Rhizotomy stories... good, bad, indifferent?

[Cheryl]

Mark-

Sorry to hear how bad you are.

I had rhizotomy over a year ago. NO relief. My neck pain was awful for about 2 weeks following procedure.

I didn't think it would help me either but felt that I had to go through it as it was as much diagnostic as for pain relief.

I hope you feel better.

[mmglobal]

Thanks everyone, for the replies. I look forward to reading more about the recent rhizotomy experiences. Mine was scheduled for Wednesday (a couple of days ago). I had scheduled it, because the November injection was so positive but I was still so bad. I wanted to jump straight to the rhizotomy. Over these last couple of weeks I continued to improve. I sent my Dr. a fax. I was equivocating on more injections vs. the rhizotomy. The phone call from him was quite funny. I was trying to get him to tell me what I should do. He kept on saying that he would do whatever I wanted.

I decided that we can always a plate tissue later. We can't go in the other direction. I canceled the rhizotomy and had another round of facet injections on Monday (four days ago). While I'm still not great, I am improving. My level of functionality is also improving. I still experience substantial pain, but that is because I'm doing so much more. I'm still taking 60 mg a day of oxy. I'm very tempted to start cutting back and actually have been a little bit, but I think I should enjoy the success and let things settle down before I do any serious reduction in my meds.

I'll update my T-spine thread separately. I think it all still get to the rhizotomy but at least I'll be sure when I do. I hate to drag this out, but we can always ablate tissue later.

All the best,

Mark

[ans]

(I mean *Facet Rhiztomy*)..

Dr. Leticia Lau at Cedars told me that she knows a method of giving an S-I rhizotomy that doesn't incorporate 7 needles and has a strong success rate. I believe her: she diagnosed my facet problems and despite knowing that I have a blown S-I disc, she speculated that if I have facet issues, a rhizotomy could get rid of all my pain. The Cedars Pain Group may all be so great technically but they are fervently anti any "narcotics", including Vicodin it seems due to fears of "opiate hyperalgesia".

Well, I did have facet injections from L2-S-1 and wish I was fried six times or so! I had a few days of (pardon the shout) of ZERO back pain. It was like how I used to be before 8 years. I was utterly mindblown and reflected on the deadening psychological state I lived in combating pain with meds, etc.

My response now is not full but I am able to 1/2 my morphine dose and will do everything to taper more.

I do not know how many facet injections they can give/year. If anyone knows, please lemme know. I want him to go in there and fry those nerves.

I have one article I think from Medscape that says ~ 50-60% of back pain is from the facets. Why this happens mechanically, I do not know why. I will try to hunt the article again.

Cheers...

[steve55]

You and me both Mark. I thought I was in the clear after 4 months of completely pain free living. But Im back to enjoying nerve pain again over the past 2 months, seems to now be at T1 -T3 (they are all tender) and so bad that its causing me nausea. Its getting worse as time goes on. Back to pain pills again. Just great. Well, at least I had 4 months of pain free living. Just goes to show that whether its fusion or ADR, we just cant win now can we? Sorry to hear about your problems again. Thanks for the update as I have been wondering how things were going for you.

[ans]

Do you or anyone know how many rhizotomies/year can be performed for the same lumbar (or thoracic level) per year?

It makes sense that they must go from a different angle to avoid the scar tissue from the "darning needle" used to go do deep into the spine. Amazing technology.

We know the best spinal surgeons in our cities but interventionists who conduct rhizotomies? Here, I'm in the dark. I suspect that Cedars' Pain Center is hot but their idea of pain mgt. in terms of meds is Baclofen and NSAIDS.

How can we find interventionists who will burn each nerve six times vs. one? ("Sure kid, I'll get ya six times" and only do one - my luck). These procedure areas are kinda like factories imo.