RFA done. (Radiofrequency Ablation, Sacroiliac Joint)

[rivergal56]

Hi everyone. On May 6th, I got my RFA done to my right SI nerve in two spots. First burn was in the SI joint and the second was a few inches down the nerve. The first wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be but the second one hurt like mad. The stopped the first burn 1 minute into it. After a few more shots to numb it and a can or orange juice to the shaking I was having on we went. The rest went with out to much of a hitch. I was sore and achy the next few days but nothing that my Lidoderm and and extra Utram didn't help. The lower of the two spots is still sore but I'm sure in time this too will pass. I have been able to get a few more things done this last week or so then before. I ' ve been taking it slow so as not to push to hard. I'll see the PA at the pain clinic on te 27th of May and see what she thinks. I'll keep you all up to date. Also I have really good news, Hubby retired the third week in April. It was a nice early mother's day gift for me. Thanks to all your support.

[Justin]

Hi Rivergal,

Congratulations on the radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to your sacroiliac joint (SI joint). Make sure to take things slow and keep us posted. I hope it really helps with the pain. A big congratulations to your husband!

[rivergal56]

I wish I could say that it was a wonderful success but it wasn't. After about 4 days I was on the road back to my old self again. Tomorrow I get to go for PT. Just what you really want to do when it hurt to bend over to tie your shoes. I'm sure I'll get by with all of this but I'm not looking forward to it at all. The PM PA wanted me to try this and see which pain is my SI and which is my spine. I thought we had that figured out already but I guess not and now that hubby has retired my insurance has changed to Medicare first and it takes them forever to pay any one. Our new drug plan has a large deductable so we have to pay out of pocket for everything till it's paid up. I sorry to complain so but thanks for listening it really does help. Please remember just because something doesn't work for one person that that doesn't meant it won'
t work for you. I'll let you all know how it going when I know how it's going.

[Cindylou]

Rivergal, I'm sorry you didn't get the much needed relief from your rfa procedure. What a disappointment......Is there any other treatment plan in place for you, from here on out? Absolutely.... feel free to share. That is why we are here. A place to unload, among folks who get what you are going through. I hope you get a break with your pain levels soon.

[KBear]

I'm sorry that it didn't work for you. I know that's a huge disappointment, always was for me. Seems like we are always looking forward to the next 'fix', then when we do it and it doesn't work, it's crushing. I know that was one of the hardest things for me. Don't feel bad about complaining on here, we get it. Having spine problems is a huge financial burden and it gets very stressful. Hope you feel better soon and get relief.

[Ryan G]

Hi there Rivergal, Im really sorry to hear that the procedure has not worked out as you first hoped. can i ask what your acctual condition is and the diagnosis you have been given?

My wife also is having serious problems with her sacroiliac joint so much so that in march of this year she had her right one fused.

[rivergal56]

Thanks everyone for your wonderful comments. I to wish it had worked but I don't think there will be any thing new soon. I went to see the PA at the Pain clinic and her only suggestion was to go for PT. So I went for the first session, which is usually talking, a short assessment and the first of a group of exercises that they want you to do. But this time I got a surprise. She, the therapist, had me lay on my stomach and started feeling my lower back. Ok, I understand that everyone does things different buy I should have know she was going to far when her pushing got harder and it really started to hurt and I complained. She said she couldn't understand why I was feeling pain, she couldn't feel any thing out of place or a bulging dish. She had me move on to my back and got on the table put my foot under her arm pit and started pushing again saying that something needed to be stretched. Again the pain got bad and she almost got knocked to the floor. She then said it was time for the exercises and then sent in, I was to find out after a few minutes, a young man who didn't have a license or degree in therapy to go through the exercises. I never spoke to the therapist again before I left. When I got home I called the ortho that I was seeing before I went to the pain clinic and made an appointment to see him. I feel that for now I'm at the end of this road and I need to find a new one to start to travel on. I am so disappointed with all of this. Nothing that I've tried in the last 2 years have made much of a difference. What I started out with from my other ortho seems to be the only things that make much difference. The only thing is they aren't making as much of a difference as they use to. I'll let you all know what's new when I have something new to tell.

[KBear]

I am so sorry you had that therapy experience. I always remind myself that 90% of people that go to therapy get better, so the therapists think they can 'fix' anybody. I have definitely learned to be my own advocate and to not just go along with treatment anymore (and trust me, I did go along with it for awhile). It will get better, took me 3 years to get the right surgery and another year to heal. I'm thinking about you and praying for you.
Kathy