I am scheduled to have RFA done to cut a painful nerve in my lower back on Thursday. I have been talking to some friends(none of whom have had it done) and they don't think it is a good idea. I wondered if I could get some feedback on this procedure. I kno that I remember having read some posts on BT1 on this subject but at the time, I didn't have a reason to absorb the info. Any info would be appreciated.-Linda

Sorry Linda, I can't help you but wanted to welcome you to Spinal Disorders. Have you googled it in to get info? Sometimes it can be a good place to go if no one comes in. I too have read from the Old Boards but I can't remember what it said.
Billie

RFA? Radio Frequency Ablation?? If so, I had an RFA in April on C3/4 facet joints.

My results of the procedure were not good, I ended up with Occipital Neuralgia and associated pain from that when an adjoining nerve branch was only partially lesioned. (fried). However, it did appear to relieve pain in my original area that was caused by the C3/4 nerve roots, but C2 nerve branch was also paritally fried, thus the new pain and neuralgia....

I was told my by PM Doctor yesterday that if I required the procedure in my Lumbar or Thoracic area that the chance of the complication I had was only around 1%, he never said what it was for the cervical area but I believe I read somewhere in the 5-10% range, so lucky me.

I can neither recommend it nor not recommend it, you have to find out as much as you can from others and of course each person has different circumstances involving what is wrong with them and how to treat it. Of course, anything somewhat conservative in treating for relief of pain is better than going under the knife in my opinion.

Sorry, cannot be of much more help, but if your RFA is what I have had done, Goggle "Radio Frequency Ablation" and you should find a bit of information about it.

Jyes

Linda, I was going to have an RFA done at L4-L5 bilaterally, but my PM said that the test to see if it (RFA) would work, was to do facet joint injections, to see if the injections relieved the pain. He said you get two sets of the injections (if the 1st one works). I did them, they did help, but then I chickened out on the procedure. I googled it, and found the success rate fairly low (I think it was about 33%, but that is a guess). Plus, I asked my OS about it, and he said he had patients come back to him where they did not work. But he also said, it doesn't mean that some of his patients had them, they worked, and did not come back to him. He did not advise me, because I had already decided I really did not want it.
There was a lot of info on BT, and I hope you can find the info you need.

I am 47, and my PM didn't mention a thing about age and long-term effects. So, I think even the doctors do not have the same opinions. Maybe a second opinion? Good luck, and I hope others come through with their experiences. I know there were alot on BT that they worked for, and alot that they didn't work for (I posted the question there, myself).
Carolyn

My 2 cents for what its worth. I had an RF done at c2-c3 I think, somewhere in the cervical area. I did have the facet injections and they did help but for some reason the RF did not. I experienced more pain and soreness for about a month or so and I had hoped that once that leveled off I would get some relief but I didn't. I would say read all you can about it and hopefully others will come who have had a positive experience than you just have to weigh your options. Good luck to ya...Sue

Well, I had RFA today. I just got home a few minutes ago. It was kind of tough, and I can stand a lot of pain. My back is still numb so I don't know if it did any good. Same old ice, rest and no bath for 24. I just hope it was worth it. I am having my right side done in 2 weeks. Gonna try some ice. Later Linda

Hi Linda~
Geesh, at times like THIS do we ever miss our information on BT! This subject was very controversial.

I'm not sure whom is here from which side, so all I can do is give you my viewpoint.

I was scheduled for RFA last December, but when I got there my Anesthesiologist talked with me. He said he had talked with my Physiatrist and they had decided to NOT do the RFA, but instead do ESI's because there was no long term data out there for a woman my age. (49)

He told me no one knows of the long term effect of RFA on younger people at this time and he doesn't want me to be a guinna pig. He wanted me to be safe rather than sorry.

OK, this is MY experience, and MINE only. If anyone made it over here from the 'opposing' side, I'm sure you will hear THEIR experience.

As I said earlier, this was quite controversial, and I opened up a hornet's nest when I posted about it there. BUT, the information was unbelievably informative, and I'm terribly sorry I don't remember any of it for you.... As usual, things always had a way of working out, and we all gained valuable information after things settled down.

I don't think Doc W or Chirogeek are here to add their input, and it's extremely sad we can't reference their posts. If I remember correctly they were on opposing sides. Then again, what little memory I did have went *POOF* with the prescribing of 400mg Topamax/day quite a while ago, so someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

I hope you will get some more info Linda. I know there were two sides, and they both had their advantages. Good luck and I look forward to reading how you turn out!
Hugs,
Jan

oh oh, I am 46 and I am scheduling my third RFA.

I have DDD and I did RFA on the facets of C2-C5 last year, and its made the difference between my going on disability full time and being able to continue working half time. Since I don't know if I could trust my supplemental disability company, this difference is very important to me. Next week I am having L4 L5 and S1 done, and I will need to repeat the cervical spine in the coming months. For me it was well worth the pain and recovery from the procedure! I am allergic to narcotics btw, so my options for pain control are limited. I am only 46 years old, I probably have a lot of years left of herniated disks, spinal impingement, and all those painful peripheral neuropathies that goes with this crud. Thank God for radio frequency ablation.