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Who Here Has Had Nerve Ablation/Radioactive Neurotomy (same thing)?
Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: Apr 7, 2023 | Replies (22)Comment receiving replies
@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.