3 weeks post rhizotomy - is there still hope?

[beka]

Hi Mark

In my case there was no steroid used, I'm sure of that because I asked. Just local at the time of ablation.

I've heard that some people get relief either instantly or within a few days of the RFA. I know in at least one of those cases steroid is used and I wonder if that is the reason -- it's actually the steroid giving the relief while the ablation takes its course.

Only one set of facets (L3) showed as hypertrophic on scans. But then I've read quite a bit that scans aren't reliable for detecting symptomatic facets and hence the other diagnostics?

Now at 23 days some of the 'worse' pain is abating, but no significant relief yet. Don't know what to make of it but the waiting can really mess with you.

Wonderful that you've managed relief with the shots.

[beka]

I'm going to try this again because there's just not that much discussion on rhizotomy around the place and I've noticed that there has been a bit here in the past.

I am getting pretty concerned now. I am at 4.5 weeks and am still hurting as much as I was 2 weeks out. My skin feels sunburned (looks normal, and feels normal to the touch) and I'm needing extra meds. I feel no relief whatsoever, only more pain.

I know I need to wait 6 weeks to judge, but I just really don't know what to expect in the meantime.

My dr has been hopeless in preparing me for this and i won't have contact with him again till March 17.

I guess my worry now, more than whether or not this can still be a success is whether this procedure can cause long term or permanent worsening of pain. Has anyone heard that? My doctor told me the effects were 'reversible', making me feel, well, why wouldn't I try it? He does a ton of these procedures, but as for what his sucess rate is, I have no clue.

Anybody?

Thanks

[mmglobal]

Beka, I'm sorry that you are having such a rough time.

Are you certain that the sunburned feeling is related to the ablation? Could there be some other issue that is ramping up nerve pain? My guess is that you'll be stuck waiting it out. If you are worse after the ablation, you'll be asking your doc about the potential effects of partial ablation.

Please remember that while I've experienced a remarkable recovery, my first injections were in September. After that I was a 100% shut in. More injections in November.... still a shut in. I started to improve at the very tail end of December. Another set of injections in Jan... then in February, remarkable improvement.

We'll never know if it was due to injections or time or both.

Wishing you all the best...

Mark

[ans]

I wish you well Beka. I will get rhizotomies sometime for my facets and S-I joint.

Hoping this "kicks in" and that you get the relief you need; you've suffered enough to earn it!

My best, Allan

[Chris G]

Mark-

At what levels did you have your injections?

[mmglobal]

Chris... first set was T2-8. 2nd and 3rd set were T6-7-8. All are false positive for facet pain, I believe now.

[mmglobal]

beka, any progress?