RF Nerve Ablation

Sorry, I've been on here very infrequently lately. Just not up to the reading and needed a break.

I had a bilateral medial branch RF nerve ablation performed on C1-C5 in mid-July this year. Since then I have been miserable. I have had burning, electrical shock sensations and pain--especially in the neck and back of the head area. The neck area often feels hot and swollen.

Nothing seems to help. Ice gives a small amount of relief from the burning. Using my arms for anything at all irritates it and makes things much worse, as does riding in the car or frequent head movements.

My local PA has put me on a couple sessions of prednisone dosepaks. Although it helped maybe just a tad by the last day, it didn't last. She suggested maybe a longer, continued dose of steroids might be necessary to help with the inflammation in the nerves. A little hesitant about this because of side-effects, but getting to the point where I am considering it.

The symptoms seem to get worse as the days wear on since the procedure.

I had the two preliminary procedures before the ablation to see if it would be successful, and I had excellent results with those. My pain was greatly reduced for the short-term.

What do you think happened? Any suggestions for finding some relief?

By the way, I've tried chiropractic, long-term physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, traction, stretches and exercises, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatories, topical pain patches and creams, etc., and all have failed to help and most have triggered more pain and migraine.

Thanks so much.

I dont know anything about the procedure, but I'm sorry you are miserable! We are all such guinea pigs, arent we? Maybe you should get a second opinion on why the surgery backfired. I hope you get some relief soon.
Hugs,
Cindy

I'm glad to hear from you but sorry to hear your update. I'm not famiiar with thie procedure either. Maybe you can tell us more when you feel up to it.

I really hope you start feeling better soon!!!!!

What does the doctor say? Since July is a really long time to still be having this problem. Can they go in and fix it? Or do they think it will get better on its own? My brother has been considering this (if could ever get approval from the insurance company), so I'm really interested in your experience. Where did you get the procedure if I may ask?

Welcome back, Tecky :]
although I wish I could welcome you in way more happy circumstances

I am sorry to say I am also unfamiliar with the procedure, but hearing the words"nerve" and "ablation" it comes to mind
that perhaps either the procedure didn't fully 'ablate' the nerves or maybe it touched some in vicinity and hurt these,
and that's what you are feeling now?, or maybe all this is just a pure fiction (like I tend to invent) and has nothing to do
with all of it whatsoever, and maybe it's rather a slipped disc problem or something like that?

I am really shooting in the dark here, and since I also have on/off lower/upper back problem since last Easter
I truly sympathize with you .

What doctor are you seeing for this problem? The neuro or the orthopedic? perhaps it would be best to see both?
I truly hope this will be sorted out as life with such pain is miserable, indeed...


hang in there, sweetie!


Risa

Gosh several years ago I had this done on the right side of my face. (I cannot type today, please forgive me) I had some pretty bad, what I call flushing, afterwards. The area where they did the procedure would just flush, on its own and I had no control over it. the right side of myface would all of a sudden turn red and get really hot. I would feel like I was on fire, or had really bad sunburn just all of a sudden. It doesn't happen now. I don't know how long it took to go away, but I remember it kind of slowly tapered off. I am hoping the same thing happens for you. I am thinking it did take several months for it to stop completely. My anesthesiologist at the time told me it was normal, however that was AFTER the procedure was done and there had been no mention of it BEFORE the procedure was performed...go figure!

steph wrote:Gosh several years ago I had this done on the right side of my face. (I cannot type today, please forgive me) I had some pretty bad, what I call flushing, afterwards. The area where they did the procedure would just flush, on its own and I had no control over it. the right side of myface would all of a sudden turn red and get really hot. I would feel like I was on fire, or had really bad sunburn just all of a sudden. It doesn't happen now. I don't know how long it took to go away, but I remember it kind of slowly tapered off. I am hoping the same thing happens for you. I am thinking it did take several months for it to stop completely. My anesthesiologist at the time told me it was normal, however that was AFTER the procedure was done and there had been no mention of it BEFORE the procedure was performed...go figure!

Thanks, Steph. I've had flushing on the right side of my face for years now (well before any of the ablation, medial branch blocks or facet blocks were performed). I have just thought it was related to the migraines, because it seems to be worse when the pain escalates.

There was no mention of the electrical shock sensations I'm feeling now made prior to my having the procedure done. Yes, go figure....

