I have been getting steroid shots for almost a year for pain in my back it’s in my lower back I finally got the nerve to get the nerves burned around my lower back it was the best decision I ever made I think it will allow me to stop taking pain medicine for a while it almost feels like it’s normal
Hello! The pain management practice I work for describes that procedure as follows:
Radiofrequency Facet Rhizotomy. A facet rhizotomy
destroys facet nerve(s) either in the lower back (lumbar) or
the neck (cervical) region, using radiofrequency (heat)
waves. This procedure is done if you have pain due to
disease in the facet joints of your spine, and you have had
pain relief from your facet nerve blocks. You will be placed
in the prone position. Your back or neck will be cleaned
with an antiseptic solution and the skin area will be
numbed with a local anesthetic. Fluoroscopy is used to
guide the placement of the needle probe to the area of the
facet nerve. Radiofrequency waves are transmitted to lesion
(destroy with heat) the involved nerve(s). This temporarily
stops sensation from that area, which may last for an
average of 6 months or more.
I hope this helps! Good luck and keep us posted how it works for you.
Thanks , you have been a big help. That sound a lots beter, I had in mind a
needle red hot
Hi Scotter,
Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. I am sorry to hear about your pain.
I think what your physician is referring to is called RFA or Radiofrequency Ablation.
Radiofrequency nerve ablation is the term used when radio waves are generated and used to produce heat. By generating this heat around a nerve, the nerves ability to transmit pain is destroyed, thus ablating the nerve. Radiofrequency ablation is used to destroy the nerves.
According to the literature and what I have been told the nerves will regenerate (grow back). This can happen in as little as six months or take up to 12-18 months. Some of our members have had this procedure done and hopefully one of them will provide you with information from their personal experience.
If you decide to have this procedure done please share with us how efective it is for you. I wish you the best of luck.
Take Care,
~Tuck~