Hi Bronco, for what it's worth, and based on my limited understanding...
The nerves do not grow back in the exact same pattern...NEW nerves can possibly start to grow, and "bypass" the nerves that have been obliterated.

It is similar to "collaterilazion" of blood supply when someone has had a heart attack. In order for the body to "compensate" for a blood vessel that has been blocked by artheriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries.blackage), the heart muscle, "knowing" that it needs a supply of blood, will start making NEW blood vessels to transport the needed blood supply, and "bypass" NATURALLY the totally clogged artery They are smaller little blood vessels, but they do supply SOME blood to the heart muscle. Sometimes, the "collaterization" of new blood vessels is just enough to keep the heart functioning a little bit better; other times, the new blood vessels aren't enough, so the patient has to go in for "Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery", where the Doctor takes a healthy blood vessel from the leg, and uses it to "bypass" the clogged artery in the heart.

On a more simplistic level, nerves act "similarly" when they try to re-establish pathways..may not be the BEST nerve supply, but it is SOME nerve supply. Or, it might be GREAT nerve supply.

So, what I noticed after I had My RF--there was a definite period of time, while the zapped nerves couldn't transport "pain impulses", that my symptoms were decreased; after a while, the sympptoms started returning. So, somehow, the "nerve-connection" got "re-wired" with new nerves being generated. My symptoms did not "worsen"-they just returned to "status-quo"...like they were before the RF. Although it was not a "permanent solution" for me, at least I had about of year of decreased symptoms, and needed FAR less blocks/meds to control things. Then, it was back to "staus quo"...so would I give up that year, if I knew BEFOREHAND that eventually, my smptoms would return? Heck no! ! BUT--that is just how MY BODY responded....everyone is DIFFERENT.

It is great that your are researching everything out that you can! That way, when you have your next vistit with your Doctor, you can discuss all your concerns, and THEN, make a decision that you feel is best for YOU.

YOU know YOUR body BEST! All we can do, is tell you how OUR bodies "reacted" to certain procedures, "good, bad or so-so"...

No "easy answers", unfortunately....

Best wishes!

Brokenwings

Hi,

Good advice from BW, searching the forum as a whole is a very good idea; to start you off, here's an excellent thread about RFA on the spinal disorders forum:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...p?t=906&page=2

best of luck

In sept 2006 I had a neurectomy of the 5th branch trigeminal nerve. Just do this: ask your doctor what he will do if his procedure fails. Mine was a definite failure and I gave up sensation to the lower part of my face. BUT I still have severe pain in the part that is numb (new DX: anesthesia dolorosa)
God bless us all!

Question your doctor very carefully about RISKS vs BENEFITS.

Find out how many of these procedures she has performed, and what has been the "long-term" success rate. Also, ask her if that would be her choice if she were in your situation

Good luck to you,

EJ

One of the main reasons I went ahead with the RF was because my Docotor had performed 6 Stellate Blocks. As a result of this, my Doctor was VERY FAMILIAR with my neck anatomy. Since the RF is performed in an essentially identical manner (the only difference being that the needle with the RF is then positioned a bit differently in order to create the "discreet lesions" on the nerve), I had the utmost confidence in my Doctor.

I did not experience ANY of the side effects that "might" occur with this procedure (other than a sore neck). I attribute the success that I experienced to (1). the technical SKILL my Docotor possesses, and just as importantly,(2). my Docotor's familiarity with ME and my neck anatomy. (3). the procedure was performed under flouroscopy, and the Doctor could see EXACTLY where the needle was positioned before zapping the nerve with the RF.

But again, this was just "my experience", and my Doc and I discussed it VERY THOROUGHLY before I made my decision to go ahead with the RF.

Perhaps this info will help.

Sincerely,

Brokenwings

Thanks brokenwings, I to think If I get a year or even less that is time with out pain I should be able to use that time to strengthen and do a few things like ride a bike, walk, sit, stand w/ out pain. at this point I will take any time. thanks again for knowing how it is in the pain world

Hi Peggyann,

Just wanted to put in a quick word of welcome..


I sent you a quick note on the "new members" thread too. Do an "advanced" search (link at the top of the page) for radio frequency RF, this thread is a little older, new information may have been discussed in other forums...

So, I really wanted to say hi, hope we can help!

all the best

Bronco, My Dr didn't want to burn; if the first Blocken didn't work He believes Burning would't work that well at that point.

But I beleive we can ask many DR.'s and get many different answers. "my saying they still call them practices. "Dr's Practice" When does it stop being a practice??? Life is a grap shoot.

In a word, No. Good luck, Pam

Sometimes we make these decisions when we are in so much pain and so stressed we don't care what they do to us. When mine first started in my right arm, I was asking Drs. to cut my right arm off. They looked at me like I was nuts, which at the time, I might of somewhat fit into that catagory. LOL

Do a lot of research on this and if you are in a lot of pain and stress I would ask if you can take time to think about it.

As far as the blocks. I hear so many on here say there is a time line in which to get them done. I honestly don't believe. I believe that this is old school from the Drs. saying it to people.

We have Drs. that want to help us with the RSD, some that don't want to take the time, some that use us for guinne pigs, some that just want our money and have us keep coming back if we have good insurance and some that are willing to learn and help us as you go with them.

I have heard so many success stories around here about the blocks. I have said this many times on here. I saw one girl that had the RSD for over 25 years and I talked her into going to my Anesteologist and get some blocks and she told me that she had never felt better in her life. We have 2 Anesteologist in my area that everybody likes. As far as Pain Drs. we have pill pushers and knife happy ones in this area. I am amazed at how many drugs they hand out to some of my friends around here and do nothing else for them.

Keep looking for a good Anesteologist in your area that has an office sat up out of the hospital where he does blocks or keep looking for a very good PM Dr. I see people say they have had one or two blocks and they didnt' work and the Dr. quit. They usually do a series of them and the more they do usually the better the pains subsides.

I don't know too much about the procedure you are talking about but when someone said that you couldn't have any other procedures done because of it that sent a signal to me.

Whatever you decide, I hope it works for you.

Ada