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Facet ablation
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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PT was horrific for me too - I was so much worse after that. This all started in October of 2015 with pain to the right and left of the sacrum during the night (worse in early a.m.). I still have that, but also discomfort in the day now - not constant, but daily. Did you have the night pain? That was all I had for over a year.
Ok, its been a challenging year with having been on sulfazlazine and then enbrel and then later told I didn't even have Ankylosing Spondilitis (happy about that) ..GOODNESS knows what those awful drugs have done to my body, but never the less i am lucky, now to find out why the pain (what i thought was As)...I am hesitant (now) to do facet joint ablution as I have been told (now) that i need! Would love to keep in touch. Everyone has their own medicine but sometimes we hit the right spot for each other anyways. Hope the steroids keep working. I am told i am on low dose Lyrica eg 2 times 75 mg, am happy to take more later when i need it.
@lynettegable I also was given a radio frequency ablation in lumbar and S joint for pain that I have had for 25+ years. Have had many injections thru the years and many meds which cause horrible side effects or do nothing. So, too many allergies in history. Ablation supposed to work within 8 weeks, and altho I had psyched myself up that this last procedure would work, it did not. For some it can last for a year until the nerves that were burned grow back. I am at my wit's end - passed back and forth between neurologist and pain mngmnt dr. They have nothing else up their sleevGreat to read that some of you can take the meds and procedures and they help.......@ladyjane85 <br>
Ladyjane85,
I am sorry to hear that you've had bad results with your treatments. I'm in the same boat so far. I'm hesitant to have anything else done for fear of creating new problems. I wish you healing.
No night pains @andilynn. Just steady relentless sore-to-move kind of back pain. I think I got some relief lying down, as I recall.
I understand Predictable. I guess my problem is not the same.
So sorry to hear nothing works for you (yet!). We are each so different. Thanks for sharing.
I have tried nerve root ablation twice for low back pain. My very experienced pain management doctor did it. She is an anesthesiologist. She was terrific in the preliminary diagnostic part of the procedure, and found the exact cause of my pain. She showed me on the scan the exact nerve! I knew she was correct because when she touched it I felt the pain, so I was extremely hopeful. But after waiting two weeks I felt no relief. Didn't work for me. I do know that it does work for some. I tried it again several months later. Same result. It is not at all horrible to go through and I would eagerly try a third time if that stupid nerve would stop my horrific pain! But now I'm back on strong meds. Exercise helps me if it gets blood flow to the area, SO swimming and stationary bike helps. I have to be careful about lying down too much. Though it initially relieves the pain, too much will weaken my core muscles and pain worsens. Learned this the hard way. Hope this helps someone!
@andilynn I had ablation done in my lumbar spine about 4 years ago. I was having shooting pains across the back and often down to the groin. The ablation worked wonderfully. I should have it done again, but I have so much else going on in my cervical spine as far as pain, I just don't want to go!
When I had it done it was by a spinal surgeon/anesthesiologist. He was very through walking me through the procedure. I also had many epidurals done by him in my cervical and thorasic spine.
Are you still thinking of having it done?
Hi Sandytoes14. My neurologist recommended that I see a pain management specialist for possible ablation. These doctors are not highly recommended in our town and I'm afraid of being worse off than I already am. I will ask my oncologist in January if he can recommend someone at the Cleveland Clinic should I decide to proceed. It's encouraging that you had good results!