You should check with the multiple sclerosis board and cerebral palsy as well. I clicked the word and the definition points to those to groups the most.

Best wishes.

It's the procedure where they burn the nerves by the facet joints. I think it's also referred to as a radio-frequency ablation.

I had this done 7 weeks ago on left side sij and lower lumber. First day was painful, next two weeks were wonderful almost painfree. Then it got very painful to touch, lean against, sit on, lie on anything for about 4 weeks. now it is down to about a 40% decrease in my original pain, which is pretty good in my opinion. Did need strong meds and lots of ice packs for weeks 3-5 though...
Feel free to message me with any questions.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I think I'm going to go through with it. I've got to do something! =)

i am about to get this procedure done too. in my neck though, not my back. i am very scared too. i am going to the pain clinic on the 14th of dec. to get more info, and the date for the procedure. they told me to expect an increase in pain for 2-3 weeks after. then, (hopefully) a lot less pain, maybe even pain free in that area. (although i do not want to get my hopes up too high) so i probably won't be getting it done until january. when are you getting your done? take care!! :)

Ok, I don't want to scare you but yes I have had all of this done. They should be doing test blocks first to see if the procedure will help you. I had 2 tests that helped alot for a couple hours, thats all you get from the test blocks. So I went ahead for the Rhyzotomy. First of all I was refered to a neurologist that was at least 90 years old and very shakey and very craby too. I was so desperate for help though I went along with it. The doc. led me to believe that the procedure was permenant, I did'nt know that nerves grow right back. The sedation they gave me did'nt phase me but I have a huge tollerance to all drugs, hopefully you don't. I was scared out of my mind to do this so I was an emotional wreck every time I went in, that did'nt help at all. But I have a history of terrible anxiety, hopefully you don't. I had a full blown panic attack all the way through it so I must have been so tight that I don't know how they got the needles in! They use 3 needles, 2 for guidance and one to cut and yes it was painfull. I am a big baby about stuff like this though so I think it hurt me more than it does most. It was a lot worse than the other injections I've had but I lived through it. Unfortunetly it did'nt help me, I just put myself into a flare because I got so upset. MY pain doc. now says that burning the nerve is better because it takes it longer to grow back, a clean cut heals faster than a jagged burn. He wants me to try the burn but I'm to scared and most of these procedures don't help me much. I had it done to my neck only, maybe it would be less painful in the back. I think I had it done by a quack though, if you have a good doc., not so shaky, it will go better for you. They gave me a picture of my neck under x-ray and it looks like I have 3 croche hooks next to my spine, yuck! My doc. could have easily missed the spot with all his shaking, I remember he had to keep repositoning the needles which hurt. Just make sure your doc does'nt have the shakes and you will do fine. And lots of ice as others have said.
I did'nt want to scare you and I hope I hav'nt, just one bad experience.

Please let us know how it goes and contact me if you want to talk ok.
I'm praying for you and I hope you get great results from it!
Take care
Schlene

Hey, I had rhizotomy done via fluoroscopy guided radiofrequency ablation. Is this the procedure you're having? I had it done from L1-L5 on both sides (2 weeks apart, like you're doing).

Unfortunately mine wasn't particularly successful- not because I don't have facet pain, but because the nerves became quite irritated and caused a lot of pain for more than a month afterward, and then grew back less than 6 months later. But, for a lot of reasons, I'm *not* a typical case, I have atypical anatomy due to a fracture.

I will try the procedure again after having my back surgery.

I've had two test blocks. Well 8 really. They did a medial branch block on my l1-l5 on the left and right side. I did the right side last yesterday and the left side two weeks ago. I'm getting the radio frequency ablation on my l1-l5 on the left side on Dec. 30. I feel very confident in my doctor but I'm still worried about how painful the procedure will be. I have a lot of anxiety but they will be sedating me through an IV. I gave them permission to knock me out and will be reminding them about that when I go. ;p I have arthritis in my facet joints and vertebrates as well as a lot of herniated discs. My doctor showed me several different places (on my MRI films) that could be the cause of my pain. He thinks I'm having pain from multiple places and warned me that it may take a few tries to get everything. He isn't shaky and have an excellent reputation.

I'm not looking forward to having more pain for a few weeks after the procedure. I'm having a hard enough time teaching without pain pills. I take them as soon as I get home but it takes a couple of hours to get the pain under control. I've worked with worse pain before. It was rough and I'm dreading that part.

Thanks for all of the responses. It helps a lot to know I'm not alone.

Yes...I've had the procedure done. Once on both sides and a couple of months back just the left side. The first experience was great, I did have increased pain for a few days but I did recover nicely with a temporary increase in pain meds. It does take a few weeks to gain the full effect of the procedures. I took only Valuim prior to the procedure and was scared poopless, but my doctor was wonderful and I made it through. Keep ice handy the first few days though. I had the procedure done in the same manner as happyhb...I think it makes all the difference in the world. I had fairly good pain relief in my lower back for close to a year. I'm wishing you all the best:)

Deb

I've had it done too, on both side, and I had no relief. It just didn't work, so I guess that wasn't the problem.

I was just a little sore afterwards, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. It certainly wasn't as bad as the pain I'd been having all along.
I hope you find some relief to your pain. God bless. Hugs, Lee

...

Please ask him to give you something you can take while teaching, because that will be hard.

It sounds like you're having a lot of side effects from your pain meds? Is that why you're trying not to take them? Talk to your doctor about that too, and see if you can find something with fewer side effects.

Have you ever tried Tramadol? I was able to take that before my pain got really severe and it worked great and did not make me drowsy.

Oh, and I had sedation during the procedure. It was not the worst thing I've ever been through :)

I wanted to give an update. Today I had the radio frequency ablation for the nerves by my facet joints on the left side of my L2/L3, L3/L4, L4/L5, and L5/S1. Maybe it was my L1-L4... will have to double check my paper work. The last bandaid is pretty low so I think I have it right. =)

I was super nervous about this procedure. I have a hard time with needles and the sight of blood. Whenever I have to do something new that involves needles my anxiety goes through the roof. I was actually up until 5am thinking about it.

I'm such a wuss that I started getting lightheaded when they put my IV in. I always feel so bad for the doctors and nurses who have to deal with me. They were really sweet and understanding. I told them that they could give me extra sedation.

My doctor is amazing. He did some tests to make sure that he burns the correct nerves before. After that, they sedated me and did there thing. They wheeled me out to recovery and gave me a diet coke. I heart them. ;)

I have been home for about 7 hours now. I'm swollen and have been icing my back quite a bit. My left side must be numb still because I don't feel any pain in my left hip. My right hip is making up for it though.

My doctor also increased my meds from 7.5 hydrocodone to 10. He didn't make me feel guilty for asking for an increase which I appreciate.

Hopefully this works! I may get my life back after all.