Radiofrequency Neurotomy for pain relief

It's been really quiet with my boys gone on vacation. It's RELAXING.... I'll admit, I feel kind of guilty....but it's a well deserved guilty.

On my visit two days ago to the pain specialist, we planned to do radiofrequency on my lower back. Radiofrequency Nurotomy basically involves burning the nerve endings on the spine in order to provide pain relief when all other methods have failed. However, there are steps that have to be performed before jumping right into this. The first and less invasive method tried is pharmacology. Ideally, a non-narcotic medication such as Cymbalta, Wellbutrin, Lyrica or Neurontin, would be preferable to most doctors, but narcotics like Vicodin and Percocet are also recognized as viable. It's also necessary to rule out any physical damage that may be causing the pain such as herniated or bulging discs that may need to be addressed through other means such as surgery or physical therapy. This would be done with imaging like an MRI or CT SCAN. Next, facet injections are used to deliver numbing medication into the spine. If there is any pain relief, it is a positive response and it would be viable to move on to the next step. For some people, facet injections alone are enough to provide pain relief, but for most relief will last from an hour up to a week before the pain returns. In some cases, a step may be added here, in the form of an epidural injection. This would depend on patient history, prognosis and how aggressive the patient wants treatment to be; in some cases an epidural may be enough to control pain. If there is no success with an epidural, or it is not used, then radiofrequency would be the next step.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/injections/radiofrequency-neurotomy-facet-and-sacroiliac-joint-pain

In my case, we skipped the first step altogether because I can't take any neuropathic medications, they all give me adverse effects from depression to violent migraines. I also can't take any narcotic medications because I have developed allergic reactions to them within the last year.  This is something that actually gets me on the doctor's good side, they know I'm in pain but am not drug seeking....then I frustrate them again when they try to give me NSAID's but I can't take them either because I have erosive esophagitis because of the GERD. Then they don't like me anymore and say "Well what do you want me to give you? What can you take?" I just say "Nothing, I'll be okay. It's just another pain."

**NOTE: These side effects, from what may be serotonin syndrome, to allergic reactions which may be mast cell reaction or ideopathic anaphylaxis are linked to EDS, but there is still research being done on these subjects.

I've already had 2 rounds of facet injections, one on each side with positive results. The first one lasted about a day. The second lasted about 1 month on and off until it wore off completely. I've noticed increased pain if sitting for 1 hour or more. I have to lay down more often throughout the day and if I have a long day I may need help getting up from bed the next day. Because of my history and prognosis, we're just going straight to the radiofrequency and skipping the epidural. There's no point in trying something that may not work and will just subject me to an unnecessary procedure that could cause more harm, the radiofrequency will get right to the point and has higher probability of being effective. Of course EDS'ers are full of surprises so if 30-50% of people get significant pain relief for 2 years, and 50% get some pain relief for a shorter amount of time, I'll probably be in that lower and shorter range, that's still better than now! My life changed the 1 month that I had pain relief from the facet injection alone. It changed enough for me to notice when I went back to having pain, so I'll take those odds.

The doctor and I also discussed getting the initial facet injections in my cervical vertebrae because of the continuous spasms and bursitis I get. Before we do this he will have me see the surgeon again to approve it. I've had imaging previously which showed C3 was starting to bulge, C4 had arthritis and C5-C7 is my fusion (which was 75% fused already!). I'll speak with the surgeon about the possibility of chronic dislocation of the shoulder leading to the bursitis, and my wrists. I don't think dislocating that will deter from having the injections done, if I am dislocating I don't feel any pain directly related to it, I just feel the bursitis and muscle pain....I'm happy to let go of that! But, maybe he can prescribe a brace for support when I sleep and on busy days.

I've already been explained that radiofrequency HURTS and that I'll be in increased pain for about 1 month afterwards....and that's PER SIDE...I'm getting both sides done. They're done 1 week apart just to make sure that there's no adverse reaction to treatment.... and to prolong torture as much as possible for their sick entertainment....Joking, LOL!!!

I'm sure I'll be fine. I made it through the acid reflux surgery with no pain meds, I'll make it through this too! I'll just do some auto-hypnosis and EFT before the procedures and....

..... trust that all is and will be well....