1. < Spine Health

Facet ablation

Posted by andilynn @andilynn, Dec 12, 2016

I'm wondering if anyone has had ablation in the lumbar region. I have a bone on bone situation at L5. It seems that everything that's attempted such as injections or physical therapy just makes me have more pain. My neurologist said I'm not a surgical case and this ablation may help. He gave me Voltarin to apply three times/day to try. It doesn't seem to do anything. I have pain all around the sacrum especially in the early hours of the morning. Lately I've had more symptoms in the daytime too. This is only since I had a couple injections in the lower back. Anyone else out there with this issue?

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LynetteGable | @lynettegable | Dec 12, 2016

I have had ablations done on L4 L5 S1 at Mayo clinic and they have really helped. It takes about 2 weeks for me to have relief and i repeat them about every 6 months. My nerves grow back faster but they tell me it is different for everyone. I would highly recommend doing it!

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4 replies
Moderator
Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | Dec 12, 2016

Thank you @lynettegable for jumping in so quickly and offering your insight to @andilynn.

I would also like to invite @ladyjane85, @medic7054, and @shellsk24 who all discussed having a facet ablation and various degrees of success in the reduction of pain as a result.

@andilynn, did your provider discuss with you how long he or she thought the injections would take to work? You mentioned that your neurologist said you are not a candidate for surgery, does that mean you have not had an ablation? Are you wondering what other members have experienced so that you can make a better decisions to pursue an ablation?

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3 replies
andilynn | @andilynn | Dec 12, 2016

Thank you for your reply Justin. So far, I've only discussed this with my neurologist. I had an MRI that showed the problem. My dr. gave me shots in the lower back that didn't help and in fact, caused more pain. He's referring me to someone else to determine if ablation will help. I've read about it and it concerns me that I may be worse. I know what I'm dealing with currently, fear of the unknown is what I'm worried about. My neuro doesn't think this is a surgical case fortunately.

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andilynn | @andilynn | Dec 12, 2016
In reply to @lynettegable "I have had ablations done on L4 L5 S1 at Mayo clinic and they have really..." + (show)
@lynettegable

I have had ablations done on L4 L5 S1 at Mayo clinic and they have really helped. It takes about 2 weeks for me to have relief and i repeat them about every 6 months. My nerves grow back faster but they tell me it is different for everyone. I would highly recommend doing it!

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Thank you for your reply and recommendation Lynette. I am so grateful to hear from someone who has a positive spin on the procedure.

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Martin Jensen, Volunteer Mentor | @predictable | Dec 12, 2016

@andilynn, I'm not responding to your main problem as you reported it, but to your mention of pain around your sacrum. Perhaps my experience with that problem can be helpful to you. Check it out at https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/partner-with-undiagnosed-back-pain/ under my name near the top of that discussion.

What you'll find is that, for several months, I could find no physician or medical professional who knew how to address my problem. They followed the play-book for lower back problems, offering physical therapy, pain injections, and surgery -- none of which were applicable. Apparently American medicine is not widely aware of inflammation of the sacroiliac joint(s), which turned out to be my problem. Thanks to my primary care physician (who is smarter than the average PCP) my problem was identified, then confirmed when anti-inflammatory injections into the joint(s) ended the pain three years ago. Read my report, then consider whether to ask your medical team about this possibility.

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6 replies
andilynn | @andilynn | Dec 12, 2016
In reply to @predictable "@andilynn, I'm not responding to your main problem as you reported it, but to your mention..." + (show)
@predictable

@andilynn, I'm not responding to your main problem as you reported it, but to your mention of pain around your sacrum. Perhaps my experience with that problem can be helpful to you. Check it out at https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/partner-with-undiagnosed-back-pain/ under my name near the top of that discussion.

What you'll find is that, for several months, I could find no physician or medical professional who knew how to address my problem. They followed the play-book for lower back problems, offering physical therapy, pain injections, and surgery -- none of which were applicable. Apparently American medicine is not widely aware of inflammation of the sacroiliac joint(s), which turned out to be my problem. Thanks to my primary care physician (who is smarter than the average PCP) my problem was identified, then confirmed when anti-inflammatory injections into the joint(s) ended the pain three years ago. Read my report, then consider whether to ask your medical team about this possibility.

Jump to this post

Thank you for your information Predictable. I'm glad you found someone sharp who was able to diagnose and help you. My facet joint problem is evident on my past two MRIs...worse now than two years ago. I hope to find help with my issue soon.

