1. < Spine Health

Experience with Radio Frequency Ablation procedures?

Posted by Sam65 @sam65, Sep 29, 2017

Hello. First, I should mention that this is my first post to the group.
I have had neuropathic pain issues in my feet for many years made worse by surgeries that have resulted in scar tissue that has formed around the nerves. Over the years I have become diabetic (Type 2), although, it has always been considered well controlled. However, I recently had a skin biopsy performed which indicated that I did not have the clinical definition of neuropathy since the nerve cell counts were well within normal ranges. The biopsy did show "small anoxal swellings in the epidermis and sub epidermis." My doctor said this condition is often a forerunner of nerve cell loss and is correlated to patients experiencing burning pain. Ultrasound scans have also found scar tissue in the areas that I experience the burning nerve pain.
I am hoping to hear from anyone who has tried one of the Radio Frequency wave ablation procedures to reduce neuropathic foot pain or knows of any literature on the subject.
Thanks

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pjss48 | @pjss48 | Dec 27, 2018
In reply to @dkapustin "I started going to Pain Management a few months ago for the chronic pain in my..." + (show)
@dkapustin

I started going to Pain Management a few months ago for the chronic pain in my upper/mid back. I have an old compression fracture between T7 and T8 from a hard slip and fall, Osteoporosis, and Osteoarthritis. The doctor has scheduled an radiofrequency ablation tor that area and sounded hopeful that it would help. Has anyone had it done in that region and was it helpful? As an FYI, my Osteoporosis is being treated with Reclast and HRT....for now.

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Where do you get a tens unit and how much is it?

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lioness | @lioness | Dec 27, 2018
In reply to @dkapustin "I started going to Pain Management a few months ago for the chronic pain in my..." + (show)
@dkapustin

I started going to Pain Management a few months ago for the chronic pain in my upper/mid back. I have an old compression fracture between T7 and T8 from a hard slip and fall, Osteoporosis, and Osteoarthritis. The doctor has scheduled an radiofrequency ablation tor that area and sounded hopeful that it would help. Has anyone had it done in that region and was it helpful? As an FYI, my Osteoporosis is being treated with Reclast and HRT....for now.

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@pjss48 I got mine along time ago through a catalogue but you can Google it Tens unit mine is a Pro Cure had it for 10 yrs Amazon may have it also

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pjss48 | @pjss48 | Dec 27, 2018
In reply to @dkapustin "I started going to Pain Management a few months ago for the chronic pain in my..." + (show)
@dkapustin

I started going to Pain Management a few months ago for the chronic pain in my upper/mid back. I have an old compression fracture between T7 and T8 from a hard slip and fall, Osteoporosis, and Osteoarthritis. The doctor has scheduled an radiofrequency ablation tor that area and sounded hopeful that it would help. Has anyone had it done in that region and was it helpful? As an FYI, my Osteoporosis is being treated with Reclast and HRT....for now.

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Thanks would Medicare pay for it?

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lioness | @lioness | Dec 27, 2018
In reply to @dkapustin "I started going to Pain Management a few months ago for the chronic pain in my..." + (show)
@dkapustin

I started going to Pain Management a few months ago for the chronic pain in my upper/mid back. I have an old compression fracture between T7 and T8 from a hard slip and fall, Osteoporosis, and Osteoarthritis. The doctor has scheduled an radiofrequency ablation tor that area and sounded hopeful that it would help. Has anyone had it done in that region and was it helpful? As an FYI, my Osteoporosis is being treated with Reclast and HRT....for now.

