Re: SUCCESS WITH ABLATION PROCEDURE FOR LOWER BACK... - Page 4

shoekitty · ‎03-10-2010

I have stenosis, scoliosis severe, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis of lumbar spine a few hernias in spine, with collapsed disc. Plus arthritis, RA, and severe osteoporosis. And a few other things. Phew. Hey, but still hangin in there. No way to surgery, I had a chance to do it 8 years ago. No, too high a risk for me. Mainly infection. They would have to do 2 surgeries, one for scoliosis then they could attack spine replacing discs. Almost everyone I know who has had back surgery when younger says it either didn't help much, made it worse or they had years of problems. A few swear it was the best thing they ever did. So one has to weigh everything for themselves. I wouldn't do it in my life. And now because eof osteoporosis I couldn't have it done anyway. I can't even get hip replacement. Anyway, I got a neuro stimulater inserted 2 years ago, and it helps with pain so much. Especially sciatica! I also get stem cell injections for hip pain. Got one today. The rest just have to bite the bullet. I have 2 friends who had ablation and it either works or doesn't. With ablation it isn't as invasive as surgery and could help. There is a simple test they give you by injecting lidocaine or something to see if ablasin will help.

“sometimes you have to bite your upper lip and put sunglasses on”….Bob Dylan

shoekitty · ‎03-10-2010

@pdlinda please look into neurostimulator. Medicare and my supplement paid 100%. You have to be candidate. I got epidurals for years they were my saving Grace. But they also contribute to osteoporosis which I have now. Once you get that, no more epidurals. I wasn't a candidate for,ablasion. But after many different treatments I settled on the stimulater and so glad I did. Pain is not totally gone, but it works. Drug free to. Btw, I am allergic to propopol. They give me a cocktail of fentynal and versed, or just versed. I insist on minimum, and I was partially awake. I woukd do it without anything, but they won't do it lol. I do colonoscopy's cold turkey, my Dr was shocked. Lol I wasn't totally sedated. They woukd rather give a patient propopol as it wears off quick. But the side effects were so bad, no way.

“sometimes you have to bite your upper lip and put sunglasses on”….Bob Dylan

Skyegirl21 · ‎03-20-2010

I'm sorry you have pain- it's just awful.
Propofol is used in routinely including for everyday colonoscopies- It's safe ( MJ's death was an overdose)-

If this is your only option, you have a doctor you trust, and you have debilitating pain, personally, I would Go for it.
Best wishes for success and no more pain-

pdlinda · ‎10-23-2011

@shoekitty Thanks for this info. I never heard of this device. I find it concerning that the pain med doc never mentioned anything except the epidural (never mentioned it could lead to osteoporosis!!) , ablation and sciatica injection.

Who did the implantation? Who monitors results? How often are results monitored?

I have a medicare advantage plan PPO. I would have to check that they cover this procedure.

Again, thanks so much!

pdlinda · ‎10-23-2011

@shoekitty Great info! Thank you! I had both hips replaced so no problems in that area. I WISH I could have my BACK REPLACED, but that's "wishful thinking."

I have an appt with the pain mgt doc on 12/11 and will ask about the neurostimulator.

Also, I went to a new PT guy yesterday and was very impressed with his goals and objectives with me. He, of course, tried a # of exercises to strengthen my LEGS (I also have one knee replaced). He emphasized that the more my legs are strengthened, the more pain relief I would experience on my back. I'm starting that regimen today. Hopefully, I'll get more mobility to do the walking I always enjoyed with these approaches.

Again, I'm concerned that my pain mgt doc didn't introduce the idea of the neurostimulator....only the injections I mentioned.

shoekitty · ‎03-10-2010

@pdlinda my Pain Dr recommended it to me after epidurals were off the table, and ablation wasn't going to work. I have Medicare and an aarp PPO But I believe all insurance covers it, if warranted. The pain was horrid in both legs, mainly right. When they did epidurals they did L3,4,5. You can look up neuro pain stimulator, mine is by Boston Scientific. The surgery is out patient., and done by neuro surgeon I went to same surgery center as I did for epidurals they do sedate you, but you aren't out. You need to be able to answer questions about how things feels. Takes about 1 hour. Mainly set up. Small incision is made below waist and upper butt. Then wiring is paced on nerves that Dr usually shoots with epidural. The wires are connected to box and you are glued up. lol. You can't take bath, or submerge in water for a couple weeks. Shower ok after 3 days. You have this remote that regulates the flow of stimulation. You can turn off and on and there are different programs. Me, I turn on, leave on a certain number. I turn off at night but sometimes wake up about 5 am and turn on.i really can't feel anything different. It just blocks pain. Before they insert the device, you have a trial of it. They place this belt around hips or waist with plugs glued to certain areas. It worked for me. And I have severe range pain. Like 8-9.

