Nerve burning

[Shellshocker]

Just looking for other peoples experience for this procedure.  On the 3rd of next month I am going in for my 2nd diagnostic before the actual nerve burning procedure.  The 1st diagnostic didn't really help for more then 5 mins and they consider that a successful test. Has anyone had the procedure done and then started experiencing pain again after being pain free?

Thank you in advance

[BOK2Bjan]

I just had my 2nd ablation procedure a week and a half ago. I had the 2 test procedures first - with lidocaine numbing the targeted nerves - it lasted several hours, and was wonderful. I was therefore a good candidate.

The Dr who did it was the only one who does the Thoracic spine - it's more dangerous due to the proximity to vital organs. The first side was so painful, he stopped after only doing 2 of the planned 3 facet nerves. They gave me IV fentanyl but it did NOTHING to help at all.

The next time, I asked him to put the IV in, but hold off on the fentanyl, and give me an extra valium, and give as much local as he was comfortable with. It was SO much better! The pain was significantly less, and he was able to do the 3rd on the first side and all 3 on the 2nd side. Zero fentanyl used.

It's taken quite a while to recover, but I'm feeling some relief from the first procedure (2 weeks before the 2nd), and am very encouraged. I have back pain in all spinal regions, so this is just to help with the pain which had become intolerable - making standing or sitting almost impossible for longer than a few minutes.

I'll do anything to find pain relief. I've been using opioids for so long, they just aren't helping much anymore. I think I have developed hyperalgesia, and would have to take so much to get any relief - I'd likely OD. So I'm tapering off.

If you have insurance - go for it. I've never heard of anyone having the nerves that grow back be more sensitive than originally. I'm thankful to have something other than a pharmaceutical offered to help me. I wish insurance covered accupuncture and chiropractic care and even physical therapy! (Mine doesn't).

It is definitely painful during the procedure, but the difference between my 1st and 2nd procedures was remarkable. I think he was more successful placing the local during the 2nd procedure. If it was always like the 2nd time - I'd do it as often as necessary! Best of luck!

[scotty2hotty386]

I have had both nerve blocking procedures. The first helped me for about 5 days, the 2nd left me in worse shape than I was before the procedure. Now I'm hoping to have the burning procedure done within a week or so depending on insurance approval. Has any one had the burning procedure?  Does it help?

[lizzymag]

I have been having mine done for years. Every 8 to 10 months. Last year I suffered from sudden cardiac arrest ( nothing to do with my treatment ) and had to have a defibrillator put in. I am devastated I will no longer be able to get my treatments. This was the main treatment for me. I suffered for years until I found my pain management Dr.  I believe it depends on the Dr myself and your condition. Don't go to just anybody. Make sure you get a good painmagement Dr. not someone that practices everything and anything. Just my opinion. My Dr. did not burn my nerves right off the bat. He has a test with other medication he does first. He says "if you get relief from this( then you go back in 2 weeks) then you're a good candidate for RFA and  it doesn't work for everyone. If it doesn't work. We'll work to find something else to get you some relief." God Bless My Dr.

[Dp2959]

I had this done a week ago and the pain just changed. It's a dull pain and stiff also the leg pain got worse. Now they are putting me on steroids for 6 days. I just want the pain to go away itt been an 8 to a 10. Maybe it's more pain from the disc now I don't know but so far it ha not helped.

[mareshan49]

I am a drug addict in recovery for many years. I have been taking a low dose of oxy for low back pain. Am on track for the "nerve burn," but am very anxious about it. From the research I have done, there are just as many successes as there are failures. The oxy (10mg) can be detoxed, easily enough. Good Luck

[Tuckamore]

RFAs work different very well for some ppl and not so well for others. Much depends on the practitioner (experience) and the location that is being treated.  

My friend has to have the procedure repeated every 6-9 months. As you can see we have a member that his RFAs last several years.

The goal isn't always to eliminate the pain but to decrease it thus reducing the need for opiates or hopefully eliminating it.

Yes it is pricey. If insurance does not cover the procedure the average person cannot afford a RFA.

