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Ablation or transforaminal injection?

Posted by golfer18 @golfer18, Aug 13, 2023

L4-L5 epidural injection in 2022, worked for 6 months.

2023, new Doctor gave injection L5-S1. Dr says too risky in L4-L5, due to narrowing around the nerves, stenosis. 20% relief for 1 month.

As of today, Dr wants to try transforaminal injection.
Dr says Ablation does not work on buttocks and legs.
Thoughts?

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dna41 | @dna41 | 2 days ago
In reply to @jackiet "I had a radio frequency ablation a week ago and it has taken a lot of..." + (show)
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I had a radio frequency ablation a week ago and it has taken a lot of my pain away. I too have scoliosis and arthritis in my lower back. Epidurals never worked on me. The ablation was not painless but I would do it again.

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@jackiet Thank you. That is very helpful. Was the pain during or after?

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jackiet | @jackiet | 1 day ago
In reply to @dna41 "@jackiet Thank you. That is very helpful. Was the pain during or after?" + (show)
Profile picture for dna41 @dna41

@jackiet Thank you. That is very helpful. Was the pain during or after?

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@dna41 The doc numbed the area before the injections, which were painful. I am 90 yo so doc suggested sedation beforehand might cause complications. It is also important, I believe, for the doc to know, based on where you feel it, the right spots to inject.

So it can be painful. I was sore at that spot that day, but by the next day and a good night’s sleep, soreness gone.

Please read ch47’s post from August 2023 on this thread. He/she gives a very good description of the process.

And, despite the pain, I would/will do it again when the nerves grow back.

Very important that the doctor who does this procedure has the right credentials. Dr. Suchy in Buffalo did residency at Yale and a fellowship at Cleveland Clinic so he is an anesthesiologist as well as MD. Three years ago a physiatrist gave me a medial branch block (the preliminary trial test for the RFA) and told me it hadn’t worked. Obviously he got it wrong.

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dna41 | @dna41 | 1 day ago
In reply to @jackiet "@dna41 The doc numbed the area before the injections, which were painful. I am 90 yo..." + (show)
Profile picture for jackiet @jackiet

@dna41 The doc numbed the area before the injections, which were painful. I am 90 yo so doc suggested sedation beforehand might cause complications. It is also important, I believe, for the doc to know, based on where you feel it, the right spots to inject.

So it can be painful. I was sore at that spot that day, but by the next day and a good night’s sleep, soreness gone.

Please read ch47’s post from August 2023 on this thread. He/she gives a very good description of the process.

And, despite the pain, I would/will do it again when the nerves grow back.

Very important that the doctor who does this procedure has the right credentials. Dr. Suchy in Buffalo did residency at Yale and a fellowship at Cleveland Clinic so he is an anesthesiologist as well as MD. Three years ago a physiatrist gave me a medial branch block (the preliminary trial test for the RFA) and told me it hadn’t worked. Obviously he got it wrong.

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@jackiet Thank you so much for your description. I had knee injections which were extremely painful for me so I worry about that.

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bionicartist | @bionicartist | 10 hours ago
In reply to @dna41 "I am looking for some relief from lower back pain. I have scoliosis as well as..." + (show)
Profile picture for dna41 @dna41

I am looking for some relief from lower back pain. I have scoliosis as well as arthritis in my spine. My doctor says my options are ablation or epidurals. I would appreciate hearing other's experiences with these procedures. How painful, did it help, how long did you receive relief? If there are complications and things I need to be aware of, that would be helpful as well. I am in my 80's so surgery is not an option.

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@dna41 I was 72 when I had lower back fusion L3-7 a partial laminectomy and one disk replacement a year ago after back pain for 40 years. I had degen disk disease, scoliosis, neuropathy in feet, etc. I had many treatments of many kinds for over 25 years. I've had both epidurals and ablations. Ablations lasted up to 6 months until they no longer helped. Epidurals also helped but don't last as long in my case. I hope you are seeing a pain specialist and/or a spine specialist.

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