Jump to this post

@pjss48 I don't know as my tens was cheap then and my brace I got through Dr.Leanords catalogue you can ask your Dr to order one then Medicare will pay I'm getting a Rollater walker ,as the Dr orders it Medicare will pay for it

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grandmaR | @grandmar | Apr 29, 2019
In reply to @dkapustin "I started going to Pain Management a few months ago for the chronic pain in my..." + (show)
@dkapustin

I started going to Pain Management a few months ago for the chronic pain in my upper/mid back. I have an old compression fracture between T7 and T8 from a hard slip and fall, Osteoporosis, and Osteoarthritis. The doctor has scheduled an radiofrequency ablation tor that area and sounded hopeful that it would help. Has anyone had it done in that region and was it helpful? As an FYI, my Osteoporosis is being treated with Reclast and HRT....for now.

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Hi All!

I have/had stenosis, bulging disks, osteoarthritis, just to name a few issues.
I had radio frequency ablation several times on various parts of my spine.
I NEVER found them to work.
They were uncomfortable and didn't work so that pissed me off.
Now, that was ME!
I have numerous issues and we are all different.
It is my opinion that when nothing works, like shots, it's time to move on to something that might.
Sadly, we have to be our own trial subjects since we all react differently.

Stand tall!
Ronnie (GRANDMArO

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1 reply
ashby1947 | @ashby1947 | Feb 26, 2020
In reply to @dkapustin "I started going to Pain Management a few months ago for the chronic pain in my..." + (show)
@dkapustin

I started going to Pain Management a few months ago for the chronic pain in my upper/mid back. I have an old compression fracture between T7 and T8 from a hard slip and fall, Osteoporosis, and Osteoarthritis. The doctor has scheduled an radiofrequency ablation tor that area and sounded hopeful that it would help. Has anyone had it done in that region and was it helpful? As an FYI, my Osteoporosis is being treated with Reclast and HRT....for now.

Jump to this post

Hello! Has anyone had radiofrequency ablation for SI joint back problems/pain? I've had 3 SI joint and facet injections in the past few months, and they just don't last to alleviate the pain. So, I'm scheduled for the ablation. I would appreciate hearing about any experiences you have had with the RF ablation: what was the recovery time; how soon did you feel relief; how long the procedure lasted; and, anything else you would care to share. I'm a 73 yo woman, lean and healthy. Unfortunately, the progression of my osteoarthritis and stenosis have resulted in functional impairment. I don't ever expect to do much gardening again; however, I would like to get back to walking and other exercises.

I look forward to hearing of your experiences! Thank you, Sue

REPLY
17 replies
babette | @babette | Feb 26, 2020
In reply to @ashby1947 "Hello! Has anyone had radiofrequency ablation for SI joint back problems/pain? I've had 3 SI joint..." + (show)
@ashby1947

Hello! Has anyone had radiofrequency ablation for SI joint back problems/pain? I've had 3 SI joint and facet injections in the past few months, and they just don't last to alleviate the pain. So, I'm scheduled for the ablation. I would appreciate hearing about any experiences you have had with the RF ablation: what was the recovery time; how soon did you feel relief; how long the procedure lasted; and, anything else you would care to share. I'm a 73 yo woman, lean and healthy. Unfortunately, the progression of my osteoarthritis and stenosis have resulted in functional impairment. I don't ever expect to do much gardening again; however, I would like to get back to walking and other exercises.

I look forward to hearing of your experiences! Thank you, Sue

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Hi Sue! I'm having my second lower back ablation on Tuesday. It took about 30 minutes and recovery was about a day. I had one in September that got me through a knee replacement surgery and the holidays before the pain returned. The procedure isn't very painful (I wasn't offered sedation) and the effects were good for those few months. I waited too long to schedule my upcoming procedure and have been in serious pain since the first of the year! I'm going to reschedule number 3 way before I start having pain as it takes so long to get an appointment with my pain doc. My only advice is to stay ahead of the pain! I hope the ablation works well for you. I have back pain that is absolutely crippling, so I'm grateful for it. Best wishes!