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kayelle | @kayelle | Dec 12, 2016
In reply to @JustinMcClanahan "Thank you @lynettegable for jumping in so quickly and offering your insight to @andilynn. I would..." + (show)
@JustinMcClanahan

Thank you @lynettegable for jumping in so quickly and offering your insight to @andilynn.

I would also like to invite @ladyjane85, @medic7054, and @shellsk24 who all discussed having a facet ablation and various degrees of success in the reduction of pain as a result.

@andilynn, did your provider discuss with you how long he or she thought the injections would take to work? You mentioned that your neurologist said you are not a candidate for surgery, does that mean you have not had an ablation? Are you wondering what other members have experienced so that you can make a better decisions to pursue an ablation?

Jump to this post

Yes please, I am in a similar boat, not sure ablation is for me, I know I have facet joint pain as we did the diagnostic injection with anestethic, (i can not have steroid as I have Osteoporosis)….also i have been prescribed Lyrica, which helps me a lot to get through a night of less pain at least.

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1 reply
andilynn | @andilynn | Dec 13, 2016
In reply to @JustinMcClanahan "Thank you @lynettegable for jumping in so quickly and offering your insight to @andilynn. I would..." + (show)
@JustinMcClanahan

Thank you @lynettegable for jumping in so quickly and offering your insight to @andilynn.

I would also like to invite @ladyjane85, @medic7054, and @shellsk24 who all discussed having a facet ablation and various degrees of success in the reduction of pain as a result.

@andilynn, did your provider discuss with you how long he or she thought the injections would take to work? You mentioned that your neurologist said you are not a candidate for surgery, does that mean you have not had an ablation? Are you wondering what other members have experienced so that you can make a better decisions to pursue an ablation?

Jump to this post

Kayelle, I was given steroids three times in the past few months and it helped for a few days at best. I take Lyrica twice a day for peripheral neuropathy. I'm glad your finding some relief with it. Let's keep in touch if we learn any more about our back problem.

REPLY
andilynn | @andilynn | Dec 13, 2016
In reply to @predictable "@andilynn, I'm not responding to your main problem as you reported it, but to your mention..." + (show)
@predictable

@andilynn, I'm not responding to your main problem as you reported it, but to your mention of pain around your sacrum. Perhaps my experience with that problem can be helpful to you. Check it out at https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/partner-with-undiagnosed-back-pain/ under my name near the top of that discussion.

What you'll find is that, for several months, I could find no physician or medical professional who knew how to address my problem. They followed the play-book for lower back problems, offering physical therapy, pain injections, and surgery -- none of which were applicable. Apparently American medicine is not widely aware of inflammation of the sacroiliac joint(s), which turned out to be my problem. Thanks to my primary care physician (who is smarter than the average PCP) my problem was identified, then confirmed when anti-inflammatory injections into the joint(s) ended the pain three years ago. Read my report, then consider whether to ask your medical team about this possibility.

Jump to this post

Predictable, May I ask what your symptoms were?

REPLY
Martin Jensen, Volunteer Mentor | @predictable | Dec 13, 2016
In reply to @predictable "@andilynn, I'm not responding to your main problem as you reported it, but to your mention..." + (show)
@predictable

@andilynn, I'm not responding to your main problem as you reported it, but to your mention of pain around your sacrum. Perhaps my experience with that problem can be helpful to you. Check it out at https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/partner-with-undiagnosed-back-pain/ under my name near the top of that discussion.

What you'll find is that, for several months, I could find no physician or medical professional who knew how to address my problem. They followed the play-book for lower back problems, offering physical therapy, pain injections, and surgery -- none of which were applicable. Apparently American medicine is not widely aware of inflammation of the sacroiliac joint(s), which turned out to be my problem. Thanks to my primary care physician (who is smarter than the average PCP) my problem was identified, then confirmed when anti-inflammatory injections into the joint(s) ended the pain three years ago. Read my report, then consider whether to ask your medical team about this possibility.

Jump to this post

I had unremitting lower back pain for about three months before my primary sent me to spinal for examination. Pain ranged from the back of my pelvis up to the lower lumbar and down to my butt. Walking and stretching had little effect. MRI showed arthritic conditions in the lower lumbar, so PT put me on the stretching table to loosen up the vertebrae. That was just the wrong thing to do, since my problem involved the sacroiliac joint; inflammation there increased after the stretching. So I dismissed spinal and my primary arranged for an anti-inflammatory injection with another specialist. That fixed it.

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