Nerves in Lower Back

[LisaMarie]

I'm going for a procedure today to burn the nerves in my lower back.  For about 6 months, I've been dealing with pain levels of 3-8 on a daily basis.  Once, I have had to call for an ambulance for a level 10 pain where I couldn't move.  We've tried chiropractor, physical therapy, and lots of advil.  Nothing has helped. 

To get to this procedure, I've had to have my nerves numbed twice to see if it helped.  It did for 16-24 hours.  So now we are hoping that the procedure today provides long lasting results. 

I've ran 2 half marathons and a full marathon with Sjogren's.  This has made me not be able to exercise in 6 months and it is killing me!  Two days before the level 10 pain day, I did some ab exercises and pilates.  They think that it was what caused the increase pain.  I need to exercise.  My weight gain has been quick.  My puppy needs me to be active. 

I do have a curvature in the lower back.  But was always able to be active with it. 

Anyone else experience this?

[Pete0211]

Is this the only option? Both of my parents had minor laminectomy procedures that have resolved their issues in a matter of months (dad had excruciating pain, mom had numbness).

[Carolina]

Wait, 'burn the nerves'?  Besides sounding medieval, I've never heard of this. 

OK I looked it up.  Seems amazing.  Keep us posted

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVofaaGNNig

I had surgery last fall, to relieve impossible pain (called Sciatica) but at a 10 level when it occurred.
It only occurred badly when I was sitting or standing, so I was flat on my back from July 10 to several weeks after my surgery in early October. 

I had minor laminectomy surgery.  It completely stopped the pain.  It was a small incision to manage pain at both L3-4.  Really it can often be done on an outpatient basis, but since I have so many 'conditions' and was 74 years old...I wound up staying two nights.


Hugs,  Elaine

[trejonina]

Hi, I have herniated disks and have been using Huneke therapy or neural therapy using procaine for 30+ yrs Or ozone therapy,because I don't want to be operated.

[Joe S.]

Well, I hope that it works for you. I hope there are no negative side effects.

[cccourt1942]

Because of spondylolisthesis (two sets of vertebrae) I have been exposed to this procedure.  I have not had it.  I stated no surgery--so have not consulted a neurosurgeon--so this was one of a series of solutions/procedures explained by both a hip ortho and back ortho.   

Stage one was cortisone shot in my hip.  This was about 90% successful.  (this decision was made via Xrays) >
Stage two (when stage one was successful) was a specialized PT program >
Stage three (proposed) would be cortisone injection in the back >
     which would lead me to more PT and then??  >
Stage four would be discussion of rhizotomy.  Burning the nerves.

At present, the PT has been effective (and miraculous considering my age) and I am hopeful. 

My condition is where one vertebrae slips off the disc and literally shifts to the side...and crushes the nerves.  The physicians who have seen the MRI (and my PT) cannot believe I can walk.  In addition, they can't understand how an injection into the bursa of one hip has given me this amount of relief. Due to this condition, I have lost 1 1/2 inches in height in about 5 years. 

I am taking one granddaughter on another trip in August.   We had a full family trip in May...and I was good for much walking, moving for 5 days.  That's how well I feel.

I am more nervous about having a cortisone injection in my back (I don't know where) than the thought of rhizotomy.  I don't see how it works.  So far I am pleased with the options, suggestions made by this team, for ME.  With doctors?  You get to a point you have to trust them whether you like them or not.  These guys I am learning to trust.  btw: they are pleased I don't want back surgery at my age.

I "hear" you are in agreement with your physicians.  I don't know your age. I do know the pain which brings this solution into the picture.  You must be young...you are still working.  I'm old!!

I forgot to say my affected area which your procedure would be used is L5-S1.
c3

[LisaMarie]

Ok.  So that didn't work much for me.  Yes, some of the nerve sensation was taking care of but I'm still having extreme pain in my lower back.  They want to do an injection next.  They are making me wait until Monday due to scheduling.  This pain is driving me nuts.  I can't do anything.  Can't sleep, walk, play/train my dog, general house chores, etc. 

I hate the thought of taking any narcotics but at this point, if they would give them to me, I would take them just so I can have some sort of life. 

There is no comfortable position for me.  Not sitting, standing or lying down. 

I'm getting a new mattress.  Hope that may help some.

I've never been so miserable in my life.

[cccourt1942]

Lisa,
     Since I last posted on this thread, I have seen the pain management dr.  (btw: I'm the one who had level 8-10 pain level for about 2 months until hip cortisone shot).  I was aggravated the ortho referred me on as the injection continues to work...and I continue the PT.  Anyway, he looked at X-rays and forwarded ortho reports (remember I saw a hip Or and a Back Or.  Anyway, he looked thru what I filled in (one was pain level of 1-2 yesterday and most since the injection at 4).  He had NOT looked at the MRI at the time.  He asked why I was there.  I told him I lost arguments with the back ortho and my rheumatologist.   I told him I thought they were passing me off.  Then I told him when you are 75 years old NO ONE listens to you.  They treat you as if they are listening to a 4 year old.  He told me he was listening.  So I told him I was really interested in having another hip injection as it had been successful.  He then took a look/see at the MRI.  Once again, I had a spine doctor look at me with respect.  He questioned me again about how long i'd had the intense pain spells.  I said it was the first time.  ALWAYS chronic discomfort but not real pain until Feb or March when it hit me.  He asked about the hip injection and then announced HE believed I should return for another hip injection "if and/or when" the pain returned.  It's beginning to give me intermittent pain..but for seconds, not even minutes...several times a day.  He told me the epidurals could go wrong.  He stopped short of saying with people who have my condition.  He told me to bypass the orthos and he would be my doctor of record---and when the pain returned to call him and he would set it up for the same place I had gone initially.  I went from that appointment to PT...and I can't tell you how wonderful it was to walk in there and not fear what if I did something which aggravated it.  (Just a little personal fear).

He said he understood the ortho insistence w' the mess in my low back, but said the back is an interesting body part in how it can respond (and also refer pain) to certain procedures and where that pain actually is.  Tht I would pass this along before you had your injection.  I hope they are using florouscopy (sp?) so the placement is precisely in the bursa.  btw: the pain doc asked specifically about the injection procedure (of course not believing what I said) to the point of my position on the table, on my back, on my stomach.  I said on my side and I watched the actual video from which the physician was following. 

Good luck...btw : I use Tylenol 3 and cut them in half.  In the last two weeks I have had a total of 2 tablets.  My rheumy says she likes that type of usage as opposed to 4 per day.

ccc