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1 reply
ashby1947 | @ashby1947 | Mar 1, 2020
In reply to @babette "Hi Sue! I'm having my second lower back ablation on Tuesday. It took about 30 minutes..." + (show)
@babette

Hi Sue! I'm having my second lower back ablation on Tuesday. It took about 30 minutes and recovery was about a day. I had one in September that got me through a knee replacement surgery and the holidays before the pain returned. The procedure isn't very painful (I wasn't offered sedation) and the effects were good for those few months. I waited too long to schedule my upcoming procedure and have been in serious pain since the first of the year! I'm going to reschedule number 3 way before I start having pain as it takes so long to get an appointment with my pain doc. My only advice is to stay ahead of the pain! I hope the ablation works well for you. I have back pain that is absolutely crippling, so I'm grateful for it. Best wishes!

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Hi Babette - Thank you for your reply. I hope your ablation goes well. My first one is scheduled for 2/12 and I am expecting good results. You're right about keeping ahead of the pain, and I guess I'll keep trying things as long as they work! I have a great physical therapist who will assist. Unfortunately, I have lost so much muscle mass, especially in the gluts, I'm afraid it will take some time to build that back. Good luck with your procedure on Tuesday. Please let me know how it goes! Best Wishes, Sue

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dixiedog | @dixiedog | Mar 1, 2020
In reply to @ashby1947 "Hello! Has anyone had radiofrequency ablation for SI joint back problems/pain? I've had 3 SI joint..." + (show)
@ashby1947

Hello! Has anyone had radiofrequency ablation for SI joint back problems/pain? I've had 3 SI joint and facet injections in the past few months, and they just don't last to alleviate the pain. So, I'm scheduled for the ablation. I would appreciate hearing about any experiences you have had with the RF ablation: what was the recovery time; how soon did you feel relief; how long the procedure lasted; and, anything else you would care to share. I'm a 73 yo woman, lean and healthy. Unfortunately, the progression of my osteoarthritis and stenosis have resulted in functional impairment. I don't ever expect to do much gardening again; however, I would like to get back to walking and other exercises.

I look forward to hearing of your experiences! Thank you, Sue

Jump to this post

Hello,
I have not had ablation to the SI area but did have for issues follow a knee replacement. Unfortunately for me, I didn't have much help but I have talked to other that have. So that tell me that my knee issue is not related to nerve but some other cause, which I am still investigating.
Regarding your atrophy of the glute muscle- do you have a PT or personal trainer to guide you? It is so important to get this strength back as the hips, glute, and back/abdominals (core) are all key to take the load (rather than the SI). It does take time but you need to do much more advanced strengthening and push weights. You can't do this with simple body weight exercises like squats- but need to be in a leg press machine with gradual increase in loads. A PT or trainer should be able to guide you better in person. I am a PT (and yes...I am very compliant with my routine) but still struggle with my knee and atrophy in my thigh. I am working with a trainer myself to help push me. Please feel free to ask any questions.

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agentorange | @agentorange | Mar 11, 2020
In reply to @ashby1947 "Hello! Has anyone had radiofrequency ablation for SI joint back problems/pain? I've had 3 SI joint..." + (show)
@ashby1947

Hello! Has anyone had radiofrequency ablation for SI joint back problems/pain? I've had 3 SI joint and facet injections in the past few months, and they just don't last to alleviate the pain. So, I'm scheduled for the ablation. I would appreciate hearing about any experiences you have had with the RF ablation: what was the recovery time; how soon did you feel relief; how long the procedure lasted; and, anything else you would care to share. I'm a 73 yo woman, lean and healthy. Unfortunately, the progression of my osteoarthritis and stenosis have resulted in functional impairment. I don't ever expect to do much gardening again; however, I would like to get back to walking and other exercises.

I look forward to hearing of your experiences! Thank you, Sue

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Yes, I've had a few they stopped helping me after the third one. Then I started with s I joint shots and they worked the first time and the second and third were not helpful, Monday I had a spine injection kinda like a epidural so far no good. I have a date to have hardware removed in May.

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