Has anyone had a spinal rhizotomy?
 

my dr is considering it and i've read it can entail heavy duty PT to recover.
so, i'm trying to get some idea what others have experienced if they've had it.

did it help? were there side effects?

thanks for the help.

Curiosity sent me to Google and I found the following link....Very interesting and a little scarey.

http://www.spineuniverse.com/article...ques-4589.html

thanks sally.
i've read some things too and i don't think i'm going to pop for this.

Hi Nancy,
I was in an automobile accident years ago, as a passenger and we got rear-ended while stopped. I had terrible pain in the tail-bone area for years. My pain management doctor wanted to do the Radiofrequency spinal rhizotomy, and my MS Specialist said NO!

I ended up having a Caudal Spinal Epidural with lysis of adhesions. That was not too much fun, but better than having Radiofrequency waves that could cause accidental, permanent paralysis, as a side effect. JMO

I now have Caudal Equina (narrowing) from the tail-bone being shifted inward, but not broken. I used to hurt so bad when I sat down, I had to use a soft balloon ring to sit on.

I also found out I have an unusual large and long tail-bone (MRI). I can feel it protruding even though it shifted. I am thin so that is why it protrudes more and it is large.:(

I don't know what spinal area you were going to have it done for, but there are other choices for pain. This is the latest thing that they seem to be pushing. I never had it, just offered it. Good luck with what you decide. :hug:

Hey Judy girl~ Don't know anything about that procedure, but I know you will research it thoroughly before making a decision. Just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of ya and sending hugs.....

I can't edit, too late. What I meant was I have:

Cauda Equina (I spelled it wrong)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...size/19504.jpg


The spinal cord ends in the lumbar area and continues through the vertebral canal as spinal nerves. Because of its resemblance to a horse's tail, the collection of these nerves at the end of the spinal cord is called the Cauda Equina. These nerves send and receive messages to and from the lower limbs and pelvic organs.

I did have a Caudal Epidural shot, up the natural opening in the tailbone area of the spine.

This type of anesthesia includes things like epidurals, caudal blocks (which are similar to epidurals, but are placed up the tailbone).

thanks for all the info lady.
the area is a herniating disc at about L5.

i see him for a f/u after the shots before x-mas so we'll see.
but with my move in 3 mos i don't want to risk the rhizotomy.

Hi Nancy,
The had the Caudal Epidural shot in 2003. But herniated discs in 1995 prior to the accident. So..

I have been there too. (sigh) I had a left Laminectomy of L3,4,5, and S1. I had one bad fragmented herniated disc with splintered bone fragments, sticking into the whole area and a solid cyst compressing the cord around 1995. The pain was pretty bad. I tried conservative measures first.

Gentle PT, and the Regular cocktail Epidurals shots in the direct area of the herniated discs.. I had two and felt pretty good after the second one. One shot lasts about 6 months, then I had another. The Neuro-surgeon did offer surgery, but I waited. When the pain became unbearable because the cyst. The cyst is rare where it was and could had been a tumor, per MRI and a Myelogram and CT.

I decided to get the surgery, pain pills did not touch it again. I had the full back open surgery. Laparoscopic surgery for this surgery came out about 6 months later. (sigh again)

The Neuro-surgeon did an excellent job and I woke to no pain and no problems. I went back to work for many, many more years. I was fine, with a scar down my back, instead of three little holes. (sign again)

The spinal cord is not in that area, but the nerves are (see picture above) that is why I went with a Neuro-surgeon instead of an Orthopedic surgeon, because of the MS.

I hope some of this helps or just disregard my rambling on.. You are not alone. :hug:

That sounds like, after reading all this and seeing the graphic, you made a very wise move.

Judy, I bet if you got opinions from both NS and OS, you would sense very different approach. I'd feel safer with NS too, ms aside, in this case.

Good luck Judy.

:hug: