RFA of knee, anyone had one?
 

Hello, I'm kinda new here. I haven't logged in since 2012 until earlier today. I've enjoyed lurking over the years, but as my RSD has progressed and spread to my left leg and knee after knee surgery in 2014, I'm ready to jump in to help support others, and hopefully find support too.

My RSD spread 48 hours post op, and my pain doc retired shortly after leaving me no one to help. I finally got a new pain mgt dr 5 months later and he's been a huge resource for me! I didn't get my first lumbar block until 6 mo post op. I've had 3 since and they have me great leg coverage, but no knee coverage. I had a diagnostic genicular block in June on my knee and it was successful in covering the nerve pain. I'm scheduled Nov 2rd for my RFA (nerve ablation), and I'm wondering if anyone else has had one? I'd love to hear from others and their experiences. Thanks in advance.

Welcome!
 

Hi Redraidermommy,

I have not had a nerve ablation.

I just want to say hi and welcome!

Warmly,
DejaVu

Hi and Welcome back!

I hope you had a successful procedure and get good pain relief. Let us know how it went. I don't know how many of us have tried a peripheral nerve RFA or might even be a candidate for one (my nerve that is troublesome is too near motor branches). We will all want to know how this works out for you. Hopefully stellar!

Sending hugs and healing love, :hug:

Thank you for your reply. I just got home an hour ago from the procedure (I posted the wrong date!), and my knee joint is very, very tender to touch and it hurts to bend my leg more than 20 degrees. My dr said it was successful and once the initial tenderness/joint pain subsides I should be able to feel actual relief. What I can tell you at this moment, is that I feel ZERO nerve pain and burning like I did before I went under. I will report back in a few more days once I have a better idea of the results, and some of the soft tissue swelling subsides! Thank you for the support! I've been very nervous about this procedure since I you tubed it and watched it (I was mortified!), but luckily my dr uses MAC sedation with a lil extra propofol so I don't feel it, and I get a nice nap. :-) This is my knee after I got home. The coloring seems to have improved too.

Thank you, and hello! Thanks for the warm welcome. :-)

Yeah! It sounds like it went well. Good to hear you have no nerve pain. I hope it stays quiet!

As we know, ice is no good with CRPS but I find gel packs kept in the fridge instead of the freezer to be nice for swelling. And of course lots of elevation.

It might not be a bad idea to hit 500 mg of Vit C daily for a month like you would for a regular surgery.

Sending thoughts for quick recovery, :hug:

Thank you little paw! I have a hard time with standing anything cool against my skin as my allodynia is a little out of control and anything that touches my skin pretty much causes pain! I did restart the vitamin C about two days ago so hopefully as I continue that it'll help long-term!

These are rarely done for CRPS since they can actually cause more damage. I'm glad it worked for the OP thus far, but anyone considering the procedure should do lots of research first and get a second opinion by a CRPS specialist.

I had one performed years ago which exacerbated my CRPS significantly and permanently. It's the medical procedure I regret the most after developing CRPS, and I even had surgery in the area of my original CRPS site without complications.

http://www.rsdinfo.com/html/crps-sympathectomy.html

I think it's important to note that I did not have a sympathectomy. A sympathectomy is the permanent surgical cutting of the sympathetic nerve and/ or removal of that nerve, and is not reversible. It is important to differentiate the two so people are not misinformed/miseducated, and that genicular RFA can be a wonderful temporary solution to a very painful problem.

I had a genicular nerve ablation via RFA (radio frequency ablation) on the genicular nerves in my (RSD affected) knee, in the joint. Nothing was cut surgically or removed. Perhaps this can clear the air about my procedure and what was performed.

http://strykerivs.com/resources/radiofrequency-ablation

http://ainsworthinstitute.com/genicular-neurotomy/

I wanted to post an update, and let everybody know that I'm about 80% pain-free in my left knee and leg! The flare ups are minimal, but it does flares up due to aggravating factors like vigorous exercise, cold weather/fast barometric weather changes, long periods of standing on my feet, or not wearing the correct shoes (dress boots versus my tennis shoes or uggs). It's not a cure of course, and I was not expecting it to be, but it has made a significant difference in my pain levels, and I Don't have to use my pain meds as much as I did before. PT is much more tolerable too. The color in my knee also seems to better and the allodynia has improved. I still do precautions like double layering, not working too hard at the gym, keeping it propped up when I'm at my desk, and elevating at home. The recovery was painful, but it was definitely worth it!

hi red and welcome. i haven't had a nerve abalation either but if i were you i would research it as much as you can before you get it done to make sure it is not going to aggravate your rsd. i am not a dr and its just what i would do before any new procedure for rsd. i hope all goes well and you start getting some relief from your rsd pain soon whatever you decide to do. soft hugs.

Hi Red,

I am so happy for your outcome! That is great news. It is nice to hear everything went well and you are having such good relief. I hope that nerve stays quiet. Ssshhhh......

:hug:

Hi
 

I joined because I could hardly find anybody who was posting anything on genicular neurotomy or aka rf ablation of the knee. I had it done yesterday bilaterally due to osteoarthritis that has failed to be controlled by arthroscopic surgery and prescription medications. It's been a hell of a year for me starting with the failed surgery in 12/2014 on my knees. I am for sure not very experienced in message boards so I apologize if I am in the wrong one.

Hi, I hope you get relief and heal quickly from your procedure. I can't think of a good place to direct you for RFA info. Medications and Treatments maybe? I know one member had ablation and posted there.

Wishing you health and peace in the New Year.

I hadn't heard of this type of genicular neurotomy
/RFA until I started seeing my new PMD. He's very innovative and has a lot of experience treating chronic pain and RSD. I am glad I got the ablation. I can walk again without a noticeable limp, I can work out and feel good after, the sweetheart has reduced by 60-70%, and it's a fast processes and only takes a few weeks to recover from. I had mine done because I had my fourth knee surgery n 2014 and my RSD spread from the original site to my entire left leg and knee. I also get sympathetic lumbars for my leg that treats the severe burning and swelling. Unfortunately the RSD in the original site (right shoulder-arm-hand) is advanced stage and no longer responds to treatment. My recent Mir showed lots of bulging and ruptured discs from my cervical to lumbar... So knowing that I think we can take a different approach to treating it. I want a supra scapular nerve block because that was injured in my original fall and the pain is now radiating to my left side.

On another note, my insurance approved my first out pt ketamine treatment, so I'm scheduled for the 18th. I'm nervous but excited too.

I also asked my ortho and another ortho, and they goth agreed I was good candidate for it.

If you google "genicular nerve block" a lot of good information and you tube vids come up. That's how I did my research for three months before scheduling it.

Thank you! I did research for three months before going through with it. I always take my time to become fully aware of procedures, consequences, side effects, ect. I've been doing this for 7 years now, and my treatment has remained fairly conservative. I need to see neurosurgery for my back and neck, but I'm not ready for a major surgery of that nature. That will take much more research and a second opinion.