leg numb after rfa test injections

Question

I went this morning for bilateral test injections for an upcoming RFA procedure.  It has been explained to me this is necessary twice (test injections) for insurance purposes. Near the end of the procedure i felt pain in my left leg.  I verbalized this to the doctor as he withdrew the last needle.  He asked if the pain was still there and it was.  He assured me it will go away.  My procedure was at 8:30am and I am still having both pain and numbness in my left leg.  Has anyone else experienced anything like this?  In addition I am very concerned that something like this has happened on just a test procedure. If this can happen on the test procedure, can this happen again on the actual RFA procedure and be perminant?

newyork1177 · Answer

Lupus101-
I am so happy to hear from someone else that has had this same issue, however VERY SORRY that anyone else has to suffer with it.  I really don't have much good news to offer you though.  My pain was aweful for several weeks after that procedure.  The muscle spasms in my back that shot down through my legs had me in tears many times.  I didn't know how long I could bare it.  When I went in to my pain managment doctors looking like total hell from the pain, fear, lack of sleep (due to spasms, as well as the issues with my legs that you discribed) he decided to put me on Fentanyl patches to have more constant relief in addition to the percocet, and muscle relaxers I was already on.  He then sent me to have nerve testing done to see if there was "any damage" done.  That hurt too.  Needle stuck in me over and over again.  OMG.  Needless to say, being as my pain management doctor is the one that did the RFA testing and the nerve doctor was his friend/referal they stated that they found nothing wrong with the nerves.  I believe he may just be trying to cover his butt, however there is really nothing I can do.
All I know is that my back was in much worse shape after than before.  To this day I am woken in the night with numbness and pain in my legs.  As I have stated earlier the spasms have become far less frequent, (thank God).

I have spoken to many people since this has happened to me both doctors and patients of all different kinds of back surgeries.  For the most part I am told you have a 50% chance of getting some relief or good relief, OR a 50% change of having a GREAT deal MORE pain.  To me, that is just way too much of a risk.  NEVER AGAIN!!!!!

I wish you well, and hope you find some relief soon.  Try to find yourself a pain managment doctor that can at least get you on some meds for pain/spasms.  God Bless.

Lupus101 · Answer

I had 4 rfa injections on right side and 3 on left. After right side was completed the disks by the injection sites swelled and throbbed so badly. 2ish weeks after nothing is better. Main disk still throbs and if anything its a bit worse. Now on my left side, I have had Major problems. Left leg falls asleep and tingles so badly I can't sleep. Only way to keep that from happening is to keep moving, however, when I start walking around I feel like the left leg will buckle.. is just very weak feeling. I can feel the start of the issue in my left bum cheek, feels like a pinched nerve. It even makes my tailbone itch so so bad. I am worried that the procedure wasn't performed properly. When we did the left side it was making my left leg jump straight up and left hip felt like was on fire. I told the dr and he moved something around and the jumping stopped completely but fire didn't go away. I am worried. When talked to the clinics PA I told her of my concerns and that I wouldn't ever do that procedure again.. she told me she was surprised that I wasn't given anything to "knock the edge off" before the procedures and she wasnt sure what to do for me. She told me that I needed to be referred to some other Dr, because I refused to do anymore of those injections. Not anything of what to be expecting these next weeks or months or confirm what I had been going thru to be normal just flat out Bye. Anyone with info is mucho needed! Thx ahead of time for reading thru this info and if u responded thank you so so much thank you to those before me with info for me to read over as well!!

newyork1177 · Answer

it took a full 28 hrs for the pain/numbness to go away.  this procedure was for my back.  i was also yesterday having spasms throughout the day as well.  this experience sent me to seek out an old friend of mine who works in a physical theropists office.  She told me she has had so many patients with horror stories from procedures like RFA and nerve block where they end up with way more pain then when they started.  Sure makes me reconsider!