This is a discussion on Radio Frequency Ablation Question (Pain) within the Diagnostic Tests & Spinal Injections forums, part of the General Spine Discussion Forums category; First, how will I be able to find a reply. This forum is confusing because I'm in pain and can ...
Radio Frequency Ablation Question (Pain) First, how will I be able to find a reply. This forum is confusing because I'm in pain and can not concentrate.
I'm going to try. My RFA was done last week and I'm in bad pain and terrible itching. My whole back is on fire. That is how I feel.
When will this end ? I was talked into doing this procedure. Now, my pain is worse than before the procedure. I've been taking 30 mg of Methadone, and now I need 50 mg but by late afternoon I need another pain medication and use 600 mg Ibuprofen, which I think is not that good for me. I'm bombarding me with all kinds of cream for the itching part. My healtcare provider wont give me better medication. I'm pretty sure of that. What can I do ? Please, any advise or has anyone here had the same problems ?
I don't know how to introduce myself but it's very simple. I've 4 old fracture in my thoracic spine. I had nor surgery. This has been going on for over 20 years now. I had all kinds of procedures done but once a bad back, always a bad back. That is how I feel.
Re: Radio Frequency Ablation Question (Pain) Spiny,
Welcome to SPS. I'm sorry you have to be here but glad you found us.
I've never had an RFA procedure but my understanding is the pain doesn't last a week or two. I'm not sure about the itching. Could you be having an allergic reaction? If I remember correctly, methadone can cause itching as a side effect. I had similar issues when I first started taking oxycodone.
I'm sure others will chime in soon to help that have more experience in RFA.
Welcome.
Bob
04/06 L5/S1 Rupture
05/06 MRI shows DDD @ L2-S1
06/06 Diskectomy/ Laminotomy L5/S1
04/07 Recurrent Disc L5/S1
4 Ortho and 1 Neuro Surgeon, 5 MRIs, 1 EGM, 1 Myleogram & 11 EDIs later:
03/27/09 L4/5 & L5/S1 Maverick discs at Stenum (www.dr-ritter-lang.com)
11/9/11 C6/7 Herniation with Nerve Impingement. Another journey begins.
Re: Radio Frequency Ablation Question (Pain) Spiny, welcome. I had my lumbar RFA done 2 weeks ago. The pain does indeed get worse before it gets better, according to my neuro-radiologist who performed mine. In very layman's terms, he told me the nerves and surrounding tissue get quite angry from the procedure before the relief kicks in. I was told it can take up to 3 weeks to feel relief from the procedure itself. I am still waiting for the relief too, but am trying to be positive and hopeful. I have never experienced the itching that you are referring to. I would absolutely let the radiologist's staff know about this symptom. Have you told them yet? They would want to know. I have had itching from increases in pain medication, especially morphine, when in the hospital, but not from an RFA. I am so sorry you are experiencing this. I hope the itching subsides and that you and I both get successful results from the RFA sooner rather than later. My best to you, Cindylou
January 2000 MVA passenger, used jaws of life to retrieve me, neck injury and months of PT
June 2001 Bicycle accident, 2 compression fractures at T12/L1, Vertebroplasty Sept. 2001
April 2006 right hip, labral tear and repair
April 2007 3 level ProDisc @ L3/4, L4/5 & L5/6✷ ✷Lumbosacral transitional vertebra; Dr. Rudolph Bertagnoli
July 2, 2008 ALIF & Laminectomy @ L6/S1
July 30, 2008 re-opened 28 days later to remove bone cement that had leaked onto S1 nerve root
August 2008 Pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, re-hospitalized 1 week
March 10, 2009 Right SI Joint Fusion
April 27, 2010 2nd right hip arthroscopy to remove adhesions and release psoas muscle
September 30, 2010 lumbar facet rhizotomy
December 9, 2010 12 bilateral lumbar trigger point and steroid injections
December 23, 2010 12 more bilateral trigger point injections w/o steroid
February 15, 2011 ESI bilaterally in lower lumbar...relief only for few days. Considering 1 more.
Did Spinal Cord Stimulator trial from 5/11/11-5/17/11 with excellent results; Spinal Cord Stimulator surgery is Monday,
July 18, 2011
Re: Radio Frequency Ablation Question (Pain) Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry you are in such pain right now and hope you get relief soon. I also experienced increased pain after my RFAs. They never helped my pain, but it did go back down to normal levels after a few weeks. I have had itchiness when I had increases in medication, this is a common side effect. I would definitely mention it to your doctor to make sure that is what it is. Best of Luck, Kathy
31 years old- 1/06- In wreck with 18 wheeler at 25 years old; 6/06- Head on collision on Interstate, both wrecks other drivers fault. Numerous MRI's, PT, chiropractic, acupuncture, TENS therapy, massage therapy, facet injections, epidural injections, Nerve study, Discogram, confirms pain in L4/5, IDET, decompression, Bi-lateral neurotomy L3/4/5, denied by insurance twice, in Active L clinical trial, had surgery March 17, 2009 in Miami, FL- received Active L disc at 29 years old. Pain and medication free as of October 2010!Mommy to Emma- 8 years, Ava- 6 years & had baby Eli after ADR, via c-section on March 25, 2011, completely pain free still!