Sunburn is exactly what the back of my head, neck and upper back feel like. Add in electrical shocks like someone has connected an electric fence into your spine and lower brain and zaps you periodically out of the blue.

Thanks everyone for your comments and empathy. It surely helps.

I had the procedure done at a well-known pain clinic in Minneapolis. It's about a 10-hour drive from where I live. The clinic said that since I'm out of state I should see my local doctor. They would not give me any suggestions unless I made another trip to see them.

Here is a link to a description of the procedure: http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Patients/Programs-and-Services/Pain-Center/Head-and-Neck-Pain/Cervical-Block---Radiofrequency-Ablation.aspx

I had the RF abalation done back in December, 2011. I have been experiencing the electric shock waves in my lower back since this procedure that you were talking about. Are you still experiencing this electric shock feeling? If not, what has helped with this situation?
Also, since the procedure, I wake up some nights and my hands and/or feet are numb.

I haven't heard of RF Ablation, however I did have Rhizotomy (Oblation) of the Ganglion Nerve at C-2 on both sides. These two nerves were "fried" and supposed to be killed off in an effort to turn off the "switch" that triggers migraine. It was very painful and did not work.

Just the opposite, I was in worse pain that was agonizing for over a year after those two procedures. Pain management, they tried everything, cervical facet injections, occipital lobe injections, nothing worked.

I do not believe there is any pain out there greater than the "Migraine Monster" and I still am battling to kill it off.

Hello Trinity, and welcome to our Fabulous Underground site !!


Sadly, this is not the first time when "killing" of the nerves in the face in hopes to relieve or lessen the M (migraine) pain
caused more, actually.
I think doctors who perform this procedure are either mistaken as to the root of the pain - perhaps they believe
it's trigeminal neuralgia, rather, than true migraine, or they are not aware it's not the proper treatment.
Not the best one, seems like, anyway.

Very sorry about your experience. How is your face pain after oblation now?

Risa

Cluelesskitty wrote:Hello Trinity, and welcome to our Fabulous Underground site !!


Sadly, this is not the first time when "killing" of the nerves in the face in hopes to relieve or lessen the M (migraine) pain
caused more, actually.
I think doctors who perform this procedure are either mistaken as to the root of the pain - perhaps they believe
it's trigeminal neuralgia, rather, than true migraine, or they are not aware it's not the proper treatment.
Not the best one, seems like, anyway.

Very sorry about your experience. How is your face pain after oblation now?

Risa

Actually, the Rhizotomy was done at the base of my skull in the back of my head down to C-2. That pain was like burning fire in the back of my neck up through my skull. I do get that, but not everyday. After the proceedure I had that suffering for a year everyday.

Needless to say, the Rhizotomy did nothing to help eliminate the migraine monster. I just have to believe there has to be some research somewhere that provides for treatment that actually works. Still hoping! Thanks for the response and I hope you are feeling good today!

Thanks for explaining that! now you see why I am CLUELESS Kitty, lolololol

Have you tried, as I do, taking triptan with a painkiller together? I found it works far better for an extremely severe episode
than either taken alone.
I also noticed, don't know why is - that than except for those on a scale 1-10 a 10 humdinger right away,
what works better for me is taking a 10mg Maxalt and breaking it into 3 or even 4 pieces and taking it more often
than whole caplet at once.

For example, say a M started at 8 am and it hit 7-8-9 scale - so I would start with 1/3 of Maxalt and 2 percocet.
If that not helps, I would take another 1/3 of Maxalt, but NOT percocet as the time interval must be 4 hrs.
I probably would be lucky to have pain lessen by now. fingers crossed.

But since you can take up to 20mg of Maxalt in a day, I would do that throughout the episode making sure I am right on time with medications.

btw I like your avatar - the face looks familiar but I can't place it - is it Game of Thrones, maybe?

Risa

Cluelesskitty wrote:Thanks for explaining that! now you see why I am CLUELESS Kitty, lolololol

Have you tried, as I do, taking triptan with a painkiller together? I found it works far better for an extremely severe episode
than either taken alone.
I also noticed, don't know why is - that than except for those on a scale 1-10 a 10 humdinger right away,
what works better for me is taking a 10mg Maxalt and breaking it into 3 or even 4 pieces and taking it more often
than whole caplet at once.

