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Chronic Pain | Last Active: Oct 31, 2025 | Replies (141)
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a nerve block is an epidural which is not an RFA (radio frequency Ablatia). The epidural is an injection to give pain relief from inflammation or it is diagnostic to determine if that is the area your pain comes from. If you are relieved of your pain then they will schedule the RFA.
I had an epidural when I was delivering my son, I agree it was horrid!!! but I've had them again later for a variety of pain relief in my spine. Not bad at all! I think you should talk to them.
One time I had an RFA and it was super painful so they use twilight sleep but I have to find a driver. Maybe the nerves are "knocked out" now so I have no difficulty at the injection site. Good luck!
Replies to "a nerve block is an epidural which is not an RFA (radio frequency Ablatia). The epidural..."
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When I had a nerve block it was not an epidural. The doctor put 6 needles in my back to determine area of pain. The first two were painful he said they were the most tender. The other 4 were fine. I did have an epidural prior to this to see if it would relieve my pain and it did not. Then that was the need for the nerve block. I am 3 days out from my RFA and I'm feeling the site they went into my back. So far so good. I go for my right side in 2 weeks. Hopefully I will be done.