I now send people who post on the "old posts" a message on their inbox. It lets them know about the hourglass, that the post is old, etc., etc. I do inform them that it's perfectly fine, and normal to be reading the old posts (I also read old posts from time to time!), just that it isn't practical to respond to them
keeps happening anyway shinty...........whatever you say!
Indicative of.......?
This post is originally from February of 2009! When an hourglass after the name of the person posting is shown, then it's an old post. It's certainly okay to read older posts with hourglasses present or not, but it isn't practical to respond to them. I probably could have explained this a lot clearer, and shorter, but oh well!
shinty
I've had two bilateral RFAs to facial nerves with very good results. I just had the second one done a week ago and aside from being a little tender where the needle was inserted my facial pain is down by a lot. My surgeon mentioned something about RFAs that I did not know. The pulses do something that alter the C fibers of the nerves thus affecting how the pain signal gets transmitted.
I had many diagnostic shots done first to identify what nerves would be pulsed. It was a tedious process but worth it for me. My doctors did have me wean off of opiates prior to the diagnostic testing. They wanted my pain to be in its full state of ickyness to increase the chances of getting the right nerves. That part sucked.
I don't know much about the success of RFAs for spine pain tho.
Good luck to fellow pain sufferers.
Horselip
I had this procedure a little over 2 weeks ago. No change. I've heard everything from 1 to 6 weeks, so I wait. I've done steroids injections etc. My right side L3, L4, L5 and S1 (I think) are sources of pain. Right side is worse. My pain has escalated over the last few does in the Hip joint area...excruciating and standing up after a period of sitting is agonizing.
I feel like the bad child at the Dr. Office. I need results. I did one PT...can't do much except gentle stretching but even then next day I felt like did way more than that...
Frustrated, hurting and desperate to get well and have my life back.
Here's hoping the next couple of weeks this works.
OH and my brother has severe problems and this worked for him...he's done it several times
i have had the radio frequencey on my lower back rt & left sides it was like a miracle they say it can last from 6 months to 2 yrs i got about 1 yr out of it but by 2 yrs i needed it again , i was told it would be painfull & it was not at all i was even given extra pain medicine for after wards & did not use it i have multiple sclerosis & cronic pain esp in my lower legs & in my lower back from multi car accidents , ive been on opiates since 2002 mophine& hydro codone i was on oxycontine insur issue changed to morhine , ive never taken more than prescribed & in 1st few yrs dr kept increasing i was on 160 of oxy 2x aday hydro 4x wen insurance issue came up dr changed me to 4 hyro no change & 100 mg of morhine 4x aday thats as close to the oxy as possible i started with new pain dr & he started decreasing it i am now on 60 mg morhine 3x dayu 10/325 hydro 3x aday id prefer 4x aday on these 2 because it covers you more for pain than 3x aday & i \have always been able to function normally on all doses i have severe pain every day & nite thr RF was a miracle but my dr made me have 3 epidurals & then several faccetts b4 the RF procedures none of those helped & in order to have the RF again i have to have serveral faccetts 1st i refuse they are the most painful & do not hepl at all i have had procedures with other drs & about 13 with my current honestly i think its all about insrance & money , he said if you dont do the procedures he wld not take me as a patient in all 3 types of procedures i was fully awake that was in 2007 into 2008 & te RFS were MIRACLE I WLD DO IT AGAIN IN A HEART BEAT BUT NO FACCETTS the faccetts were not done with radio frequencey , any how he now offers an iv for 65 cash no insurace filing he didnt b4
i knew my pain was bad but wen i hasd my RF done it cld not believe the relief i got i wish it lasted longer but the other things were painful but the rf was not i even cried b4 because i was so wked up over it even my reg dr said it wld be painful it was not not during & not after & im a big baby ???
i wld highly recomend it
Hi, RexChap...
Many thanks for your input on the radio frequency ablation, etc., and the question of effectiveness against long standing pain conditions. What you say makes sense. I'll add that at one point in my efforts to deal with my pain problem, we tried elavil. Unfortunately, it didn't help.
I particularly liked your way of explaining one of the problems of long standing conditions with the metaphor of the plasma television. You have a great way with words...have you thought about writing on this (or any other) subject?
Many thanks also for your point that the pain may also have several sources. I believe that's the case with me, and of course it makes diagnosis really complicated. I'll add that one of the sources may be emotional, including the emotional reaction to dealing with the pain on a long term basis. So it can be self-reinforcing...
What complicated folks we are...Frank
I am a PT- your point regarding decreased effectiveness on longer standing problems is an excellent point. In my experience as a therapist- it seems like this long standing pain is like an image burned into a plasma television. This pain is often there well after the original cause has been solved. This pain usually responds better to the anti-depressant medications used for pain such as elavil, neurotonin, etc. Furthermore- many patients have more than one pain source so each pain may have to be treated differently. Good luck
Thanks, Tuck. I am fascinated by the notion that the procedure works less well on longer standing problems. Almost as if the relevant nerves got programmed to a degree that could not be burned off. As usual, thanks much for your thoughtfulness...fpainestam
Hi Fpainestam,
I am happy to hear from you. Thank you for updating us on the results of your procedure. I am very sorry to hear that it was not successful. I am not keeping an official record but I think your results are not uncommon. I have chose not to go that route for that very reason. I was hopeful it would work for you.
You poss a thought provoking question. Did you sister have good results because she doesn't take opiates??? In my thinking is your pain may be greater and your condition more advanced than hers. If your pain was equal would she not have taken opiates?
Here are my thoughts. I find your situation very interesting as my brother has a nasty spine condition. I have an SI Joint condition, similar but not the same. I went on opiates for pain control, he did not. He questioned my need and my ability to tolerate pain. In other words little brother thought I was less tolerant and weaker than he. Suddenly and severely his condition deteriorated. He desperately required opiates until the surgeon was able to perform multiple treatments that finally reduced his pain. We both now agree that his pain was not to the level that mine was/is (until his deterioration) and hence my need for opiates. He no longer takes them but would not hesitate if needed. He is much more understanding.and I no longer feel like the weaker sibling.
There is also some documentation regarding rebound pain from opiates but in your case I think the treatment just was not successful. It doesn't work for everyone. I beleive and again there is documentation that if your pain is long standing any treatments seem to be less effective. I'm sorry that that was true in your case.
Please continue to share your progress with us and keep us updated. I look forward to hearing from you again and I am sure our members do also. Please take care.
Peace, Tuck