RFA for back pain?

[ctom87]

Anyone had this procedure done? Did it work?

I have a herniated disc and pars fracture at L5/S1. PT, non-narcotic pain medication and steroid injection have done nothing for me. This morning at today's follow up this was offered as an option.

Hoping to get some other opinions first before I commit to burning off some nerve endings.

[IowaHunter]

My brother has it done every couple years. He says it helps.

[BlessedVeteran0305]

It helped me for about two months and that was it. If you go that route ask if they can sedate you cuz if not it hurts like a mother. I had it done twice in the military and they didn't sedate me either time. I dang near jumped off the table.

[ctom87]

Dang. Its not even permanent? Do the nerves grow back or something?

[Aggie Dad]

Had it done on my neck several years ago. It was great until the nerves regenerated & then the pain was much worse than it was before. Ended up having it surgically fixed & been great ever since.

[Cajun Blake]

I've had 6-8 clients over the years get the radio-frequency ablation procedure done. Seemed to help with most and a few also got a SCS (spinal cord stimulator) implant. Definitely reduced prescribed narcotics. One guy experienced nerve regeneration and had the RFA repeated. Lower back pain in a PIA since you have good days, bad days, and your daily routine is based on how you feel.

[TX Fireman 911]

had surgery for my L5/S1 herniation 10 years ago. That pain was immediately gone. It has slowly crept back over the years but I am still probably doing to much and aggravating it

[Texas Grown]

Best decision I've had in getting off all the Rx I was on. I had it done on the T-6, 7, 8, 9 one time. And the L4,5 on another. I've had it done twice in both the Thoracic and Lumbar. Nerves will grow back sometimes. And sometimes it takes several treatments. It's rated for 6-18 months of pain relief. My last one was 4 years ago. The first one lasted about 3 years before I couldn't stand it anymore. And went back for a second time. After I had it done the first time, on a Friday, it was like having a whole new back on Monday. I still get an ache now and then. But nothing debilitating like I was having before.



There is a test procedure to see if you're even a possible candidate. They put a little med on the nerve that only last about 24-30 hours. If it relieves the pain, then you might be a candidate. I asked how often RFA can be done. And he told me as long as it needs to be. It's a whole lot better than all the other stuff I was having to take! I'll keep doing it as long as I need to. And will highly recommend it to anyone with chronic back pain.



Global Spinal Institute in Arlington, Dr. Mehta. He's a Anastasia doc that specializes in the spine and pain management. My rheumatologist referred me to him.




RFA has so many uses now. And they are finding new ways to use it all the time. From back pain relief, to heart surgery, brain surgery, to knee surgery.

[PYBUCK]

I have a L5 Pars fracture on both sides. I took the steroid shots, they did nothing for my pain. Pain "Dr." told me the RFA would last for 18 months to 2 years, so I did it. Lasted 2 days. Only thing that quack relieved me of was about $2,000 bucks. I just live with it. Some days are fair, others are not.

PS, It hurts like hell when they do it.
If you do it don't expect much, that way if it works good for you, if it doesn't work you won't be surprised.
Good luck

[BTLowry]

We do RFA procedures on spine, knees, hips, shoulders and occasionally for vertebral end plate pain.
Each individual responds differently so no textbook answer for how long it will last. I have seen some that it lasts 3mos and others get 18+ months

It is burning the nerve sheath and that will grow back eventually. Nerve tissue is the slowest regenrating tissue in the body but it will heal itself.

If you pursue the RFA you should be required to have a nerve block to validate that the nerve(s) in question is/are transmitting the pain signal, otherwise it is a gamble to just burn a nerve and hope it works

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor but I have worked with about 15 over the last several years that perform them on a regular basis

[DRT]

I do it every year for lower back facet joints. It works good. Your situation well . . . My insurance company made them do a lidocaine run in the joints to see if that gave me relief first and it did. So I've been doing it every 12 to 18 months for a few years.
Then he thought it would work for my neck. Told him what we'd been doing for years worked there why change. Lidocaine didn't work so back to ESIs there. Soon surgery I'm expecting.

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[ctom87]

My insurance requires two test runs before the procedure, so I will have to get that treatment twice. Boy, mixed reviews, but right now my mobility is limited at times. I have to stop mowing the grass and sit for about 5 minutes. I have to do that about 3 times. Sucks.

[kry226]

I think most insurance requires the test runs...probably industry standard. Mine did the same.

I've probably had a dozen or so RFAs over the years going back to 2014 or so (L3/L4, L4/L5, L5/S1). The first one lasted about 8 months and I think they've become less effective over time. The nerves do regenerate, and I've also heard the grow back in that they grow "around" the previous lesions cause by the RFA procedure itself... making it more difficult to actually destroy the entire medial branch nerve as originally intended during subsequent procedures.