I wish you well.
~Tuck

[dasie58]

Hi, just read your post, sounds good, but still not convinced that this is the best for me, the nerve block helped, but I will still need pain meds because of other problems, I haven't taken as many lately.  My neck pain is coming back after 3 weeks, I'm mostly concerned about the new nerves being more sensitive than the old? Thanks for your info.

[dasie58]

I had the nerve blocks in my neck as well, and now the Dr. wants me to do the nerve burn. I was pain free (my neck anyways) for 3 weeks; as I have fibro as well as myofacial pain (as well as the neck pain, from c-2-6) .  My concern is, once the nerves come back do you feel more pain than before? And how many times can you have this done? It must be very expensive!?

[philnoir]

In my experience, the soreness lasts for a couple of weeks -- use ice for the first 72 hours and then warm packs.

Sorry you have to wait 3 months for the other side. I have mine 2 weeks apart.

Expect 1 - 2 years of pain relief before the procedure must be repeated.

Best wishes.

[robin_50]

I had the nerve burn done yesterday. I really hurt the day I went in. You are awake but will be given something to relax you. Once they numb the back its a piece of cake. However when he touches the bad nerve it is a little uncomfortable. But that how they tell if they got the right nerve and that's a good thing. If the nerve wasn't had that nerve wouldn't hurt. I left the hospital with no pain yesterday. I am sore today but no pain and the soreness isn't something you need pain pills for. I was very scared about being awake yesterday but Im looking forward to having the other side done in 3 months.

[Necromateur]

I have had this done, along with numerous steroidal injections, and I didn't get any relief from the procedures at all. Well, the steroid shots helped calm my sciatic problem, but other than that, I suffer with the same pain as before the procedure.

I will have to say -- when I had the nerve ablation, it hurt really bad. It was about 10x worse than the steroid injections. It was extremely, extremely painful. Totally not worth the cost, nor was it worth the pain.

But, I've heard that it works for a lot of people, so I assume it has a lot to do with your condition and with the doctor's competency.

Good luck -- it doesn't hurt to try.

As for the side effects? You should really ask your doctor to explain all of the side effects and if you don't trust word-of-mouth from your doc, then have him send you some kind of packet over the benefits and risks.

[BabyJ5578]

Hi. i am only 22 & have already had steroid injections, but did not work. i am scheduled next week for the first test shot for the nerves. I will eventually have my nerves burned soon.  The pain you explained during the procedure sounds like the injections i had as well. some people get put in that twilight stage but it just depends on your doctor. i was awake for the injection so i'm sure i will be awake for this as well. how did you feel the next morning?

[Shannel_1972]

Hi Jeannie903, I just had my right side lumbar area burnt. You are a wake for the procedure . It took about 55 mins and you feel lots of little pricks and pressure . Afterwards I had a lot of pain and pressure. Like I said I got it done today at 9:00am so I can check in with you to let you know my progress. I am not going to lie its painful. I go in on Monday the 9th for the left side to be done. Best of luck to you

[manu62]

I had this for months and it want go away. So i talk to my pain manager to burn the sciatic nerve down. I had the procedure in June 2014 and i can tell you in the first 6 weeks i had more pain then before and i was scare that i make the wrong.decision. My Doc told me it can take up to 8 weeks before the pain goes away. And then finally after 6 weeks i get the relief that i was waiting for and now i am almost pain free. I know that the nerve gonna grow back again. For some people it takes maybe months and others a year or more, everybody are different. I really can recommend it to everybody that have a pinched sciatic nerve...Go and talk to you pain manager

[philnoir]

This will help the pain from arthritic facet joints only. If you have other spine conditions (stenosis, bad discs), this will not do much for them.

However, pain management is about making incremental changes. If this lowers your pain by 25%, you will feel the benefit.

[Zydecogurl]

Thank you for the info. I have been having back issues for almost 13 yrs now. I have had numerous back surgeries, injections, many many procedures but have only gotten worse. I have upper and lower back pain, hip pain, right and left leg pain down to the tips of my toes. I am MISERABLE, can't sleep, can't lay on my back so I toss and turn because I just am so uncomfortable. I am scheduled next week to have the nerves burned on my right side and then scheduled 2 weeks later to have the left side burned. I am praying it works for me and for anyone else considering to have it done. I have no more options. Will let you all know when I am able to share how it goes or went. Thanks again!! Praying you all feel better in whatever you do.

