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Ablation for lower back pain L4-5 S1

Posted by krgquinlan @krgquinlan, Jun 26 9:37pm

I'm scheduled for ablation for my lower back L4-5 S1. I have severe spinal stenosis. I'm in constant pain hurts to stand and put weight on my left leg. My left side is the worst. Just wondering others experience with this procedure. The nerve block to determine the area of pain I just about flew off the table. I'm 75 yrs of age.

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bannisterkl | @bannisterkl | Jul 6 5:27pm
In reply to @krgquinlan "I had my RFA 3 days ago. I thank you for the anesthesia reminder. I asked..." + (show)
@krgquinlan

I had my RFA 3 days ago. I thank you for the anesthesia reminder. I asked them not to start till I was out I kept telling them I'm still awake. I'm feeling pretty good. Hope it works have right side done in 2 weeks. Thank you.

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I'm glad it went well!

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krgquinlan | @krgquinlan | Jul 9 9:23am
In reply to @clippertwo "Can someone please tell me what an ablation is and how it works?" + (show)
@clippertwo

Can someone please tell me what an ablation is and how it works?

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I had my RFA ablation 7 days ago. They use radio frequency and heat to cauterize the area your pain is coming from. I wasn't completely out. But I did have enough anesthesia that I do not remember the procedure. I was versed and fentanyl. My doctor was super and made sure I was under enough before he started. I have the other side done in a week.

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1 reply
melby6069 | @melby6069 | Jul 9 9:25pm

I just want this pain pump out of me!! I've only had it about 3 1/2 weeks and it has been a nightmare. It is pinching a nerve somewhere, and my lower back hurts now. I have a serious pain in my hip and leg on the side the pump is on when I bend over and stand back up. The pump itself is placed under the skin on my left side near the area of my kidney on my left side. I know my doctor doesn't want to, but I want it out of me!! I want to be the one in control of my body!

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2 replies
Phil, Alumni Mentor | @upstatephil | Jul 10 6:39am
In reply to @melby6069 "I just want this pain pump out of me!! I've only had it about 3 1/2..." + (show)
@melby6069

I just want this pain pump out of me!! I've only had it about 3 1/2 weeks and it has been a nightmare. It is pinching a nerve somewhere, and my lower back hurts now. I have a serious pain in my hip and leg on the side the pump is on when I bend over and stand back up. The pump itself is placed under the skin on my left side near the area of my kidney on my left side. I know my doctor doesn't want to, but I want it out of me!! I want to be the one in control of my body!

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@melby6069 - Unfortunately, frustration is a part of spinal pain management. You will do well to manage your frustration as you periodically will lose full control over your own body. The feeling is, "Why can't I just be the way I used to be?" 100% understandable feeling.

Sorry you're having this challenging experience. Keep a positive attitude and keep focusing on positive outcomes.

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ichbindck | @ichbindck | Jul 10 2:05pm

I am 81 yo male with spinal Stenosis. Had epidural and ablation. Both helped but only for about 2 weeks. Have tried every non opioid pain killer known and they help but side effects a real problem. Even tried CBD but no help. I use Gabapentin 300mg at night and helps but can't take during days since it makes me very dizzy

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ichbindck | @ichbindck | Jul 10 2:17pm
In reply to @megc "I had my lumbar ablation yesterday and as soon as the IV medication wore off, I..." + (show)
@megc

I had my lumbar ablation yesterday and as soon as the IV medication wore off, I was in excruciating pain. it was so intense. All I could do was walk back-and-forth in my house. I could not find a comfortable position whatsoever. I had a few pills of Dilaudid left from my lumbar fusion surgery and took one of those, and it offered me enough relief that it took the edge off the pain and I could get comfortable and keep water and food down.
Today, my back is still very sore, numb, I’m still having a lot of pain and am limited in the ways that I can move (bending, stretching, turning etc) even more so than before the ablation.
My doctor told me to expect to feel this way over the next few weeks. He also said it would take 5 to 6 weeks to feel any pain relief from the ablation.
Did you experience what I went through post ablation? How long did that last, and how long did it take for you to feel any pain relief from the ablation?

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I felt relief within hours but only lasted a week. The branciall nerves grow back so this is not a long lasting solution

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Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Jul 10 2:53pm
In reply to @tdstaley "I had ablation performed in 2022…L4/5 area. This was the last treatment prior to fusion in..." + (show)
@tdstaley

I had ablation performed in 2022…L4/5 area. This was the last treatment prior to fusion in June 2023. The ablation lasted nearly 8 mos. It was heaven! Unfortunately, when it wore off…it was significantly worse than pre treatment. Had corticosteroids, stem cells, Prolotherapy, PT, ablation and fusion. I still have some pain, but it’s better. I think you will be amazed, but know it doesn’t last forever.

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@tdstaley Welcome to Connect and thank you for sharing valuable experience. How has your recovery been since your lumbar spinal fusion?

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Moderator
Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | Jul 10 2:54pm
In reply to @megc "I’m having a lumbar ablation today and was wondering if those who have had one can..." + (show)
@megc

I’m having a lumbar ablation today and was wondering if those who have had one can let me know if the recovery is painful, and how long does the recovery take?
Thank you!

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Hello @megc, I moved your discussion and combined it with an existing discussion titled, "Ablation for lower back pain L4-5 S1" - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ablation-for-lower-back-pain-l4-5-s1/, so that you could meet the many members discussing lumbar ablation.

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clippertwo | @clippertwo | Jul 10 10:46pm
In reply to @krgquinlan "I had my RFA ablation 7 days ago. They use radio frequency and heat to cauterize..." + (show)
@krgquinlan

I had my RFA ablation 7 days ago. They use radio frequency and heat to cauterize the area your pain is coming from. I wasn't completely out. But I did have enough anesthesia that I do not remember the procedure. I was versed and fentanyl. My doctor was super and made sure I was under enough before he started. I have the other side done in a week.

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Good Luck with your next procedure ! Thank you for answering my question ! I have had 2 back surgeries . One was on L 4&5 and the other was done on L5&6! The last time I saw my surgeon was about 8-9 months ago! He said that he could not do any thing for me at that time! My last back surgery was over 10 years ago ! Any more I cannot walk hardly any more than 25 - 30 feet without my left back , hip , and leg hurting like Heck ! I had never heard of an ablation being done on the spine before!

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udougy | @udougy | Jul 11 7:17am
In reply to @melby6069 "I just want this pain pump out of me!! I've only had it about 3 1/2..." + (show)
@melby6069

I just want this pain pump out of me!! I've only had it about 3 1/2 weeks and it has been a nightmare. It is pinching a nerve somewhere, and my lower back hurts now. I have a serious pain in my hip and leg on the side the pump is on when I bend over and stand back up. The pump itself is placed under the skin on my left side near the area of my kidney on my left side. I know my doctor doesn't want to, but I want it out of me!! I want to be the one in control of my body!

Jump to this post

We can go to the moon, artificial intelligence anything, replace livers, hearts, kidneys, why can't they be more precise on the spine? More R&D and get some engineers involved. I've been telling all doctors this for years. I say, "give this problem to an engineer and he/she will have an answer in a month, medical just have to make it work". I received an injection five months ago and it relieved my pain from spinal stenosis, back again, and I will go for another. A bandaid at best. I feel your pain, keep pressing, get another opinion, hound them! I will not have an operation/procedure until i feel know they are 98% successful.

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