Another thought along the same lines as artist was saying...

I heard this option suggested back in 1988 and mentioned it to another doctor who said: "OH NO! DON'T DO THAT!" His reasoning was that you were cutting off pathways that not only incorrectly send pain messages, but also correctly warn that you have stepped on something extremely hot, abraded yourself, etc. If you have "no" sensation you can't consciously remove yourself from danger, etc. And your body can't correctly act (however little it still does) to heal wounds and so on.

Yes, you ultimately need to make your own choice. Don't let only one or two poeple sway you too much, but get as much information as you can before this permanant procedure.

Gook luck,

Mike

I recently had to make this same decision. Please read through some of the past posts. I found them very helpful. I spent hour upon hour researching this issue. For myself, I decided against it, mainly because I felt, based on the research that I did, that it could make things worse instead of better. I've already lost the use of a limb from this disorder and do not want to risk making this spread. Please do your homework on this so that you can make the decision that is best for you. Whatever way you go, I hope things go well for you. Hope that this helps.

My doctor says that the verve endings will grow back..... For some reason I am not sure about that...

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

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

I HAVE HAD LIKE 6 NERVE BLOCKS IN 2011 THUS FAR, THAT WERE DONE BETWEEN THE T8*T9 AND L5*S1 FUSION THAT WAS DONE ON 2007 AND HAD RELIEF IN MY LUMBER UNTIL NOVEMVBER OF 2010. NOW WE DISCOVERED THE SLIPPED DISC IN MY T8*T9 WHICH IN VERY PAINFUL. NOW THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT DOING THE RF PROCEDURE. I NEED MORE INFO. FROM PATIENTS WHO HAVE HAD THIS DONE AND WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENS DURING THE PROCEDURE, LIKE SEDATION ETC. HELP. VERY SCARED AT THIS POINT

If you have RSD, it's VERY, VERY RISKY. If you don't, it might not be... I had one performed and it made my RSD permanently more severe. Do a google search on Hooshmand and Radiofrequency--that should be warning enough if you have RSD. This is very outdated treatment for RSD patients, and I'd start researching new docs asap...if you have RSD.

thank u, i will look into further as suggested.