Lower Back Procedure

[Mad-max]

I have bad arthritis in my lower spine.  She (neurologist) numbed it for a (test run) to see if she had the right nerves.  She did.  It hurt.
So the wonderful insurance company, after jumping through every hoop they threw at me,  approved a RFA  Radio frequency ablation.

She's going to burn the nerves out this time (Tues).

Anybody had a similar procedure?  This is more of a reassurance question.  I can't live like this.  So damn the torpedo's.  Full speed ahead.
Anybody have this done?,

[Moe M.]

I have bad arthritis in my lower spine.  She (neurologist) numbed it for a (test run) to see if she had the right nerves.  She did.  It hurt.
So the wonderful insurance company, after jumping through every hoop they threw at me,  approved a RFA  Radio frequency ablation.

She's going to burn the nerves out this time (Tues).

Anybody had a similar procedure?  This is more of a reassurance question.  I can't live like this.  So damn the torpedo's.  Full speed ahead.
Anybody have this done?,

 My brother in law had it done a while back, he says it really helped him, he was a bit apprehensive because of some back surgery on a couple of disks that didn't work out as promised, but this one did.
 I'm sure you'll be ok, but good luck anyway. 

[boomer]

Wishing you a speedy and complete recovery

[windy]

Praying for you.
windy

[Mad-max]

Thanks guys.  As I said,  I guess I'm a little more wound tight as the day approaches.  Seems like the older the surgeries on people the more negative their opinions.
My grandpa was bedridden for the rest of his life.  I could tell he was mortified when I helped with the dreaded bed pan.
2 younger brothers of mine lost football and track scollar

[Mad-max]

... sorry.  Back spasm.  I'm gonna lay real quiet here because I can't take pain killers this close to surgery.

[crashdive123]

Good luck.  Prayers for a speedy and complete recovery.

[wsdstan]

I hope your ablation goes well and relieves you from the pain. 

I had a compression fracture of a vertebrae in my back in about 1989 and was very lucky with the outcome.  We did nothing as it was not displaced and so far has never been a problem although it was pretty painful for a month or so.  I feel bad for those folks who have to go through the pain for a long period of time.  Good luck with this and I hope it works out perfectly.

[Mannlicher]

hope all goes well with this adventure.   

[Mad-max]

Thanks all.  Tomorrow 8:30 am is I go under.

[Mad-max]

Well,  I woke up from the procedure with
out feeling any pain.  Shook off the small amount of anesthetic in a minute or two.  Released to my wife's care in 1/2 hr.  Easy peasy.  I'm very relieved.  Time will tell if it was the right way go.

Looking forward to getting out there again.

[boomer]

Very good news. Sounds promising for sure. Congratulations.

[crashdive123]

So far, so good.  Hope it stays that way.

[Moe M.]

Well,  I woke up from the procedure with
out feeling any pain.  Shook off the small amount of anesthetic in a minute or two.  Released to my wife's care in 1/2 hr.  Easy peasy.  I'm very relieved.  Time will tell if it was the right way go.

Looking forward to getting out there again.

         

[wolfy]

Back 'procedures' are always a bit of a worry, but not as much as they used to be.  Glad to hear things are progressing normally for you, Tony!  

[wsdstan]

Here's hoping it is gone for good. 

[Mad-max]

So good I'm shopping for new paddle craft already.

Still hemorraghing money though.  The ac took a shat on us last night.  Love summer in FL.  Not.

[Mad-max]

Gotta give a shout out to our ac man.  He was a young kid tagging along with pops when they revamped our ac.
Kid found the problem (capacitor) and replaced it on warranty in 1/2 hr.
Gave him a coke for a tip.

[Icepick15]

Glad it worked out for you.

I've had chronic back pain for a long, long time.
Back in 2014 my back went out.  I just twisted the wrong way.  Chiropractor took an X-ray and said he should be able to fix it.  No dice.
MRI and trip to neurosurgeon.  MRI revealed so much wrong with my lumbar spine that didn't show up in the X-ray that it's scary.  And, surgeon said I'm not a good candidate for surgery.  Stayed on sick leave for nine months.  During that time I was arguing with doctors to release me to go back to work.  They flat out refused.
I figured that I'd eventually run out of sick leave, and I had 40 years on the job, so I pulled the plug in 2015.  It's just as well.  I can't even mow my own lawn.

[Mad-max]

Icepick, man modern medicine is amazing.  I have 2 very small entry wounds.  She put bandaids on them.  Get tyem to burn those nerves out.  You really don't need to be in agony tye rest of your life.  I can help around the house and yard a lot more and it'll only get better
  Might need a repeat in a year.  That's fine by me
My prognosis was bad until I found my neurosurgion.  She has bad arthritis in her back
  Actually retired because of it.  Found thr holy grail and came back to practice thid procedure

[wsdstan]

Tony I am really happy with the news on your back.  Neato.

[Icepick15]

Mad-max----

That sounds maybe kind of like the procedure the neurosurgeon was talking about to me.  If it is, it's the one that he said I'm not a good candidate for.

[Mad-max]

Thanks Stan.

Sounds like you've explored the possibilities Icepick.  Good luck.

[Mannlicher]

of course you still have the arthritis in those bones.  Are you going to get that looked at?

[boomer]

Sounds like a good outcome. Congratulations

[Mad-max]

Sam,  she did see that and we talked.  She has a similar condition. She is the 3rd  opinion.  I didn't trust just one. The procedure may have to be repeated until the nerves don't grow back.  The hope is my vertebrae will continue to fuse themselves and the dreaded fusion operation will not be needed.  That's a looong recovery period for that. 
Apparently this is a common course of treatment at this time.