Had anyone had nerve ablation for post op TKR pain?

I had a radio frequency ablation for a pinched nerves in my right lumbar back. That was about a year and a half ago. None of the pain on that side has come back. I had several steps I had to complete before the actual ablation. Physical therapy was first, then the neurologist/aesthesiologist made a "map" for the nerves that were going to "fried". ouch! that sounds bad. The doctor also had a screen that displayed the layout of the nerves during the procedures. I have a fuzzy memory about some this. This all took several months. Then he did the ablation. Most of the nerves had a small burn feeling as he zapped them. For several of the nerves I felt nothing at all. I asked him whether these nerves had been deadened by the arthritis and bone spurs. He replied that if that was the case, theoretically, I wouldn't feel pain in the first place. But I think they were deadened by the arthritis and I felt pain from the remaining nerves.

Yes, Ive had several knee ablations post-TKR. They are painful but you can drive after. I have to admit that they only helped me with about 30% of my pain for a couple of months- no where close to 6 months. After 4 per knee I have taken a break to see if I notice a big difference. They dont help with the tightness I have (24/7) . They help a bit with the sharp pain I have when walking. Not sure yet if I will try again.

So, reading between the lines, it appears that knee injections of steroids and/or hyaluronic acid would do you no good in terms of alleviating pain? Or did you jump to knee ablations first? I have a spot on one knee that is bone on bone and it gives me sharp jabs of pain fairly often. Recent series of 3 HLA injections have helped but I know the good effect will not last long, so I'm wondering if there is a nerve treatment (ablation) that would help. I have not had a TKR, just arthroscopic procedure in April of this year. How do you talk the ortho doctors into giving nerve ablations? Are there limits as to some certain condition must first exist before the ortho doctors will go forward with the ablation?

I have not had an ablation before TKR so I really cant answer your question. I went right from HLA to Synvisc to replacement. I think the thing to be wary of is talking your surgeons into anything. In my experience this is their profession. Its what they do. if they think you need it, get on a list and, even then, think twice. A certain percentage of TKRs fail. Mine are painful every day. No quality of life. Sure I can bend them but I still cant walk for more than a block or two without sharp pain.

I read on several sources that around 750,00 TKR’s are done yearly in the U.S.
Success was mentioned as 85-90%. So even at a generous 90%, that means about 10% (75,000) are not successful. But I haven’t read criteria used to
determine that. I am at ten months with daytime comfort, but night pain
preventing much sleep. I hope this is not predictive. And I do daily exercises.

@andid
Did the doctors ever discuss a partial knee replacement with you instead of a TKR?

@laughlin1947 Yes, that was the original plan. Even though I had told him the entire year pre-surgery, and it was typed on all of my hospital docs, he forgot I was allergic to nickel and one week before my surgery he told me we would have to either do a full TKR with Titanium or nothing at all. I opted for full. Wish I hadn't.