, hasn't been to work in weeks.
I'll try and get her on here so she can give you more details straight from the horses mouth (so-to-speak)
Good Luck to all!

I had it done on 11/13/09 and it was a Friday eeek!!. Even though everything went fine I was nervous. Something about a needle near my spine just dosen't seem right. 2 bulging disks and over a year of pain that just wouldn't go away, tends to change a persons perspective on what he/she is willing to do. I hope that this works and I'm able to get back to a somewhat normal life. Haveing pain for that length of time tends to wear on you, I became short temperd and even depressed. I couldn't ask for a more understanding family but,... if this doesn't work I think my wife will shoot me (lol).