Morning everyone,
I had a temporary nerve block the other day in 6 points around my spine. It seemed to work, the surgeon mentioned the next step would be to burn the nerves but this would only give 6 months - 1 year of relief.
I just wondered if anybody here has had this done?
He's correct.
I got one done and only lasted about a year.
Great relief,though.
Hi Madlegs!
Oh really? Did you have to go back and get them burnt again? What was the pain like?
No pain for the nerve burning - done with local. I could feel the nerve right down the leg "flushing". Very effective.
Before that ,the pain in my lumbar region was crippling.
I haven't got the block again, but am on a waiting list for the Pain Clinic, so should get seen over the next few years.😝
thanks Madlegs! For something as severe as stenosis I wonder why they choose something that’s so short term. A year of relief (although amazing) is relatively short considering, like you say, once you need more intervention you’re looking at a heavy waiting list that could be at least a few years.
What would you want them to do? surgery will not ease the pain - if you find the injections and then the nerve ablation work for you - then grab it with both hands.
I had the 6 FJI which did nothing for me - discovered why a few years later with a dangerously unstable "break" so spondyloleisthesis on top of Spondylosis, Stenosis, crushed discs and impinged nerves everywhere 
I had surgery to stabilise the break 7 years ago - I'm still in the most awful pain and in a wheelchair apart from miniscule short steps - surgeons won't touch me atm because this doesn't fall within their parameters
Hi I’m due to have this done next month and I was told you can only have this done once on the NHS
Hi Moonshine, interesting, I’ll have to ask when I have my phone consultation next week.
I'm in Ireland - waiting list would be about 2 years. Luckily ,I have health insurance, so jump the queue.Not sure about the once only rule here. Doesn't really make much sense?🤔
I’ve had the steroid injections in my lumber spine which eased the pain but both the physio and anaesthetist told me you could only have the nerve abolition once on the NHS I thought that’s a bit of a tease as if it relives the pain it’s so frustrating if the pain comes back but you can’t have it again, I think it costs a few thousand privately, I’ve got private healthcare but they won’t cover that as I had the injury before buying the cover.
When I had it done I was told that if it worked I could have it done again when it wore off but unfortunately it didn't work for me
Are you living in the UK
Yes
I’m having it done next month I will have a chat to them to see why they told me I could only have it once on the NHS
My father has done this each year for the past 5-6 years. Similar experience with the time frame. He is much older so it's somewhat more of an accommodation for him with his age. We both have allergies to pain meds outside of Tylenol.
Hi just wondering if your dad had the injections or the nerve ablation
The fact that the nerve blocks were successful indicates that you are a suitable candidate for ablation. That is very positive as it could give you up to eighteen months of pain relief. I was unable to have an ablation as the nerve blocks were not successful. I have severe scoliosis and have had a spinal decompression, multiple facet joint injections and three epidurals. A spinal fusion is out of the question as I am 72 and it would be too risky. I was disappointed that I could not have an ablation particularly because a much younger friend of mine is still getting relief from hers which was done over eighteen months ago. The very best of luck to you!
What you're talking about is called nerve ablation. And the length of time it takes the nerve to grow back is the determining factor of how long the treatment lasts. I was told the older you are the longer it takes for the nerve to regenerate. Judging from your picture I would say you are quite young and therefore it would grow back quicker than someone my age of 61. I did the trial like you did and did not get the relief I had hoped for so nerve ablation is not an answer for me. But while you think it's just temporary and why bother the only other option is surgery which really is extreme and has what I consider to be very bad odds of helping long-term. And the surgery itself can make things worse. In the US where I live they've even named it called failed back surgery syndrome. If they bother to name it it has to happen more often than we'd like to think. Of course that's my own personal opinion. If the nerve ablation works for you I'd say hooray and go for it and feel lucky that it does.
Hi Amkoffee,
Thanks for the reply.
I didn’t say “why bother”, I said I wonder why something so short term is being used for a long term chronic condition. My post wasn’t an implication of not being grateful for something that may give me pain relief - not matter how short. I was just curious.
I'm sorry if my comment came across that way it wasn't intended. I know how frustrating chronic pain can be as I've suffered from it for 17 years. I've been through every one of the treatments available and have had almost no success with any of them. And I am not a candidate for surgery and never have been. Steroid injections is another option oftentimes offered and I'm surprised they didn't offer it to you first. It also is a temporary solution for a permanent problem but the relief from that is considerably shorter than nerve ablation.
