Seeking info on RFA?? How bad is it to have done?

[rivergal56]

In the next 4 to 6 weeks I will be having a Radiofrequency Ablation to the nerves in my SI Joints to hopefully stop the pain I feel. It's quite possible that it won't work at all. I was told by my sister in law that the procedure takes 30 to 45 minutes and is very painful. I not sure as weather to believe her or not. She doesn't go to a regular pain clinic for these or a doctor who specialty is pain control. Mostly I'm looking for true information. Thanks.

[Keano16]

You'll get some local anesthetic under your skin, there should not be much pain.

And about stopping your pain... It depends. If SI joints are source of pain, it should be stopped. If you have more combined pain sources (including SI joints) then you pain will be stopped partially. If SI joints are not source of your pain, then you won't have pain relief.

RFA is therapeutic and diagnostic method.

[rivergal56]

Thanks so much. When she told me that it took that long and was that painful I thought maybe it might have been done by some one not very familiar with doing them. I go to a pain clinic and the doctor there is very good at giving shots. I know that there is always a chance of pain and was expecting it but the time frame seem way to long.

[WPKat]

In the next 4 to 6 weeks I will be having a Radiofrequency Ablation to the nerves in my SI Joints to hopefully stop the pain I feel. It's quite possible that it won't work at all. I was told by my sister in law that the procedure takes 30 to 45 minutes and is very painful. I not sure as weather to believe her or not. She doesn't go to a regular pain clinic for these or a doctor who specialty is pain control. Mostly I'm looking for true information. Thanks.

Rivergal,

Not exactly the same place, but I had radiofrequency thermocoagulation on 4 levels of my left spine last July. My avatar is a picture from the procedure itself. I was in the room for about 45 minutes, but most of it was spent on preparation. The actual process doesn't take anywhere near as long. But considering what they are doing, you want them to take all the time they need. I have a wonderful pain specialist and the team of folks she works with are great. I was consciously sedated and given as much as I needed to get through the procedure and it was quite tolerable given those circumstances. I was even able to crack a few jokes right before and after it was done.

I would definitely ask your pain specialist what to expect as some may have a different approach.

After the procedure was a different matter all together though as my pain spiked pretty high for 10 days. I researched it later and found that it can spike for anywhere from a few days to two weeks - depending on whose literature you read. I would make sure you have ice packs and plenty of pain medication on hand.

Good luck,

K