For example, say a M started at 8 am and it hit 7-8-9 scale - so I would start with 1/3 of Maxalt and 2 percocet.
If that not helps, I would take another 1/3 of Maxalt, but NOT percocet as the time interval must be 4 hrs.
I probably would be lucky to have pain lessen by now. fingers crossed.

But since you can take up to 20mg of Maxalt in a day, I would do that throughout the episode making sure I am right on time with medications.

btw I like your avatar - the face looks familiar but I can't place it - is it Game of Thrones, maybe?

Risa

Actually the avatar is called "Deborah the Judge" from the OT. She symbolizes wisdom, power and strength. I would have to say she symbolizes my personal goals. She is holding a sword and I hope someday to slay the "monster migraine" myself.

Trinity

Thank you, Trinity!

I have a gnawing feeling I saw the face in your avatar someplace, but I can't recall where. argghh!



Risa

Hello, and warmest welcome to Underground!
What a precious children you have!

Your story is so familiar - the relentless pain, the misery, nothing seem to be working, developing stomach problems, 
juggling family, work and social life with this unrelenting pain, and the feeling of loneliness.

Well at here you don't have to be alone - we all struggle exactly like you do.

While we may not be able to find the best solution for your particular type of migraine, we always can commiserate and sympathize
as we well know what is like to have migraine and live in this hellish pain. Know so well.

What have you been given for pain relief so far? Have you ever tried any triptans (Imitrex, Zomig, Mxalt etc) together with strong pain reliever
such as Tylenol 3 or Percocet? mind you, the las are strong narcotic painkillers so you'd have to be super vigilant for signs of dependency
but at least maybe you'd finally have pain-free periods.

For long term therapy, I was successful with Topamax at 125mg - but then, it started working after amny many years of M (migraine),
as I went into my late 40 -early 50-ties, something like that. In this instance the saying "better late than never" proved true, lololol

Risa


ps - is it trichobezoar? I am familiar with trichotillomania, the condition where a person have an uncontrollable urge to pull out hair,
sometimes swallow them, too. it is very serious condition and also very debilitating.

pmmep wrote:I have been a migraine patient for over 17 years.  I have tried it all Botox, Acupuncture, Hypnosis, Pain Management Therapy, Epidural Steroid Injections, Nerve Blocks, Occipital, Steroid Injections, Nerve Blocks, Trigger Point Injections, I spent 4 years at a hospital that specializes in Migraines and other head health issues (painful & bad experiences) and finally this Radiofrequency Ablation.  I thought this hospital was my answer but I developed a bezoar (mass found trapped in my stomach) from the many medications that I was taking, so as I have been reading the many stories on this site I was compelled to join.  For the first 6 years of my journey I was able to work, raise and family, complete school, travel and live a perfect life with my husband.  When I reached the 8 year of this I began to doubt that any of these procedures would work.  I began to withdrawal from everything and everyone.  I have not worked in the past 6 years and I have two beautiful grandchildren and one of the best husband and families that any person can ever want but I am unable to spend any time with anyone.  I live in my bedroom; I am trying to search for any peace of hope.  As I have read I am reliving the many trips to the ER that I took.  (These trips slowly took the small piece of mind that I had away (being doubted and accused of drug seeking is the lowest).  To live with pain levels of 8-10 daily, weekly, monthly and now yearly what’s a person to do.  I am currently seeing a great pain specialist in Elmhurst who has helped with the ER visits (with direct admissions) and is always a call away.  This doctor is the best and I’ve seen dozens on dozens of them.  But as we all know medicine and doctors can only do so much.  I should have began with I am a firm believer in a higher power and pray, fast, meditate as often as I can.

So I had the Radiofrequency Ablation on C-2, C-3, C-4 & C-5, 5 days ago and I am still in pain.  Pain is not the word for this, I am on Pain Management Therapy (meds) as well, and I am now at a point where I think this is the way my life is going to be.  I am blessed that my husband of almost 20 years and my brother have walked this long, endless journey with me. So I know this is a lot but I am a true believer so if anyone has had any other options, comments, stories please HELP. 

PMMEP

I am so sorry you are going through all of this suffering. I had occipital lobe injections, Cervical facet injections and Ablation of the Ganglion nerves at C-2 on both sides. Everything got worse not better for over a year. Then I was back where I started. If you have a good doctor, hang on to him. I wish there were some encouraging words or research to give. Trinity