Facet nerve ablations: how long do they last??

[dalhousie]

Having a bad pain day today with my muscles & I'm due to see my specialist in 3 weeks. I had facet joint injections which helped my spasmed back muscles for 2 weeks but last time I spoke to him we brieflly touched on the subject of facet nerve ablations. I had these done with my first disc problem which was in the late 1990's but techniques have changed since then & I was wondering how long do they last these days, providing they are effective? This will vary from patient to patient but what might the minimum length of time be?

P.S. I've just seen a thread started by "rose" which has been quite helpful - he said from a few months to a year+ depending on the type of ablation.
When I had facet injections Justin found an information leaflet on here - I looked in the Education section for info on nerve ablations & did a search but couldn't find anything. Has anybody any idea where to look?

[Cindylou]

Having a bad pain day today with my muscles & I'm due to see my specialist in 3 weeks. I had facet joint injections which helped my spasmed back muscles for 2 weeks but last time I spoke to him we brieflly touched on the subject of facet nerve ablations. I had these done with my first disc problem which was in the late 1990's but techniques have changed since then & I was wondering how long do they last these days, providing they are effective? This will vary from patient to patient but what might the minimum length of time be?

P.S. I've just seen a thread started by "rose" which has been quite helpful - he said from a few months to a year+ depending on the type of ablation.
When I had facet injections Justin found an information leaflet on here - I looked in the Education section for info on nerve ablations & did a search but couldn't find anything. Has anybody any idea where to look?

Ruth, I'm not sure where that information is, sorry didn't look, however, I was going to respond to the nerve ablation. I get the nerve ablation done on my neck and honestly, I can get a good year's relief. It is amazing. Now, like you mentioned, everyone's body is different in how they respond to these type of procedures, but I would guess a response like mine could be a little more rare. Don't know statistically though. Worth a shot? Absolutely. CL

[KBear]

Mine never worked, but I was told it took nerves about a year to regenerate.

[dalhousie]

Thanks for the replies. I've just had the weekend from hell pain-wise as I think I overdid things in the pilates class on the Friday. I don't do all the repetitions of the exercises & don't do all the exercises but obviously I did too much this time.

When I had RFA's in the 1990's (with my previous disc problem) it was for facet joint disease & they did work quite well for me. This time round it's to relieve the muscle spasm in my back caused by a gap in my facet joint & my bendy spine. Don't know whether that makes any difference but I suspect the only thing to do is try it. I'll see what happens at my appointment on 3rd May.

[Cindylou]

Good luck Ruth, at your appt. on the 3rd of May. I find it is always a balancing act for us spiney's to continue to stay mobile, stretch, walk....either outside or on a treadmill, bicycle, etc., without over doing it. We aren't like others. Or maybe even how we used to be. It doesn't let us off the hook, with exercising, we just have to do the dance a little differently. Does this make me/us victims of our circumstances, whatever they may be? Hell no. It means we are smart and we have a new normal now, that we are constantly re-introducing ourselves to. (a few of us are slow learners...... ) We're here for you Ruth! CL

[dalhousie]

I feel in such a bad lonely place tonight & can't stop crying . I've no partner/husband or children for support. I went to see my specialist today about my continuing & ever increasing spasm in my back. I did get 2 weeks relief from facet injections at my ADR level so it could be the problem. To make sure there is nothing else untoward happening in my spine I had a scan today & am waiting for the result. He talked about doing facet nerve ablation at my ADR level but said that can be tricky. I didn't question him further as I thought I'd go back in to see him after my scan but he said he'd 'phone me up when the radiologist had reported on my scan. Does the high temperature affect the ADR & the plastic core?? Does anybody know what the problem is when doing facet nerve ablation at the level of an ADR?

He also mentioned the worse case scenario is fusing round my ADR which I don't want.

I do 20 mins of pilates most nights & go to a class once a week. The physio who runs it says if I keep increasing my walking slowly I will get there in the end. I don't know whether she's just trying to encourage me & keep me positive. I have increased from 600 steps to 1400 steps in the last 7 weeks. I put 50 steps on my distance last week but on bad weeks just have to stay at the same distance. I don't know whether that will continue as this problem which has been going on for a year is like an express train & gets worse all the time.

I don't know what to think. I know I'm panicking after today's appointment.

Please help.

[ajj1001]

sorry it's not more hopeful news, I'm here whenever you need. hugs x

[dalhousie]

Thank you for your thoughts Alison. I'm sending you an email so we can have a catch up. I think I might ask Cindylou about RFA's as she has had them but I don't know whether it's at the same level as her ADR's.

[Cindylou]

And Ruth, I did respond to your private message with one of my own. I hope it helps. CL

[trkdoc714]

Ruth,

I hope today was a better day for you. I don't have any experience with RFAs but hope someone gives you comforting news.

Bob