Radiofrequency Ablation for Nerve Pain

[Stephen]

Hello,

I have a somewhat unique situation in that my pain is is my coccyx. Typically people with coccyx pain aggravate it when sitting, and get relief when standing. With me, standing, walking and sitting ALL cause pain. I went to see the neurosurgeon, Dr. Aaron Filler, who ordered MR Neurography. From that he saw an abnormaliity in the pudendal nerve. He ended up referring me to another neurologist who does EMG guided nerve blocks for further diagnosis. The results of the pudendal block were mixed. Last week, he tried a block of the sacrococcygeal nerve. The injection elicited a tremendous pain response, which he said indicated we had targeted a significant pain generator. Based upon this, he is recommending a procedure he does in which he uses radiofrequency ablation on the nerve which he says can provide 6 months or more of pain relief. I am familiar with RF ablation used to target discogenic pain in procedures like IDET, Nucleoplasty and Thermal Annuloplasty; and I know results are mixed and pain relief is usually temporary. So 6 months relief sounds like a pretty straightforward and realistic prognosis he's giving me; but I just don't know anything about the use of RF ablation on specific nerves, vis-a-vis for discogenic pain. The doctor says there is virtually no downside or significant risk to the procedure; but I'd like to confirm that elsewhere. I would really appreciate any information on this anyone might have that might help.

Stephen