Re: Radio Frequency Ablation Question (Pain) I don't know how this works and worry I'm doing this wrong because I wanted to say "T H A N K S " for all who replied. Friday, I went to the ER, it was that bad. Of course they didn't do anything except gave a prescription for muscle relaxing. (Sorry, English my 2nd language) Now, I'm waiting to get a call from a chronic pain doctor. I've another question but will start a new post. Doctors don't always tell lyou the truth.Originally Posted by trkdoc714
Re: Radio Frequency Ablation Question (Pain) You did just fine with the posting response Spiny. And your English is quite good actually, for being your second language. Well, I think you are at least moving in the right direction if you haven't had a pain management doctor up until now. That is exactly what you need if you are dealing with chronic pain. I do hope you start to experience relief from your RFA soon. Glad you're here. There are lots of helpful and compassionate folks around here.Cindylou
January 2000 MVA passenger, used jaws of life to retrieve me, neck injury and months of PT
June 2001 Bicycle accident, 2 compression fractures at T12/L1, Vertebroplasty Sept. 2001
April 2006 right hip, labral tear and repair
April 2007 3 level ProDisc @ L3/4, L4/5 & L5/6✷ ✷Lumbosacral transitional vertebra; Dr. Rudolph Bertagnoli
July 2, 2008 ALIF & Laminectomy @ L6/S1
July 30, 2008 re-opened 28 days later to remove bone cement that had leaked onto S1 nerve root
August 2008 Pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, re-hospitalized 1 week
March 10, 2009 Right SI Joint Fusion
April 27, 2010 2nd right hip arthroscopy to remove adhesions and release psoas muscle
September 30, 2010 lumbar facet rhizotomy
December 9, 2010 12 bilateral lumbar trigger point and steroid injections
December 23, 2010 12 more bilateral trigger point injections w/o steroid
February 15, 2011 ESI bilaterally in lower lumbar...relief only for few days. Considering 1 more.
Did Spinal Cord Stimulator trial from 5/11/11-5/17/11 with excellent results; Spinal Cord Stimulator surgery is Monday,
July 18, 2011
Re: Radio Frequency Ablation Question (Pain) Hi Spiny,
Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.
I'm sorry that you need to be here, but we are here to support you. Radiofrequency ablations are successful for many Spine Patients. However, there are some patients that do not experience pain relief from an ablation. This is true with any interventional spine procedure (transforaminal blocks, medial nerve blocks, etc.).
The following is not medical advice: in terms of your itching from your pain medication, benadryl is commonly used. However, make sure to consult your physician before you make any changes to your medications.
You introduced yourself perfectly!
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDiscฎ L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
Re: Radio Frequency Ablation Question (Pain) Spiny, sorry I misunderstood about whether you had a pain management doctor or not. I see from a different post of yours you do, indeed, have one. Sorry about that confusion. CL
January 2000 MVA passenger, used jaws of life to retrieve me, neck injury and months of PT
June 2001 Bicycle accident, 2 compression fractures at T12/L1, Vertebroplasty Sept. 2001
April 2006 right hip, labral tear and repair
April 2007 3 level ProDisc @ L3/4, L4/5 & L5/6✷ ✷Lumbosacral transitional vertebra; Dr. Rudolph Bertagnoli
July 2, 2008 ALIF & Laminectomy @ L6/S1
July 30, 2008 re-opened 28 days later to remove bone cement that had leaked onto S1 nerve root
August 2008 Pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, re-hospitalized 1 week
March 10, 2009 Right SI Joint Fusion
April 27, 2010 2nd right hip arthroscopy to remove adhesions and release psoas muscle
September 30, 2010 lumbar facet rhizotomy
December 9, 2010 12 bilateral lumbar trigger point and steroid injections
December 23, 2010 12 more bilateral trigger point injections w/o steroid
February 15, 2011 ESI bilaterally in lower lumbar...relief only for few days. Considering 1 more.
Did Spinal Cord Stimulator trial from 5/11/11-5/17/11 with excellent results; Spinal Cord Stimulator surgery is Monday,
July 18, 2011
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