Radio Frequency Ablation for Cervical Facet Based Headaches?

[KimSb]

Given a helpful albeit, transient result from a Facet block for chronic unrelenting cervicogenic "Tension Headaches," a Radio frequency ablation procedure has been recommended. Neurologist at a headache clinic at an academic hospital tried a myriad of meds (SSRIs, Elavil, Betas, Calciums, Neurontin, Cymbalta, Gabas, Lyrica) & nothing helped. Side effects of most meds only exacerbated the pressure, tightness and hangover-like Neuro & cognitive symptoms. Botox was suggested but is expensive, transient in relief, and not covered by insurer.

Is Radio Frequency Ablation safe & efficacious, and/or do you have any other more benign treatment suggestions?
Thanks for your help

[Fionajnz]

Have you done physical therapy and or acupuncture?  Have you used a TENS unit with heat?  You can rent these to see if they work but they require a prescription.  Most insurers will cover the rental.  

One other idea is to try an Osteopath to see if they can suggest anything.  Personally have not heard of the treatment that has been recommended, so no idea if its effective or not and if longterm its safe.

If you decide to go ahead, ask the Dr if you are able to speak with someone he has treated in the past who has had success, also ask what the success rate is with the procedure.

Best wishes.  One thing I found that triggers migraine for me is orange juice - I was drinking it daily at the time.  Someone told me that her Daughter had headaches after drinking OJ.  I went off it for 6 wks, eventually no migraines unless I ate red dye foods.  I went back on it, got a migraine within 4 hrs.  I had never previously realised that OJ could trigger migraines.

Fiona

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[KimSb]

Thanks for your reply & suggestions. I don't have migrains per se, more constant tight pressure "tension headaches" that are 24/7. Feels like I have a tight band around my forehead. My MD sent me for physical therapy, cranial sacral, acupuncture & I have a TENS unit. None of which helped, hence why he wants me to have the ablation.

[sofa weight]

I don't know the safety or efficacy of the ablation for tension headaches, sounds scary to me, especially for nerves round the head. But, I was wondering, with all of the drugs that have been tried, if fioricet, (the combination of butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine) has been tried. I used to have really bad tension headaches that would go on for days to weeks to where I would walk around with my arms wrapped around my head because any jarring movement would be really bad and my doctor at the time prescribed those pills to me. For me, they worked wonders. Once a tension headache would set in it was impossible to get rid of, but after a couple of doses of fioricet, the headache would let up and go away. then I would be fine for many days until the next one would set in. Then I'd take the pills again and it would go away.

[BonMar]

Hi Kim,
I wanted to let you know that I had multiple cervical radiofrequencies usually a year  apart because thats how long the pain relief lasts for me.  I will be honest and tell you the recovery period is long and brutally painful. The worst of the pain is the first week which passes in a haze because the pain is REALLY BAD. After that it tapers off to soreness and then blessed relief in a about a months time. The radiofrequncy completely stops my severe "neck headaches". I can then go off all meds and live a normal pain free life. After a little over a years time the pain comes back thus the need to do it all over again. I do know people for whom the recovery period was just to painful for them and they elected not to have another done but for me having all that time with no pain and no debilitating headaches makes it worth it. Just make sure your Dr. does a facet injection before having RF done. RF is way to extreme a thing to try without knowing it will help. When you have the facet injection done if you get no pain relief then RF will not help and DO NOT let them do it. If you do get pain relief (even though it will be short lived) its a very good indicator that you will do well with a radiofrequency. Also, if your headaches come from the top of the neck, the occipital nerve, a pulsed radiofrequency may work for you and is MUCH MUCH less painful, has little recovery time and is very effective.

[KimSb]

Thanks for your input, I sent you a note on Med Help.

[Fionajnz]

Hi

I am thinking you sent me a reply in error about the med you took Fioricet.  I have not taken this med.

Interestingly, I just this past wkend had a conversation with a friend/neighbor whose specialty is Occupational medicine.  She noticed how I was hunched over in pain after sitting on the patio for an hr with her.  She asked if I had considered a facet block for my back/neck pain.  I had not.  She is getting me more information and some articles.  If there is anything interesting I will post.  She said that if the temporary block works then it generally indicates a good success if you do the ablation.  She told me that the success rate was high, only because they screen very carefully for good ablation candidates.  Also that the nerve innervation to the facet joint is direct and if ablated it does not impede motor function.

Hope that helps.  I read back through the posts of others and was a little bothered by the fact that most people say the facet block ablation procedure is REALLY painful. I will have to ask my friend exactly how painful it is during recovery :-)

Best wishes and I hope you get some relief soon.

Fiona

[KimSb]

Yes, pardon me, it was another MH member re:Fiorocet. Thanks for your informatve post about Facet blocks. With a mild sedative, they really didn't hurt, more like pressure & a small sting. The ablation did hurt a bit but not to the point of unbareable.  

Glad to hear that your friend said the success rate was high. Can you pls ask her how long after ablation one can expect results? The blocks results are instantaneous, albeit transient if their effective.

Thanks

Kim

[subdoo]

I would like to more about your experience with the radio frequency ablation.  So it sounds like you are in really bad pain for about a week after?  How bad??? What happened after the first week?  Did the doctor say to expect this and isn't there anything they can do to relieve the pain during this transition?

I had a facet block done C2, C3 several months ago and it gave me some relief but I still got headaches but now it has worn off and my doctor suggested the RFA.  They will do a "remedial nerve branch block" as a test first.

I just want to be as informed as I can.

Thanks.

Susan/Colorado

[BonMar]

Hello There :)
Subdoo I am so sorry it has taken me so long to answer your post. I have been wanting to get to talk to you too Kim, I am scheduled for this years RF on the 23rd and have been in so much pain between the neck and the headaches that I havent been online. So please accept my apologies.
ok Subdoo....Yes the worst of the pain lasts a week. The second week there is still pain but better, by the 3rd week it really is just sore, not bad at all. Even at a month out when the pain and soreness are gone there is kind of a "creepy crawly feeling"  when you touch the area or for example brush your hair. It isnt painful at all just wierd. That does go away though. ok for question number 2 pain is so subjective I don't know how to answer it but I can tell you the little sheet of paper they give you to take home that says "mild soreness" is a big ol lie :) My Dr was very honest with me the first time I had it done and said "Im gonna hurt ya...Im gonna hurt ya bad but you will be glad I did it" and he was right. I guess all I can do is give a description of the pain and that is one of intense burning. Just like when you burn your skin only it is inside your body and on a nerve so it sure isnt pleasant. The good news for you is having 2 levels done is less painful than when they have to do the whole neck. I can not express this to you strongly enough, talk to your Dr beforehand and make sure he is willing to prescribe you adequately strong pain meds for the first couple of weeks after the procedure. My Dr gives me Percocet and Neurontin for post procedure pain