PULSED Radio Frequency
 

My pain doctor wants to try out PRF to stop a nerve from firing which is triggering my crps.

Has anyone had this done and did it help? She stressed that its totally different than RF as it dosent reach temperatures to kill the nerves just pulses them so no damage is cause. She has performed PRF on other patients with similar symptoms and crps with good success.

I am unsure about this as my leg is so sensitive and reacts to everything let alone sticking a needle in the place with most pain. The needle is only 5mm and will go through torture if this will help me.

Where is the needle placement? In my case it was in my spine like a regular stellate ganglion block.

If it causes your RSD to worsen, it can be permanent. Get a 2nd and 3rd opinion until you feel comfortable--and not by another local doc. This is NOT a common practice with RSD patients. It might be ok, but I'd be very sure before going forward.

nigel, I think I've heard some negative stuff about that procedure. Be very careful.

nigel,

I'd do LOTS of homework on that procedure before undergoing it. And I would certainly seek other opinions.

Generally speaking, in my humble opinion, attempts in this category may carry more "risk" than reward. These doctors certainly mean well, but if it results in increased pain...you are left proverbially "holding the bag".

It is difficult because as you mention, we are all looking for the "magic bullet". Unfortunately, it may not exist.

Maybe somebody with some more actual knowledge of this technique will chime in??

From an article I read on PRF.....

"Use of RF treatment for the purpose of sympathetic blockade has the advantage over surgical resection, phenol or alcohol neurolysis because of being more selective and thus causing fewer complications.

PRF is a relatively new technique where short bursts of RF energy are applied to nerve tissue. It is suggested to be a minimally neurodestructive alternative to RF heat lesions, because of a potentially better risk/benefit ratio

However, clinical advantages and mechanisms of this treatment are still unclear. In none of the published reports, neurological side effects
or complications with PRF have been mentioned but it should certainly share some of the complications of conventional PRF such as epidural, subdural, or subarachnoid injection and trauma to the intervertebral disc, spinal cord and exiting nerve roots due to needle misplacement as well
as infection"

Nigel, I posted two threads on the subject from NT site. Please read.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...adio+Frequency

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread156450.html

I have done some research and PRF doesn't seem like the standard procedure for CRPS. Im not sure why she is so convinced that this is the first option she wants to take. Apparently she has patients with crps who do it with good results. Some do it and have less or no pain and then redo it in 6 months etc. She has also cured someone with crps and has performed this treatment 3 times together with blocks etc...

Im still not confident with this treatments as im scared it can make me worse. My pain has really been increasing lately, maybe to the lack of pool and the weather but I cant site around in so much pain constantly as my leg is getting too small and weak.

Should I be doing sympathetic nerve blocks to block the pain and help me to do PT? Does crps just keep get worse? Cant you improve pain and function along the months?

Nigel maybe you should attempt to find out who these people are and who your doctor said they cured and treated with this method and get their side of the story. I have a strong hunch their take would be mixed at best. My wife's doctor also stated 5 years ago she cured someone with RSD. I have my doubts. There is a member of this site that seems to have found a method to relieve her pain substantually. I'm watching this thread closely and trying to get my wife Suzy interested.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread160980.html

Hi Jim,

Ye I know how careful you have to be and thats why I need to be from now on as I cant take half a step back anymore!

The reason she wants to do this is not mainly for the crps and thats why its scary/exciting at the same time. The aim is to control the injury first and then the crps after with nerve blocks etc. I am very confused as to what exactly this injury is? Very traumatized nerves in the hamstring tendon area triggering the crps? Calm those down and the crps wont have reason to be triggered and easier manageable with PT, block etc. Does that make any sense???? Im booker within the next 2 weeks so I dont have much time to decide. A part of me is saying yes and another no :confused:

If you still have strong doubts or concerns I would suggest waiting until you are more comfortable with the risks. I would be very cautious of someone doing any treatments on me who claims to have cured CRPS...at this point in time there is no cure. Remission is possible and I suppose it's possible that's what she meant...but I was still be worried by her use of the word "cure."

Bottom line though...if you decide to go ahead with the treatment you should make sure you are 100% on board and are okay with the risks you are taking of making the RSD worse. Is that something you could live with if it goes bad? Does your doctor have a plan on what to do if things don't go well? You should have a clear idea of what the treatment plan is and WHY different things are being done.

I know you are deperate for some relief...ANY relief...but you really need to take the time you need to weigh the pros and cons of this treatment and the possible risks. Don't let yourself feel pressured to make the decision within the next two weeks.

Catra, you are very right. We know the person she cured. He was involved in a car crash and developed crps straight after. He is know totally pain free and performed the PRF 3 times until it worked together with lots of blocks.

The problem is that its impossible to cure the crps if the initial injury/reason that caused it is not dealt with. The difficult thing is that im not clear as in what exactly that is. Can a nerve be over sensitive from trauma and cause this shooting pain? The thing is that I had an injury for two months before it turned into crps....what exactly that was or still is we just dont know...all tests have not shown anything and we have done alot believe me.