anyone have experience with medial branch nerve block for back pain?

poet_kelly
on 3/25/12 12:39 am - OH

I contacted my back specialist Friday to ask for more pain meds, which he gave me, and also to ask if there was anything else at all that he could offer because pain meds just aren't cutting it. They help some but not enough and I don't want to be on Vicodin all the time. Epidural steroid injections provided very short term relief and physical therapy did nothing at all. Oral steroids did nothing, either. And of course I can't take NSAIDS.

So I am considering seeing a pain management specialist but wanted to see if there was anything else the orthopedic doc had to offer. A medial branch nerve block, apparently, involves injecting some sort of medication that is supposed to temporarily interupt pain signals from the medial branch nerves - if in fact that is where the pain is coming from. Apparently you can't often tell until you do the procedure and see if it helps. If it does help, there is another procedure called radiofrequency neurotomy which involves heating the nerve enough to create a lesion that prevents it from sending pain signals, which is supposed to last for about one year. And which sounds really scary to me, but I am feeling rather desperate.

So, anyone had a medial branch nerve block before?

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

takqia1
on 3/25/12 12:47 am

First sorry to hear of your agony but yes my husband recently has done this. Its still up for debate if its helped and it was very painful for him. His arms went numb but his horrible headache was a lot better.
He has lower back pain and severe deteration (sp?) in his neck so it was a last ditch effort.
He goes back to the pain institute Wed so hopefully something good happens.
Did they give you a tens unit by chance?
He has one and that helps off and on.
Good luck hope you find something that works for you.

poet_kelly
on 3/25/12 12:50 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

I hate to hear that it was very painful for him.

I haven't tried a TENS unit, no. At one point I was going to and the doc wrote me a prescription for it but the cost was prohibitive. I insurance doesn't cover most medical supplies like that.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

takqia1
on 3/25/12 12:57 am

In Idaho medicaid covers them but yes they are spendy. Back pain is the worst he hasn't been able to work since November and depression is setting in because he just can't get the pain under control.
He can't sleep either and pain meds are bothering his stomach so there are days I'm thankful to go to work....

WhoIWantToBe *.
on 3/25/12 5:01 am

RNY on 01/10/12

I have an appointment with my pain management speciailist in a couple of weeks to talk about this very thing. I have an implanted nerve stimulator in my head, and got heat and stim on my neck and shoulders at the physical therapist. Now that my PT sessions are over I want to get an external TENS unit for my neck and shoulders. From what I understand insurance or medicare will cover it. (My cousin has one that was paid for.)

If you can't get a TENS unit for home, can you get PT covered by insurance and try it there?

- Barb, who is at GOOOOOOAAAAAAL!

HW: 274 SW: 244 GW: 137 CW: 137!
Keep on swimming! Keep on swimming!

swannys22
on 3/25/12 12:47 am - MI

My husband gets these shots every 3 months. They help if the docs get them in the right spot. The have tried the burning ( one spot) on him and that was a definite no go but the shots under exray work. Like I said if they get them in the right spot. He has been taking them for approx. 5 yrs. now and without them i think he would have to take alot more morphine. pain as you well know is crippling in itself.

poet_kelly
on 3/25/12 12:52 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

I wonder why the burning didn't work? But the shots give him relief for three months? I've done epidural steroid injections but they wore off in about a month.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

swannys22
on 3/25/12 1:07 am - MI

Burning was way to painful for him. Took a month to recover to his back to normal.I am wondering if I am talking about the same thing as you. Not sure and of course he is sleeping. Do they do the epidural steroid injections under exray or ultrasound. You are not put all the way out but very close. And only a pain management specialist can do this procedure

poet_kelly
on 3/25/12 1:11 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

Yes, they do the epidural steroid injections under flouroscopy (x-ray) and they also do the medial branch nerve block under flouroscopy. However, neither of those can only be done by a pain management specialist - my orthopedic doctor, who specializes in back problems, can do them both. I do get IV sedation for the steroid injections; I can have the sedation or not, whichever I prefer, but I prefer to have it because it makes me nervous having those injections.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

swannys22
on 3/25/12 1:18 am - MI

ok different here in small cadillac michigan. I will ask my husband which one he has when he wakes up. All I can say is he wouldnt be able to function without the shot. It starts to wear off at about 2 1/2 months and really causes him trouble. He is pretty much in bed until the next shots

anyone have experience with medial branch nerve block for back pain?

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anyone have experience with medial branch nerve block for back pain?