Can you [lease tell me how you know your facets are inflamed? I ask because the doc that tried to do mine tried 3 times and then put the neddle into my dura (PAIN) Could it be because of inflamation. Where can I read about inflamed facets? Thanks much.
Paininhead

I can't tell you where to read about inflamed nerves. When my pain doctor placed the needles in the facets, it hurts like *&$%. Each time he moves the needle, it hurts like @#$* again, and this happens each time he does it...until its done. Bear in mind that you need to go through diagnostic rounds, usually two, and see the results of those before they will consider doing RFA's to the facets. Then, they do it again and in my case, it hurts even more because the nerves are "inflamed" and not happy. Several things make the nerves angry, such as bulging discs, facet hypertrophy(I think??), degenerative changes, stenosis, etc....there is a site called spine universe or something that talks about spine stuff in detail. I'll try to find it and post a link.

I hope this makes some sense. In my case, chronic neck pain preceeded all of this with spontaneous muscle spasms and such in the neck. I've been told that when the nerves are irritated/inflamed, they cause all these problems which has led to ON, as I indicated in my previous post. I really do hope this makes sense

About ten years ago I have had some kind of blockade of Occipital Neuralgia, but didn't work. Doctor told to me, it will be good for one year. It wasn't good for one hour.

I don't believe very much in injections and blockades.

Bozena

I Just had two blockers one on the right and left in the back of the skull. They were cortizone and lydicain. They go into the tissue around nerve to help with spasm. The procedure was a breeze but nothing permanent. In fact they didn't work for me at all. If they do work it can take couple days before they do and can last up to several weeks. I've read that you can have the nerves severed but I have not discussed that with my neurologist.

If someone tells you to sever those nerves, ask for a second opinion-doing so can actually leave you with phantom pain and that NEVER goes away. My pain specialist, is adamant we are NOT cutting the nerves!