Ablation recommended for back issues: Anyone else?

Posted by ramona51 @ramona51, Nov 2 12:46pm

Ablation is being recommended due to severe arthritis in my back and my nerves being pinched. I have tried Cortizone with some relief but it is short-lived. Has anyone had ablation done for this reason? Has it been successful and would you recommend? Thank you.

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Well, I’m just really amazed to meet people that are in similar situations to my own with all these surgeries! I have been very pleased with my hip replacements, my lumbar makeover at L3, L4, L5, and less happy with my cervical spine surgery, which was a failure because my bones were too soft and I had to have a second one where they stuck a rod From C3 to T2. I am still recovering from that one after a year and a half, but part of the problem is that I am very round shoulder and the rod is very straight so the doctor said it’ll take a couple years for my back to get in gear. Meanwhile, my thoracic spine is a mess. Not sure what kind of pain it causes and I am having major problems with either neuropathy/radiculopothy down my left leg. It might be due to a dysfunctional piriformis pressing on my sciatic nerve. Who the “you-know-what” knows! I’m very careful with steroid injections. trigger points are not harmful if they don’t put anti-inflammatory or corticosteroids in the mix so I do those periodically. My every day pain comes from coccydynia which has no resolution according to my medical team. This is all been going on for about 30 years and I’m 67. I think a really important thing is to have the best spine surgeon money can buy And health insurance will cover. I didn’t do the spinal cord stimulator either because I’ve read about the failures I figured if my tens unit isn’t going to do the trick then that’s an indicator. I’ve been on low-dose Percocet for 25 years and that keeps me sane and out of pain, allowing me to work and stay productive. I am so sorry of everyone’s misery here but I have to be really honest and tell you that I’m grateful that I can read other people have similar situations to my own! The most horrible thing for me is looking into the outside world like a normal person, especially to my cousins who I see on occasion and they absolutely do not understand what’s going on inside my body. It makes me feel like such an outsider! I’m happy to finally find others who are like myself in that important way!

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@loriesco

Well, I’m just really amazed to meet people that are in similar situations to my own with all these surgeries! I have been very pleased with my hip replacements, my lumbar makeover at L3, L4, L5, and less happy with my cervical spine surgery, which was a failure because my bones were too soft and I had to have a second one where they stuck a rod From C3 to T2. I am still recovering from that one after a year and a half, but part of the problem is that I am very round shoulder and the rod is very straight so the doctor said it’ll take a couple years for my back to get in gear. Meanwhile, my thoracic spine is a mess. Not sure what kind of pain it causes and I am having major problems with either neuropathy/radiculopothy down my left leg. It might be due to a dysfunctional piriformis pressing on my sciatic nerve. Who the “you-know-what” knows! I’m very careful with steroid injections. trigger points are not harmful if they don’t put anti-inflammatory or corticosteroids in the mix so I do those periodically. My every day pain comes from coccydynia which has no resolution according to my medical team. This is all been going on for about 30 years and I’m 67. I think a really important thing is to have the best spine surgeon money can buy And health insurance will cover. I didn’t do the spinal cord stimulator either because I’ve read about the failures I figured if my tens unit isn’t going to do the trick then that’s an indicator. I’ve been on low-dose Percocet for 25 years and that keeps me sane and out of pain, allowing me to work and stay productive. I am so sorry of everyone’s misery here but I have to be really honest and tell you that I’m grateful that I can read other people have similar situations to my own! The most horrible thing for me is looking into the outside world like a normal person, especially to my cousins who I see on occasion and they absolutely do not understand what’s going on inside my body. It makes me feel like such an outsider! I’m happy to finally find others who are like myself in that important way!

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Trust me..you are not alone. As I read comments from other people about their back issues, I’m truly amazed at how knowledgeable people are! As for myself, I only know I have severe arthritis in my spine. I hurt when I walk and that makes me sad cuz I love walking my dog! I’m trying as many homeopathic remedies as possible and will pray I get some relief. I wish you well on your journey and pray you find the relief from your pain.

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After a bad fall I developed a compression fracture. I chose to have a vertebroplasty . This is when they injected cement into the compression fracture in the affected vertebrae. I am free from pain but at times I am aware of the injected area. I then chose to have an ablation in other areas of my spine. I have arthritis in my lower spine. That has given me some much needed comfort. I can have this done once a year and if the nerves grow back and pain returns I will have it done again. I am 78 and do not expect my aging body to be pain free. I’m very active again.
I do have the infusion on a yearly basis to strengthen my bones. For me I do not have any other choice. Good luck to every suffering with back issues. I hope this has helped.
Mary Jean Dennis

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@ksdm

I've had a muscle spasm in one spot on the thoracic area of my back on and off for 25 years; maybe it happens twice a year, although the last time, it lasted for 4 months! This means sitting with a heating pad, taking pills, and going nowhere or doing nothing. I am begging for relief, and someone mentioned Botox, and someone else mentioned ablation. Has anyone had any experience with either and could tell me what either one would be like to have done? Thanks much!

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I have had Botox and ablation. Botox last about three months. The ablation last me two years. I have problems with my right and left si joint

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I had this procedure done and I wouldn’t again. It helped only Little with pain and now 6 months after it’s back in full force but I know everyone is different.

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