I posted my question somewhere else under "radiofrequency neurotomy" and maybe my title threw people for a loop , but I'm really curious as to the reason why no one has replied back to me. I've just recently joined this forum and find it somewhat addicting -- it's fabulous there is a place I can go and read about other people who are like me!
Anyways, I deal with some pretty high-level pain -- mainly 90% of my day --and I would say on a pain scale level between 3-7 depending on my activity. It's mainly due to my degenerative discs -- a result of transistion syndrom from a fusion I had back in 1993 for a 75 degree curve (I'm now 27). You know, I had no idea this "transition syndrom" existed until an appointment with a new orthopod a couple weeks ago.
My pain doesn't necessarily have complete control over me because I've been leaving with it for years, but it is getting worse and I'm now to the point where it's just too much and my quality of life is going downhill fast.
So, I made the appointment with this orthopod, Dr. Herzog in Saratoga Springs, and he said that I also have Kyphosis, but only a 26 degree curve. But on top of the Kyphosis, which causes pain, I have my degenerative discs, bulging discs, and arthritis in my upper spine above my original fusion. I went into this appointment wholeheartedly expecting Dr. H to say I needed another spinal fusion. But I was astounded to hear him say that was the very very last thing that he would do. He reasoned that another fusion above my existing one, especially at my age of 27, would just cause the transition syndrom to eventually occur above the second fusion and I'd be in the same boat I am now further down the road. Makes sense.
Dr. H said that it's completly normal for people who have had fusions to be where I am at now with arthritis and the disc issues. It was so crazy to hear that because I always thought of a fusion as a fix and not something that would cause issues later on. I love that I don't feel any pain in my fusion area -- but I guess the cost of that is the other areas are overly stressed.
So, Dr Herzog reccomended I get something called a radiofrequency neurotomy: http://www.spine-health.com/topics/c...o/radio01.html . I guess they go in and burn the nerve where the pain is generating from. It's not a end-all fix, the nerve will grow back. The success rate seems to be fairly high.
Has no one in this forum had one of these? I know so many of us have such awful pain, it's hard for me to think that this type of procedure hasn't been tried by more.
Dr. H also said he thought that the FDA will approve disc replacements within a year. I'll be the first to sign up!
So, for those who have had spinal fusions and now have pain, are you finding it's from disc degeneration and other related issues like arthritis? Anyone had this radiofrequency procedure?
I appreciate any and all comments-- I'd love some insight.
Thank you!
Rachel
1990-1993: Boston Brace 23 hours a day
1993: Spinal Fusion T3-L7, 75 degrees, Dr. Emans Boston Children's Hospital
1998: Rod Removal, Dr. Emans Boston Children's Hospital
Anyways, I deal with some pretty high-level pain -- mainly 90% of my day --and I would say on a pain scale level between 3-7 depending on my activity. It's mainly due to my degenerative discs -- a result of transistion syndrom from a fusion I had back in 1993 for a 75 degree curve (I'm now 27). You know, I had no idea this "transition syndrom" existed until an appointment with a new orthopod a couple weeks ago.
My pain doesn't necessarily have complete control over me because I've been leaving with it for years, but it is getting worse and I'm now to the point where it's just too much and my quality of life is going downhill fast.
So, I made the appointment with this orthopod, Dr. Herzog in Saratoga Springs, and he said that I also have Kyphosis, but only a 26 degree curve. But on top of the Kyphosis, which causes pain, I have my degenerative discs, bulging discs, and arthritis in my upper spine above my original fusion. I went into this appointment wholeheartedly expecting Dr. H to say I needed another spinal fusion. But I was astounded to hear him say that was the very very last thing that he would do. He reasoned that another fusion above my existing one, especially at my age of 27, would just cause the transition syndrom to eventually occur above the second fusion and I'd be in the same boat I am now further down the road. Makes sense.
Dr. H said that it's completly normal for people who have had fusions to be where I am at now with arthritis and the disc issues. It was so crazy to hear that because I always thought of a fusion as a fix and not something that would cause issues later on. I love that I don't feel any pain in my fusion area -- but I guess the cost of that is the other areas are overly stressed.
So, Dr Herzog reccomended I get something called a radiofrequency neurotomy: http://www.spine-health.com/topics/c...o/radio01.html . I guess they go in and burn the nerve where the pain is generating from. It's not a end-all fix, the nerve will grow back. The success rate seems to be fairly high.
Has no one in this forum had one of these? I know so many of us have such awful pain, it's hard for me to think that this type of procedure hasn't been tried by more.
Dr. H also said he thought that the FDA will approve disc replacements within a year. I'll be the first to sign up!
So, for those who have had spinal fusions and now have pain, are you finding it's from disc degeneration and other related issues like arthritis? Anyone had this radiofrequency procedure?
I appreciate any and all comments-- I'd love some insight.
Thank you!
Rachel
1990-1993: Boston Brace 23 hours a day
1993: Spinal Fusion T3-L7, 75 degrees, Dr. Emans Boston Children's Hospital
1998: Rod Removal, Dr. Emans Boston Children's Hospital
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