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Spinal Stenosis bne damage
I'm scheduled for RF Ablation of medial branch nerves in two weeks. I understand it inhibits the nerve from transmitting pain. As an 80 yr old very fat guy, for maybe 5-10 yrs I've always toughed out the pain, took ibuprofin, etc and was dopy, sleepy all the time. I know my weight is a contributing factor but pain and lack of energy make it hard to exercise and diminish will power.
25 yrs ago ago with sciatic pain, physical therapy "healed" my herniated disc. PT has not helped for this in the last 3 month. and may be making it worse. Doc said xrays showed growths or arthritic spurs but on the medial branch, not the sciatic.
So here' my question: With the growth (spur?) on my discs, if the pain is stopped, what happens if the bones rub together?
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@fatjim13 Hello and welcome to Connect. From your description, it sounds like bone spur growth is at the nerve roots of your spine and causing pain. As bone growth continues, it compresses the nerve more. I have not heard of it completely closing the foramen which is the space between vertebrae where the nerves exit the spinal cord. If a disc collapses, the bone of the vertebrae above and below it can grow together and fuse. I’m not sure if that answers your question. I know pain can be limiting when you can’t move well to maintain strength and function.
I had a cervical radio frequency ablation six years ago. It resolved a lot of my pain and almost eliminated the headaches that it was causing. A little by little over the years the pain is returning. Probably for the reasons that you’re describing and are concerned about. While the pain conduction can be reduced or eliminated it doesn’t change the structural issue that’s causing the pressure on the nerve. In my opinion that can lead to an intensification of pressure. The return of nerve pain signal conduction can happen because of the nerve healing over years. Nerves take a long time to heal, years, but it doesn’t mean they don’t heal.
I’m considering what to do next to address the pain at the nerve that was previously ablated. Because it’s a persistent structural issue I think surgery is probably the best next thing.