[philnoir]

Right -- nerves grow back -- then you have the procedure again.

[bobbilizbeth]

       I was in a motorcycle wreak n broke 5 ribs and my tail bone in two places. I had intercostal nerve blocks twice ,now they are going to burn the nerve in my back were my back hit the curb . Been on pain meds for two months now and as a recovering addict am worried of dependicy . From what I have read this is also only a temorrary fix.

[philnoir]

Yes, Cigna refused me last year. They had an orthopedist review the prior auth. Of course he refused -- they only recognize surgery as a proper treatment for spondylosis. I wonder if you have the same insurance company?

You have a right to appeal. Do so. They will refuse this too, but hten you can ask for a full medical review -- this means they have to hire and outside medical doctor, and this will cost them more than the procedure so chances are they'll agree.

Find the appeal form on your insurance company's website and take it to the limit -- they have a contract to provide medical care for you, and you've been paying the premiums. Go get them!

[CorndogNerveDamage]

My nerves were damaged during a procedure to reinflate my lung.  After two years of daily pain and a "lets wait and see if it goes away" attitude from various specialists, I visited a pain doctor and after two trial procedures to verify the nerves in question were indeed the cause of pain, I had the nerve burn on T2-4.  For four months after I felt like my old self again!  No pain pills! I was able to be active and work and the pain lines in my face went away.   My family could tell the difference in my personality almost immediately.  The pain is now coming back, and it is so depressing.  I really want the surgery again but my insurance considers it experimental and won't pay for it.  I don't want to live like that again; in daily pain.  I still haven't paid for the last one, but I am already missing days of work due to the returned pain.  It worked for me, and even if only for a few months I remembered who I was before the nerve pain.  I will do it again if I can work some payment out with my doctor.  

[jukebox42]

My pain management doc wants to do the nerve burn on facets at C2, C3, C4. I'm on pain meds and have been for about seven years. I took myself off at one time and had 10 days of hell! The doc put me right back on Hydrocodone because that's all I can take due to stomach ulcer and GERD. I'm really concerned with what I've read about this procedure NOT working. Please tell me about your experience.
Judy

[Webdevii]

Nerve pain  lyrica is excellent for it, depends how severe your pain is, I dont take it any more  I am on the heavy opiates.

I have spinal Stnosis in 5 lumbar joints and S1 I can hardly walk,  all thanks to skydiving as a kid, compression fracture.

Take Care
Dev

[nanernose]

I don't know if you have had surgery or not but if you do have surgery go to a neurosurgeon.  I have had two back surgeries and finally told about the nerve burn after twelve years of pain meds.  I highly recommend having it done just remember the nerves will grow back.  The burn will last six months to a year.  I was in and out of the surgical clinic in about two hours.  What ever you do don't fall into the pain med trap.  You will start with the pain in your neck as the only problem and end up with four or five more problems.  I hate to sound so know it all about the pain meds but you would not believe what I have been through with these meds.  Good luck and I hope I have given you some kind of hope.

[nanernose]

After two back surgeries I stayed on many kinds of pain meds.  The meds had very bad side effects for me after taking them for twelve years.  When I went to pain management I asked them if there was an alternative for pain meds.  They wouldn't talk to me about that for two years.  I did have the nerve burn.  They did four nerves on one side of lower back one week and four nerves on the other side the next week.  I had flew like symptoms for about two weeks and then for the first time in twelve years my pain was almost gone.  I felt like I had died and gone to heaven.  After eight months the pain returned and now I am scheduled for another burn in two weeks.  I would recommend it to anyone with constant back pain.  I would never recommend pain meds ever to anyone unless they are terminal.  If you are at a pain management group and they won't discuss a nerve burn, find you another doctor.  They will want you to come back every month and string you out for as long as they can.  After the nerve burn slowly come off your pain meds with your doctors help.  The procedure was not painful.  You will be put to sleep and when you wake up you will walk out but you will have to have someone drive you.  I had a doctor do my procedure and not a tech.  I personally would not let anyone but a doctor do this.  Good luck and don't think twice about having this done.
                                                                       Ringgold Ga