just do your own research. On it. I woukd look mainly on Mayo Clinic, and Boston scientific. Also looked up reviews all over internet on any neurostimulator. You shoukd look uo the long term side effects of epidurals. I did know it was a possibility when I started, but I didn't care. It cured pain, and that's all I cared about at the time. Got people's opinion on neuro stimulator. I was at wits end. I'm glad it worked for me. I have had no issues with it. I did have a trial period of finding my perfect therapy numbers. Once I did I was set. I know there are people who it may not work for. We are all different and respond just as differently. Strangely enough I had bought one of those stimulators you place on back like Physical therapists use and they sell on Amazon it didn't really work. You need to speak to Pain Dr about all options. He doesn't actually do the stimulator, you have to go to neurosurgeon. Mine had one he referred me to. I am in CA

“sometimes you have to bite your upper lip and put sunglasses on”….Bob Dylan

pdlinda · ‎10-23-2011

@shoekitty wrote:
@pdlinda my Pain Dr recommended it to me after epidurals were off the table, and ablation wasn't going to work. I have Medicare and an aarp PPO But I believe all insurance covers it, if warranted. The pain was horrid in both legs, mainly right. When they did epidurals they did L3,4,5. You can look up neuro pain stimulator, mine is by Boston Scientific. The surgery is out patient., and done by neuro surgeon I went to same surgery center as I did for epidurals they do sedate you, but you aren't out. You need to be able to answer questions about how things feels. Takes about 1 hour. Mainly set up. Small incision is made below waist and upper butt. Then wiring is paced on nerves that Dr usually shoots with epidural. The wires are connected to box and you are glued up. lol. You can't take bath, or submerge in water for a couple weeks. Shower ok after 3 days. You have this remote that regulates the flow of stimulation. You can turn off and on and there are different programs. Me, I turn on, leave on a certain number. I turn off at night but sometimes wake up about 5 am and turn on.i really can't feel anything different. It just blocks pain. Before they insert the device, you have a trial of it. They place this belt around hips or waist with plugs glued to certain areas. It worked for me. And I have severe range pain. Like 8-9.

just do your own research. On it. I woukd look mainly on Mayo Clinic, and Boston scientific. Also looked up reviews all over internet on any neurostimulator. You shoukd look uo the long term side effects of epidurals. I did know it was a possibility when I started, but I didn't care. It cured pain, and that's all I cared about at the time. Got people's opinion on neuro stimulator. I was at wits end. I'm glad it worked for me. I have had no issues with it. I did have a trial period of finding my perfect therapy numbers. Once I did I was set. I know there are people who it may not work for. We are all different and respond just as differently. Strangely enough I had bought one of those stimulators you place on back like Physical therapists use and they sell on Amazon it didn't really work. You need to speak to Pain Dr about all options. He doesn't actually do the stimulator, you have to go to neurosurgeon. Mine had one he referred me to. I am in CA

@shoekitty Oh, boy! Thanks so much for that vivid expanation of that procedure. I also have a UHC PPO advantage plan through the AZ State Retirement System.

My pain is about a 4. Once I get to 4, I get off my feet. I'm still able to do everything I need to do to maintain my lifestyle. The only thing I can't do is walk in the desert areas around my apt.

The epidurals lowered my pain level to about a 3. However, I knew nothing about the long-term side effects. I've only had 4 injections so far.

I'm going to work hard with the PT guy to try and strengthen my legs to support my back as much as possible.

The thought occurred to me that as the years go on more and more will be required of me to manage this situation. Your experience really helped me understand what this will involve!

Thanks so much! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

gaga · ‎11-24-2013

I apply 1 Pad on either side of my lower spine which is where my Phy. Therapist told me to. He set the level of therapy on the Tens for my pain level. Works great!

pdlinda · ‎10-23-2011

@gaga Great info! I'm also going for PT and will have an appt with my pain mgt doc on 12/11 so I will inquire about this. Is the TENS unit covered by insurance? HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Sammycat1 · ‎03-09-2010

@pdlinda

I did not read the whole thread, except for your initial post. Ablation worked for me in a way that the epidurals did not. I was having a distinct pain that felt like someone was hitting me with a baseball bat in my upper thigh or back when I tried to turn.

It took a while for it to kick in, but it was a godsend. I still need fusion at l3-4, 4-5 and lL5-S1 due to instability cause by denegenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis.

By the way, you can get a TENS unit OTC just about anywhere. It's great for the muscle, but not the cord or nerve roots.

i wish you the best of luck. I was turned down by insurance for the neuro stimulator because at best for my condition, it's a bandaid that will cease to work.