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Pain Clinic & lower back injections

Helllo, I am a newbie here...those of you with severe lower back pain, I have an important question about Pain Clinics & injections....has it worked for anyone? I went for my initial appt. consult & they recommended the injections for me....2 trials shots...the 3rd being a complete dosage injection. They may be calling me back today to set up the injections....sure hope someone has some experience to share with me........thanks.
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Sherry....
Thank you so much for all your info on RFA. The PM clinic called back and I have a consult this tuesday, so hopefully the DR. will start out with the RFA. And yes, they do also offer medications. So sorry I havent gotten back to you, the reason  is, the cymbalta has seemed to help me mentally and I have been doing allot of catching up with things and people that I have not had the entergy to take on in a long time.....so that part is positive!!! But whatever the PM DR. sets me up with, injection wise....I will do it, cuz maybe it will work!! See.......your good thoughts reached me...thanks again, Sherry!!
          
Cindy
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Avatar universal
Hi Cindy,

I'd be happy to tell you about the RFA.

The RFA is the "nerve burning" that you were told about.  As far as I'm concerned it's the very best as it will has the capability of lasting anywhere from 9 months up to 18 months. I've heard of some people having up to 24 months of relief from it.  It's been an absolute "God-send" for me!!  It literally took all of my Lumbar Pain away.  I still have pain from the bulging discs in my Thoracic and Cervical areas but that horrific Lumbar and leg pain is finally gone!!!  :)

I hope that you are able to find a way to be able to do this as I'm hoping that you would have the same relief that I have had.  You must remember that there are "no guarantees" with any of these procedures but if you are a candidate for these then they could definitely be the answers that you have been looking for!!

I'd like to ask you some more questions if it's alright.  Does your Pain Clinic also offer Pain Medication or just the Epidurals and RFA's and procedures?  Unfortunately, some PM Clinics are like that and don't offer any type of Medications.  If that is what this PM Clinic does then you need to keep looking until you find a PM Clinic that will offer you more than just the procedures.  Mine offers everything and it makes it much nicer so that you have relief if you don't want to continue with the procedures.  

It's so difficult when your Insurance won't cover the procedures!!  Have you tried to see if you can get your Insurance Company to cover these procedures?  Sometimes they will make an exception and cover them for you.  It's worth a try to see if you can get them to do it.

I can't believe that your Doctor just stopped giving you the prescriptions without weaning you off of them!!!  That just doesn't make any sense unless she just doesn't want to have to mess with the DEA anymore.  More than likely, that's what has happened here. The DEA has made it almost impossible for the PCP or Family Doctor to be able to help any patient's that suffer from CP anymore.  I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. You weren't on a high dosage at all!!  Taking 2 Norco 10/325's a day isn't considered to be a high dosage.  Most people would at be taking 3 or maybe even 4 a day.  

Sending you "Good Thoughts" and I'll be looking for your updates.......Sherry  :)
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Avatar universal
Sherry...
  Thanks for the advise....I think it was the epidural that they said they would start me with...then if that didn't work...try killing the nerve...can't remember what exactly it's called. My main problem is financial...each injection is 1,500.00 and you receive 3...2 trials and the 3rd is supposed to be full dose. So....that is 4,500.00 to try....and may not last that long or even work....wow! Could you explain How RFA is done? I am going to ask the pain clinic if it is an option?

Thanks so much............Cindy
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Avatar universal
Hi windancer54,

First I want to Welcome you to the PM (Pain Management) Forum and let you know that we're very happy that you have found us here!!  We are all CP (Chronic Pain) Patients that share our different experiences with each other.  As it states in the "Welcome Message" their are no Doctors or other Medical Professionals on this Forum.

As far as the different injections are concerned, it just depends on the person and how your body will react to the injections.  I've had the epidurals and the RFA's (Radio Frequency Ablation).  The epidurals lasted for a few weeks with me, not as long as I had hoped.  That being said, the RFA was a complete success!!  My RFA has lasted for over 15 months so far!!  I had it on both the left and right side of the Lumbar region and had the left side re-done at the 12 month point when I thought we would be moving and I wanted to be sure that my Doctor was the one to perform it even though I didn't really need it at that point.  So I figure I'm good for at least another year if not longer.  :)  Even thought the epidurals didn't last as long as I'd hoped, I'm very glad that I at least tried them or I'd have always wondered whether or not they would have helped me.

One thing that you must remember about PM (Pain Management) is that most expect you to be open to trying different things that will ease your pain. It would be well worth your while to at least try the injections one time to see if you are able to get any kind of relief from them.  Many people do get relief and swear by them. :)  Also, keep in mind that many PM Clinics expect their patients to at least try the injections, some require them to try them.  You need to be sure what the requirements are at your PM Clinic.

I hope that you will let us know what you decide to do and if you decide to try them, that you will let us know how they worked for you.

Best of luck to you!!  We'll be looking for your updates...........Sherry  ;)
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Avatar universal
Thank you so much for your quick reply! I have been reading alot of posts & should explain why I am here. I fractured L-1 thru L-4 transverse processes on the left side, on 9-30-08...came off my horse & landed on a log....a truly life changing moment for me!! I have been in constant pain ever since, CT scan also showed DDD. I started on Vicodin 5/500 x2 a day in 08, have increased to x4-5 a day over the last yr. and 4 mo. ago my regular MD (who has been managing my pain) put me on Norco 10/325 x 2 daily. I have pain even on the meds...they have never seemed to control it completely. Last week she denied a refill....I did not run out early...RN stated she is no longer taking care of CP patients and refered me to the pain clinic. I had gone to the pain clinic for a consult in Dec. last year, but it was so expensive for the injections and not a given if they will help, as you stated, that I just opted to hang in there with the pain meds, even though they were not helping completely. I had little options so I called the pain clinic to set up a trial injection...as yet...they have not called back. I also made an appt. at a spinal clinic with a neurosurgeon....not even sure if this is where I need to go....I feel like my MD just left me without calling me to discuss any options. I even had a discussion with her 4 mo. ago about becoming dependent on the pain meds and what were my options....that is when she increased me to norco10/325. I also called her for a RX for Cymbolta today after researching something for pain......have you or anyone reading this post tried it for pain?

Thank you for your help...I am so glad I have found MH and a support group!

Cindy
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Avatar universal
i have had a cortasone injection in my spine  because of prolapsed disks trapping the muscle  tight it worked for me and i was pain free for  8 years
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Avatar universal
Hello, and welcome to the forum.

Everyone is different, and you will hear many people say they didn't work at all, and many people say they worked great. Everyone really is different. My personal experience is that they work for about 2 weeks, 12 days to be exact, even though the doctor says I should have  relief for two months, it has never been longer than two weeks for me.

The way I see it, if you are in so much pain it is changing your life anything is worth a try, including these injections. And in case you are wondering it was not painful at all, sometimes you might feel a little pinch, but for me it was no different than the pinch you feel in the arm when you have to give a blood sample, but usually I didn't feel it all.
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