Ablation in the back

@ramona51 I am having a radio frequency ablation of my right knee on 11/20, for the same reasons. Yes, have gone through cortisone shots, plus various topical applications of different types of creams and lotions. It is the same for me, severe arthritis, and I am not a good surgery candidate for anything. They have previously done a genicular nerve block to see if there was relief, before submitting the paperwork to insurance for approval.

Good luck on your procedure! I will be anxious to hear how it all goes for you!
Ginger

Hello ramona51,
I am a 70 yr old man with osteoarthritis on my lower spine. It causes very disabling chronic pain. I can only walk briefly, once or twice a week, with a walking stick. Even so, the walks are robbed of any pleasure as it hurts all the time.

I was introduced to ablation two years ago, and have arrived at the frustrating point where I want to quit, but my doctor is adamant that I must continue on - he won't take "no" for an answer.

Admittedly, in my case, ablation worked like a miracle the first few months: total relief for about three-four months. Then I would need another round. The docs said that was within low-normal range. of positive results.

However as two years went on the periods of relief got shorter and shorter until my last treatment ( Sept /24) gave me _one single day_of relief!

I don't understand why the doctor insists that I continue with it. Perhaps it's just for the money? I figure two years is enough time spent to indicate that I am probably a patient in the documented 20% for whom it doesn't work.

But, hey, you might be in the 80% who get miraculous, permanent relief! So I think uou should definitely try it.

I'm in Canada, where healthcare is free, so I have no idea about the cost of treatment. I hope wherever you are that you enjoy the same or similar economy in healthcare.

The procedure itself is done with just local anaesthia, and it is quite painless. It leaves no scar. You likely won't even be asked to wear one of those dreadful hospital gowns. The doctor will want you to wear a stretchy bottom, as he may need to get down low on your back.

Oh, I pray that you try ablation out and get a miracle cure from your pain. I have heard from other pain sufferers in my circle of friends and acquaintances who pour blessings on my head for having told them about ablation.
I'm a bit grumpy, though, that I have had no lasting positive outcome for myself! Oh well, I am happy for the others.
Good luck! Vaya con diós.
WT

I have had it done for years. It works great.

I am so sorry for the pain with which you are living. I appreciate your honesty about your experience with ablation. While unfortunately not particularly successful for you, you remain optimistic about the procedure due to the experiences of your friends. I’m currently in the process of discovering how expensive it is even after insurance coverage. As I get the final figures, I will have to decide what I will do going forward. I am blessed to still be able to walk without a cane. But I must admit that before my Cortizone shots, I frequently found the pain to be prohibitive at times. I have a dog that keeps me motivated to keep walking through the pain. At this point, I’m leaning towards trying it at least once to see how much relief I get. Thank you again for your candor. I wish you comfort and pain-free walking.

Thank you Ginger! I hope it goes well for both of us. I’m an avid walker and really don’t want to have my arthritis take that away from me and my dog. I’m already dealing with nerve damage on the other side of my back from shingles! Yikes…the joys of aging. Blessings to you.

I didn’t know it can be done multiple times. Why, if they’ve burnt out the nerves? Confused.

From what I understand, the nerves regenerate and the pain could then return. It’s definitely not a permanent solution.

I have started the ablation process six months ago, but had to stop due to a blood clot in my lung. I’m looking forward to completing the process in January and hoping for a good outcome. I have had to give up all of the positive things in my life that I enjoyed immensely, walking, playing golf, strength training, even housecleaning! I am an active person stuck in an aging body that cannot move very well. I can’t wait to get rid of this pain.

Has anyone had Trigger point injections for thoracic back pain when epidural steroid injections and radio frequency ablations no longer work to relieve pain? I have had laminectomy and fusions from C3 to T1 and from T8 through the pelvis. The remaining unoperated on thoracic vertebrae (T2-T7) have become severely painful with no medication or procedure relieving the pain. I am very concerned that this isn't the appropriate treatment for the condition. I have DDD, RA and OA, some spinal stenosis and neural foraminal stenosis, facet arthrosis, anterolisthesis, Modic Type 1 disc degeneration at various levels over the last 5 years on MRIs and CT Scans. If anyone has experienced Trigger Point injections in any part of the spine, what was the procedure like, was it painful and was it beneficial?

yes it can. And there are different types. Heat vs. pulse. Try them both. The pulse does not work for me. Regarding "burnt-out nerves" -- they can regenerate sometimes. I've done Ablation for 25 years. It is AWESOME. Sometimes it has to be done twice to really get it. One time it lasted 15 years. That's a great run for pain-free! But when it stopped working entirely it meant that the issue was driven from my discs falling out and squishing the nerve roots not the stenosis at the facet joints any longer.