Who Here Has Had Nerve Ablation/Radioactive Neurotomy (same thing)?

Posted by babette @babette, Oct 1, 2019

I'm having this done on Thursday after a good result from the diagnostic nerve block test. Would love to hear about your experiences, especially the truth about how painful it is. I'm have 3 nerves ablated (is that even a word :?) ). Many thanks in advance.

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I have had nerve ablation performed on my back for the last 6 years. It really helps. Unfortunately my nerves grow back quickly so I have it done every 6 months. At Mayo they give you medication for pain which really helps. I recently had ablation done on my knee

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I had nerve ablation on both sides of lower back. The procedure is uncomfortable and unpleasant but not overly painful. I took my mind away to visualize myself swimming in the med. Unfortunately the procedure provided no relief whatsoever. Trying it one more time next month.

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@gardengal33

I had nerve ablation on both sides of lower back. The procedure is uncomfortable and unpleasant but not overly painful. I took my mind away to visualize myself swimming in the med. Unfortunately the procedure provided no relief whatsoever. Trying it one more time next month.

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@gardengal33, @babette, @lynettegable and all...My son has extreme pain from 20 years with dystonia. He's in crisis the last months, due to the length of time with no or little help and such limited knowledge about this disease. After calling and begging the pain doc for help, he had 3 nerve blocks the last 2 months, each lasting about 12-15 hours with some relief. Not so good.

Friday, the doc worked him in for an ablation, but was very concerned he wouldn't be able to stay still enough for long enough and could have dangerous consequences. He doesn't understand the degree of pain nor the strength of my son's will. He said he'd do it so he had the procedure.

It was pretty tough. He went in his mind to the beach, the water. He was in a lot of additional pain, but he was still and today is feeling a good amount of relief. We'll see how long. The expectation is several months of relief. I truly will be thrilled with a month or several weeks of relief.

We see the Mayo neurosurgeon next week for a consult re deep brain stimulation or other surgery possibilities. Doubtful he'll qualify, but possible there is something new to discuss.

It seems the ablation is a good way to go if you have little relief from blocks and meds. I hope you do well and be blessed. elizabeth

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@ess77

@gardengal33, @babette, @lynettegable and all...My son has extreme pain from 20 years with dystonia. He's in crisis the last months, due to the length of time with no or little help and such limited knowledge about this disease. After calling and begging the pain doc for help, he had 3 nerve blocks the last 2 months, each lasting about 12-15 hours with some relief. Not so good.

Friday, the doc worked him in for an ablation, but was very concerned he wouldn't be able to stay still enough for long enough and could have dangerous consequences. He doesn't understand the degree of pain nor the strength of my son's will. He said he'd do it so he had the procedure.

It was pretty tough. He went in his mind to the beach, the water. He was in a lot of additional pain, but he was still and today is feeling a good amount of relief. We'll see how long. The expectation is several months of relief. I truly will be thrilled with a month or several weeks of relief.

We see the Mayo neurosurgeon next week for a consult re deep brain stimulation or other surgery possibilities. Doubtful he'll qualify, but possible there is something new to discuss.

It seems the ablation is a good way to go if you have little relief from blocks and meds. I hope you do well and be blessed. elizabeth

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I had an ablation(s) on both sides of my lower back (lumbar region) last week. I felt like I’d been beaten, but it has provided some relief. I have both Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. I had a different doctor this time and he seemed to do a better job than the two previous ones. I always feel like they’re ‘shooting blind’ since they can’t really see the nerves.

My solution to taking my mind off the procedure was to talk to the doctor. He just recently moved here, so we had a very pleasant chat about places we’d lived. I figured he’d done the procedure enough times that I wasn’t distracting him, or he would have said so.

I’ve cut myself some slack and lazed about ‘til the swelling subsided. I treat it like I’ve had burns in my back, and I remind myself that those burns need to heal first. I’m also mindful that pain forms it’s own route and I need to erase that phantom trail before, or while the ablation is actually obliterating it.

Good luck to your son; I hope it helps.

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I have had the nerve ablation done around 4 times with good results.The nerves always grow back, they warn you that. I find it's best to call at the fist twinge to get an appointment as it can take a few weeks to get one. The 1st tie for me it wasn't pleasant but as soon as the Dr knew I could feel something he put in more local which helped so don't be afraid to speak out. I usually find I go around a yr to 18mths between getting it done.

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My husband had this done on his hip about 6 months ago. They gave him oral sedation and he tolerated the procedure well with no recurrence to date

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I have had them done both on my neck and my lower back. My first time was in 2015 with a doctor who adopted me as his daughter at a pain clinic in my state. His name was Dr. Marco Araujo and we had a unique relationship that even the receptionists did not understand. He truly cared about me or he wouldn't have picked on me so much. I usually chatted with my doctors every time any procedure is done. Mine lasted about a year before another had to be done. I got a lot of relief from mine. I have osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis in my spine. So this makes things difficult for me.

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Was just outside talking with the person who helps me in the yard (since I cannot keep my balance now) He was telling me that he has had neuropathy for a couple of years now and has been going to a pain specialist and is going again to have his nerves burned. I know nothing about "burning" the painful nerves-do any of you??

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@bettyg81pain

Was just outside talking with the person who helps me in the yard (since I cannot keep my balance now) He was telling me that he has had neuropathy for a couple of years now and has been going to a pain specialist and is going again to have his nerves burned. I know nothing about "burning" the painful nerves-do any of you??

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Basically, If the nerve is found on test then they do a procedure called nerve ablation which basically keeps it from growing as well as pain on what it’s rubbing against….David

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@bettyg81pain

Was just outside talking with the person who helps me in the yard (since I cannot keep my balance now) He was telling me that he has had neuropathy for a couple of years now and has been going to a pain specialist and is going again to have his nerves burned. I know nothing about "burning" the painful nerves-do any of you??

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Hello @bettyg81pain, You will notice that we moved your post to an existing discussion on the same topic listed below and it's great to see you have a response from @dabbs. If you click the link below it will take you to the beginning of the discussion where you can read what other members have shared.
--- Who Here Has Had Nerve Ablation/Radioactive Neurotomy (same thing)?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/who-here-has-had-nerve-ablationradioactive-neurotomy-same-thing/.

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