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!

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.

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.

I have SI Joint Pain and have tried multiple steroid Injections with no relief. I did have relief with the test injections prior to the Ablation. Unfortunately, the test injections wear off in a very short time hours. The Ablation burns the nerves and the pain during the burnings are intense. I was able to tolerate it still it was tough. Afterward It was like the other injections 15 minutes recovery, and I was able to walk as before, I did not notice any immediate change in my pain level. I did as I was instructed ice and rest. As with the other injections next few days pain increased. Three days later I was back at the Dr's for follow up. No Change. After about a week the pain began to go down. Still was in the same pain as before the Ablation. Was told by the Nurse it could take a while for the nerve to quit. A month Later back at the Dr's office. Still in pain. Can I tell you how sad I was? Dr said sometimes it takes a few months for the nerve to quit, A month later having a better day than some. I was thinking maybe it was starting to work. Of course, I'm doing little to nothing every day. Virtually on bed rest except for 1 or 2 hours. Went outside and using the electric blower cleared some leave from the yard, deck, and patio. Feeling pretty good about having accomplished something. The night was rough as usual next morning same pain as always. So, now what. Do it again the Ablation that is I don't know I have another Dr's appt soon. The emotional toll is as tough as the physical pain. Research says right now I am in the 30% that don't have success with Ablation. Give me a break, really.

Try PRP, platelet rich plasma. The doctor draws blood, spins it to concentrate the platelets, and injects it into the joint. For some, it is miraculous, but for others it may not work. It is best with soft tissue issues, I believe. Worth looking into.

Voodoo Blood Stuff, lol Thanks, I will bring this up with the doctor. Also heard something about BIO-WAVE versus the TENS. Any one ever tried this BIO-WAVE?

I had it for c4/c/5 and c5/c6 after three facet blocks. I had no recovery time I was fine and I drove home from NYC to NJ. My doctor gave no anesthesia at all. Unfortunately for me the facet blocks and the ablation did not work and I had surgery.

Hi, I hope this helps but my docs will not do radio ablation on my SI only selective nerve injections. But will do ablation on L4-6 and selective nerve injections in the caudal area. KLH

I yr post Trans Laminal Iinterbody Fusion but w L4 nerve pain continuing. Can RFA help?

Facet injections and ablation which I had twice is a waste of time. It is shame that doctors do these procedures knowing it will not help. Berge ( retired MD)