Rfa's

[bronco54501]

I recieved a total of 6 rfa's yesterday all in the same visit. I am talking about severe pain ""WOW"" He gave me 6 numbing shots just into the skin and waited 2 min and gave 6 more deeper. Very painful, after the numbing took place he proceded to put in the 6 cathiters into left and right side of l3-l4, l4-l5, l5,s1, then placed the wire leeds and then tested each nerve to get in proper positon, then a steroid/numbing mix was injected in each cathiter, then the burning process was started 90 sec for each nerve, I thought it was never going to end and when he was done (at least I thought) he repositioned the l5-s1 and did that one again...... Half way through the procedure I kept holding my breath and was reminded to breath or they were going to give me forget medicine (propaphil) I said absolutely not, been there done that, and aint happening again. Over all expierence was the worst pain I felt since injury, but they were very patient friendly and took my needs to priority. This is the last straw, if this last it can be repeated but if the pain levels are still up there then surgery is the next step, 3 cages and 6 screws and rods.... I pray this procedure works well because I dont think I will get the surgery, I dont have much movement now with my hip and pelvis, and add three level fussion to the deal...............

Just thought I would update my latest procedures, and now dec 15 I see the GI dr again for a recheck on the abdomin pain he said would go away (1 1/2) years ago. the problem before was scar tissue and was said it would flatten within a year. Well the pain is still here and has now caused bowel problems, I cant lay completely flat on back and hurts to use the bathroom duties (lol).

All in a days worth of being injured and following wc rules, Just found out before procedure yesterday they are not paying for anymore chiro visits. And to top that off they are not paying anything past may of 2010. Now I have a bill there of almost 3,000.
just ventin.........bronco

[Bummer Knees]

Bronoco saying prayers for you that are felling better.

The nerve buring has been mentioned to me, after reading this I do not want any part of it.

Bronco why is this not being paid for by work comp, isn't this part of the work comp injury?

[AQA]

Hey stud muffin, Please forgive. My mind is still numb from finals. Anyway, You said "three cages". Can you explain???? I think one of us has lost thier mind.

I am sorry to hear of the discomfort and pain. I recall when I had my first EMG. On the bad leg, it felt like a message. On the good leg, well, at one point it was flapping aroung like a fish out of water. I was ready to knock that lady out. I guess it is just something we must go thru so everyone involved knows that we are not faking the injury and that the drs. have more info to help with th diagnostics.

[bronco54501]

Bummer Knees Wrote:Bronoco saying prayers for you that are felling better.

The nerve buring has been mentioned to me, after reading this I do not want any part of it.

Bronco why is this not being paid for by work comp, isn't this part of the work comp injury?

Bummer, I had an rfa done about 6 months ago, but was in the wrong area. I have now got a set of new drs that has been by my side the whole way this time... It was painfull, but I had to over look it for the future outcome of what it could help me... I am 36 hours after and the pain is back close to as before. now we wait to see what happens after 1 1/2 to 2 weeks where the rfa's will tell the story....

I have had ongoing head aches and neck pain since injury.....Well documented.... I have seen specialist and they said it was the tylnol/vicodin---narcs, then just muscle... went through 4 months of pt/ot massaging and deep muscle release.. it had helped for a while but headaches would not stop... After pt said there was nothing more they could do I asked my phistrist to reffer me to a chiro. after 2 weeks he had my headaches down to say 40%, wc said by state laws he had to start downing my sessions, and if not he had to give medical evidence on why he had me twice a week..... He failed to do that and has gone on since may. This is because of my accident (wc) but since he didnt send any recent progress reports to my wc ins. They did an IME off of the old records and showed not enough evidence of progress.

I found this out from my ncm today about an ime dr going over my not recent reports.... They say the ime dr doesnt have to see me to make any oppinions... I did how ever find out that the wc ins has paid up to dec 6th, so I dont owe any money......

[bronco54501]

AQA Wrote:Hey stud muffin, Please forgive. My mind is still numb from finals. Anyway, You said "three cages". Can you explain???? I think one of us has lost thier mind.

I am sorry to hear of the discomfort and pain. I recall when I had my first EMG. On the bad leg, it felt like a message. On the good leg, well, at one point it was flapping aroung like a fish out of water. I was ready to knock that lady out. I guess it is just something we must go thru so everyone involved knows that we are not faking the injury and that the drs. have more info to help with th diagnostics.

Aqua, there were many things addressed in my last visit with the surgeon. I have more then 1 pain generator, my left side si is fused already, in which case he feels the right side is starting to be agravated.

He had mentioned doing some decompression surgery to the l4-l and l5 s1 but had explained also using a cage system with 2 screws per cage and 2 rods run through one cage to the next. It shows ddd in l3-l4 and feels By doing 2 cages it would put to much stress on the ddd l3-l4. So he said 3 cages.......

I have done m reading, and from what I have gathered when you do a 3 level fussion it uasually puts to much stress on the next level.... I am at a loss on what decision to do, so to buy time and some relief I agreed to do the rfa's in the mean time...... I'm unsure of what the out come will be, but the rfa's were less avasive. My wife does not want me to get the fussions done, my parents say dont do it either.. But in the back of my mind what if it gets worse by age (prob will) without having it done.........

[AQA]

I am wondering if our wording is different. Our you saying that you have fusion already on the left side???? If so, that is a little confusing to me.

I am fused from L5-S1. For the fusion to be done. The disk was removed. In place of the disk is two cages. One on each side of the vertebre. The cages are filled with bone marrow. Externial to the vertebre are 4 screws and two rods.

I guess what is confusing me, is how can only one side of the spine be fused if the disk needs to be removed first???

Do you have any websites that address the procedure????

[bodybuilder1958]

http://lib.bioinfo.pl/meid:141267

[AQA]

BB1958, Thank you for trying to help, but that did not answere my curiousity. It addressed the fixed fusion and non-fixed fusion. I did find it interesting that it said "but there have been no clinical studies comparing their effectiveness".

Once again, Thank you.

[bronco54501]

AQA Wrote:I am wondering if our wording is different. Our you saying that you have fusion already on the left side???? If so, that is a little confusing to me.

I am fused from L5-S1. For the fusion to be done. The disk was removed. In place of the disk is two cages. One on each side of the vertebre. The cages are filled with bone marrow. Externial to the vertebre are 4 screws and two rods.

I guess what is confusing me, is how can only one side of the spine be fused if the disk needs to be removed first???

Do you have any websites that address the procedure????

My (SI joint) is fused on the left side to increase stability of the 9 fractures in my pelvis.
He showed me pictures of what the cage system looked like, but said it was 3 cages and 2 rods and 6 screws all assembled... And never said nothing about removing the disc, but did say he would do a decompressing surgery first.... I may have gotten confused, but what I seen appeared to be all from the back side from where the facet joints are.....

[AQA]

I find that interesting. I had completely forgot about the pelvis issue that you have. I have been thinking about digging out my mri's and posting them. That way people can see what the fusion looks like. Atleast the cages, screws and rods.

If you do not mind, when the S1-L5 was fused on one side. Was a cage used or was it just a plate/rod and screws???

Take Care