May be a long shot: Radiofrequency Ablation?

[malibu]

Some of you may remember my posting about a year ago that my mom had her 2nd major back surgery due to a large cyst that was wrapped around her spinal cord and crushed her nerves, vertebrae, and other major damage. She had the first surgery in 1996, and has been in constant, chronic, debilitating pain since around 1994, when things started to get really bad.

So she had the fusion of her L4, L5, and all sacral vertebrae last May. They'd also gone in through her stomach to chip away at the rest of the cyst (they couldn't get much without running a major risk of paralyzing her), remove bone spurs, and other cleanup from her original surgery in 1996. Unfortunately, the fusion hasn't done much to get rid of the pain. She's now had the sensation of 'pins and needles' from her hips to the bottoms of her feet almost constantly; found out she has bursitis in her hips, and she still needs one of her knees replaced but her back hasn't been stable or without pain enough to do it (she'd need more strength in her back, which she doesn't have). Basically, it did next to nothing to help the pain, just made other things worse/brought more out that she probably wasn't feeling before due to the back pain. They (her PCP and spine surgeon) finally sent her to a pain clinic as a last resort to see if they could help her.

She's told that she has three main things causing the constant pain - the three vertebrae above the fusion site have now slipped out of place, she has major arthritis all the way up and down her spine, and the scar tissue from the previous surgeries are impinging the nerves around the spinal cord. So the doctor has suggested radiofrequency ablation, in which they use radio frequencies to deaden the nerves. I'm honestly too afraid to Google it (every time I look up something new she has to have done, I seem to find nothing but horror stories). Does anyone know anything about this? Had it done or know someone who has and had success? I hate to think of my mom having another two surgeries - they'll apparently do one as a test, and if successful, they'd go back in and finish the rest of the areas.

[joenali]

I had that done last January. I wouldn't call it a 100% success but I did find relief. It was a pretty easy procedure under twilight sedation. It's not really a surgery more like a procedure. They use needles and don't open you up.

[mountaingirl]

I have had it done many times. No sedation
I have never had back surgery but I would imagine this is much less painful and also less invasive. I think she should give it a try.

The best was the one time he did not let the lidocaine take effect. FUCKINGHURT. I did have it done again after that.

[joenali]

Aug 10, 2015 14:11:48 GMT -5 mountaingirl said:

I have had it done many times. No sedation
I have never had back surgery but I would imagine this is much less painful and also less invasive. I think she should give it a try.

The best was the one time he did not let the lidocaine take effect. FUCKINGHURT. I did have it done again after that.

Wait. No sedation? Are you sure you had this procedure? Lol! They zap a radio frequency through your body, it hurt even with twilight sedation.

[womet]

My H has had this done several times. It's a quick procedure. I drive him there for it. Sometimes he can go to work afterwards but other times he stays home that day.

There have been times that have worked beautifully and the pain goes away. But other times, it only reduces it a little.

[mountaingirl]

Yep. Places I had it done did not use sedation.
I'm a tough cookie.

Many Epidurals with no sedation as well. It all sucked but I would do anything to be in less pain

[malibu]

My main worry is that if all her nerves are deadened in her back, if something goes wrong with say, her fusion site, or some other major injury occurs, she won't be able to feel it and somehow end up paralyzed because she doesn't know something is wrong. She's going to do it, she said at this point she'll try anything to stop the pain.

[mountaingirl]

Aug 10, 2015 14:23:37 GMT -5 malibu said:

My main worry is that if all her nerves are deadened in her back, if something goes wrong with say, her fusion site, or some other major injury occurs, she won't be able to feel it and somehow end up paralyzed because she doesn't know something is wrong. She's going to do it, she said at this point she'll try anything to stop the pain.

It does not deaden everything! They target specific nerve roots, hence why they use xray (fluoroscopy).
I would see if you could go with her and both of you talk to the dr.
I still have daily back pain after having this done many times.

[mountaingirl]

You can pm me if you want