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RFA made my pain worse?

Posted by mads20 @mads20, Jan 22, 2024

I had an RFA (radio frequency ablation) done in my lower back at L3 and L4 on my right side. My local Dr told me that I have degenerative joints. The RAF made everything worse! When I told my local Dr that he gave up on me and said that there is nothing else that can be done. Anyone ever experienced this before?

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jmaclellan | @jmaclellan | Nov 4 10:53am
In reply to @gently "@jeffybird, it can take two to three weeks after which you may have relief from the..." + (show)
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@jeffybird, it can take two to three weeks after which you may have relief from the original pain as well. I hope. I think heat is not advised, but you should continue with ice.

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@gently i am 5 days post left sided cervical raf at 2 locations. still having some dizziness, and headaches. wondering how to judge success.. when do i start to know if better

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gently | @gently | Nov 4 3:06pm

jmaclellan, dizziness after cervical RFA is common. It can last several weeks, because of inflammation response mainly to the steroid. You could talk to the procedural doctor's nurse, or to the nurses in the clinic where you had the procedure done. It is probably the nerves that they didn't ablate making you dizzy now. I don't think there is any remedy except time. Meanwhile, be very careful not to fall. And use ice twenty minutes on then off. Wishing you the best results.

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globalgal | @globalgal | Nov 5 9:07am

Thank you, that is what I'm doing

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jmaclellan | @jmaclellan | Nov 5 10:36am
In reply to @gently "jmaclellan, dizziness after cervical RFA is common. It can last several weeks, because of inflammation response..." + (show)
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jmaclellan, dizziness after cervical RFA is common. It can last several weeks, because of inflammation response mainly to the steroid. You could talk to the procedural doctor's nurse, or to the nurses in the clinic where you had the procedure done. It is probably the nerves that they didn't ablate making you dizzy now. I don't think there is any remedy except time. Meanwhile, be very careful not to fall. And use ice twenty minutes on then off. Wishing you the best results.

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@gently thanks! i had no steroids in the rfa since i don't tolerate them. it seems to come a go, headache and tingling. But i hope/think I'm seeing faint improvement over the whole day. just hoping each day gets better. i have 1 week f/u with dr tomorrow. just don't want to over due Advil , I'm basically taking 400 to 600 mg a day so low dose. and using ice/heat . ill just hope foe better each day. and that it worked.

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