Hey Amkofee,
No not at all, I just think from a few of the other replies I started to think that people had got the wrong impression of my comment and I had somehow come across as a little ungrateful and I just wanted to say that it’s not my intention.
We all suffer from chronic pain and none of it is easy and no matter how bad my pain is, there is always someone who may have it worse, so I try to be mindful of that!
I’ve had stenosis since I was 15, I’m 39 now and the last year has been so bad that I’ll grab anything to get some kind of relief.
Hi BertoBishop, i had RFA's done in 2015 and 2016. 6 nerves done, 3 either side of my spine from L3 to S1. I had had sciatica down both legs for several years and have quite a lot wrong with my back - it would read like a tome if i wrote them all out lol.
Just wanted to say that the length of time they say you will be pain free is just a guestimate as everyone's nerves recover at a different rate. I'm still sciatica pain free all these years later, the consultants suspect that my nerves haven't regenerated which is a definite plus for me 
I'd say just go for it xx
Hiya! Thank you for the reply. Amazing to hear your pain free, must be liberating!
It's only the sciatica that the RFA's treated, but that is in itself liberating 😊 I still have other issues with arthritis and nerve pain that is ongoing xx
I had a nerve block on my sciatica last year it’s been great, but I’m getting warm water being poured down my leg feeling now. I’d rather that than the shooting pains 😂
Lol I could live with the warm water feeling too 😁 xx
amen to that ❤️
I’ve had PRFA 4 times on my cervical spine, all self pay privately & the last time was very expensive at £3,500 for all the nerves down both sides of my neck done at once. The last treatment the Dr wanted to do a side at a time, as he may have thought that I had health insurance but unfortunately I didn’t have any cover when I was injured in a road traffic collision 19 years ago.
RFA is the only pain clinic treatment that gives me some pain relief and reduces the pain that I have from cervical radiculopathy at C5/6 & C6/7, I have had both discs removed & fusion at those levels in separate surgeries years apart. It also helps with the horrid pain that I have from Cervicogenic headaches and I’ve had facial nerve pain for the last 4 years and I need that investigating for possible Trigeminal Neuragia.
I had extensive emergency lumbar surgery a couple of years ago for Impending Cauda Equina & Spondylolisthesis involving 2 vertebrae. My neurosurgeon performed 9 separate surgical procedures to stabilise my spine with rods & screws after removing discs that were impinging 3 nerves, remove the back of vertebrae(facet joints etc) that were problematic in the spinal canal & make larger exit foramen (to make sufficient space in the vertebrae) for the nerves. I have been left with many physical conditions but mobility is my most problematic. I’m hoping the NHS will perform RFA on my lumbar spine, my pain clinician was going to perform it privately but the cost at £8,000 plus on 3 nerves both sides with the two test procedures is too prohibitive for me.
I paid privately for all the treatments as the waiting lists in 2015 were too long, I’d had the test procedures on the NHS so could go ahead privately this time the waiting lists are longer!
If you are offered RFA then I’d take it, I used it to delay an ACDF but when the pain came back even worse after the treatment wore off. I plumped for surgery & it worked for a few months before an osteophyte grew compressing the nerve again! So I had further RFA & it worked but wore off after 17 months.
I’m hoping this treatment on my back works as I have to use a wheelchair at times when my pain is too severe, walking brings on various nerve pains in my legs & feet, swelling, numbness increases along with pins & needles. I’m 53 but feel decades older when I’m at my worst.
RFA is a wonderful treatment, it’s not for everyone but if it’s suitable then I’d jump at the chance to try something that can reduce pain, however small. Yes, the pain returns and you can have the treatment repeated. I’ve not heard that you can only have it once funded by the NHS but I’ll try to find out.
Keep your mental health strong folks, try to keep moving as not doing so is worse for your body (yoga is fantastic when you can practise it) & keep a positive mindset. Try other methods to help with your pain (tens machine/heat/cold sprays etc) and enjoy the help & support that your family & friends can offer.
Kind Regards,
Mitch
I had denervation but unfortunately it didn't work for me, in fact it felt worse for a few months but then the nerve blockers hadn't worked very well either. It must help some people or they wouldn't do it so good luck.
Spinal Stenosis with nerve root impingement and foot drop Surgery or no surgery? 
Spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis
Possible Outcome of Severe Spinal Stenosis 
spinal nerve root injection.
