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

Linda,

It is nice to see you back...I was going to post some information on it, but I see you already had it done...If you really want or need more info just post...I hope you are comfortable and resting well...

I personally decided it was not for me...but that was me and we are all different...

Gloria-I would appreciate any information that you have on the subject of RFA. I am not sure it was the right choice that I made, but I had to do something. I had too much pain to enjoy anything. I had injections but they never lasted more than a day or two at the most. I really have never had much luck with pain meds either. Surgery seems to be out of the question for the moment at least. The pain has made me feel like I am on the edge. I don't know how else to describe it. It seems like I can not deal with anything right now. -Linda