*Frowns* that's so not good. I had hoped it was healing up and you were feeling better. Do you have anyone to give you a little extra TLC when you are feeling bad? I hope so. I am thinking of you. ((hugs))

My PM thinks my pain is from the procedure. He did an ESI to see if that would calm things down so I'm still in the wait and see stage. I'm still getting the ON headaches, so I still don't think this has improved it, but maybe that will change too, I don't know.

It is amazing!
 

It is amazing what we do to rid ourselves of pain, well said, new friend. My name is Beth, and I just joined today. I am grateful to find this site, and my future comrades in chronic pain. I have sufferred with ON headaches for 18 yrs. I will do anything to rid myself of pain. What interventions have helped you? So far, just meds help me.

Beth

Welcome Beth, but I'm sorry you've had to find your way here. I'm still trying interventions for my ON and neck pain so I can't really say what works since I don't know yet. There are a lot of great people on this forum and they offer a lot of knowledge and support.
Take care

occipital neuralgia
 

I was diagnosed with ON 2 years ago.Neurontin(gabapentin) worked for 2 months only.I started treating myself with amitriptyline which my NS agreed to. Now I am being offered nerve block with alcohol/phenol injection or radio frequency neuroablation. What are the pros and cons

Suchandra, I can't speak to the pros and cons. Both of the procedures you're describing involve deliberate damage to the nerves, just by different means. I've had direct ON blocks using steroids and anesthetic that calmed the nerves for awhile, but they can only be done so many times in a fixed period of time. The RFA I underwent was in the facet joint nerves and my doctor was hoping that it would help the ON by stopping the muscle spams and tension.

Before you go through with any procedure, please make sure the doctor goes over the risks and complications. In the US they have to get informed consent. I don't know how things are done in your country, but once the RFA is done, there is a high probability that when the pain returns, it will be worse than before it was done and since its a destructive procedure, it will have to be repeated. Take care and welcome to the forum.

Is that a fact? RFA is on my future list of things to try, but this comment has concerned me. Could be a spiral downwards.
Is that a personal view or a medical one?

Peter B, this is not my personal opinion, it is that of the medical community. Consider this link: http://www.espalda.org/english/divul.../rizolisis.asp
At the bottom of the page, it indicates "Even when it is successful, the effect of rhizotomy tends to diminish with time." I've also seen a neurosurgeon who told me the same thing so check with your doctor. The link above also references the selection criteria which are necessary steps and the US guidelines I've read indicate a lesser percent than that article states regarding the elimination of pain. I have several other links book marked discussing the same thing, but I can't locate them at the moment. I'll keep looking for them, but if you Google the subject, I'm sure you'll find them also, and note that I haven't had the RFA done directly to the occipital nerve, only to the facet joint nerves in the hopes it would free up the occipital nerves. Take care.

Thanks EEO3.
I'll read up about it so I am a bit prepared.
I've had steroid facet injections but the new Dr says the RFA lasts much longer.

Hi everyone,

Sorry to thread-jack EE. :)

Firstly - how are you doing now after the RF?

I had RF lesions (which I guess is the same thing as ablation, we just name it differntly in the UK!) to the occipital nerves bilaterally 8 days ago.

I feel worse at the moment than I did before :(

My head is so sore, both to the touch and internally (if that makes sense). Today I have had a really bad day - hence coming back to the forum here. My head almost feels too heavy to keep up and I struggle to find a comfortable position. If I can sit supporting my head, then it's better.

EE - I know you said that pain was worse initially after RF for you too - did that pass? How long did that take, if so? Have you had a lasting pain-free period now?

My specialist said that this would work for 12-18 months for me. He did say that the nerves may regenerate before that time is up and the procedure may have to be repeated.

I had 3 lots of steroid/local anaesthetic nerve blocks before this and they did have an almost instant relief (although it didn't last long - the longest was 10 weeks) and I was hoping for the same instant relief with this procedure. I can't believe I feel worse. It's so depressing. :(

Any words of comfort would be good :)