Understanding Back Pain: Why RFA Failed After Medial Branch Block and what to do next.

[@AmberJohnson-d3i]

Hang in there, back pain can be so frustrating. After my ablation, I was scared it didn"t take- because I still had zinger pain. But my doctor told me to wait for the full 6 weeks of recovery. Almost to the day- 6 weeks, and the pain went away for 1.5 years.

[@jeanschricker6841]

Thanks for commenting. I had rfa for SI joint pain 9 days ago and am concerned it did not work.

[@elliegarcia9791]

The rfa worked for like 2 days both times then he did nerve block worked for about Week or so pain behind my thighs starting to come back and back just a little

[@jeanschricker6841]

Didn't work for me even after two positive responses to diagnostic blocks😐 Now my insurance is denying the claim even after they pre-authorized it.

[@rosiek649]

Love this doctor so humble and caring!

[@carolbrown605]

I had RFA about a week and a half ago. I still have pain. Seeing the other comments gives me a little bit of hope. I have a follow up next week. Fingers crossed

[@Poohdaddymagic]

I'm in almost the exact situation. The two nerve blocks worked amazingly good but the ablation did basically nothing. I truly feel it was the Dr's doing😊

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Either the RFA missed the target or the medial branch block was a false positive. Either way you may want to consider a new pain management doctor.

[@scarroll656]

I am scheduled to have my 2nd Medial Branch Block on June 3rd, 2024, my first one I got good results , after doing the pain score for the first 6 hours after it, I had a 90% relief from pain! So I am in hopes will get the same relief on my 2nd Medial Branch Block so I can have the the RFA procedure done ! My pain is lower back, I do have some arthritis also my pain doctor says, sometimes I have the worst pain on my left side which is where the doctor sees the arthritis. I am a 67 year old woman from N.C.

[@BestPracticeHealth]

I don't agree with the repeat MBB protocol... but insurance may require it. Hang in there. I'm sending you patience. I hope you get that RFA and feel better soon.

[@scarroll656]

@@BestPracticeHealth I am now scheduled for the Rhizotomy Facet Radio Frequency on June 27th , I am goingvto do a search on this. I thought it was just called Radio Frequency Ablation.

[@walkonby100]

gosh I feel like your ( Canadian ) twin! My arthritis is lower back as well, I'm 68. My very first MBB is coming up Sept 17th, however the Clinic I attend doesn't require a 2nd MBB be done, they schedule the RFA after getting the pain results from my first MBB test. I'm more than nervous and anxious. Hope your 2nd MBB went well in June!

[@scarroll656]

@@walkonby100 well my procedure didn't work, I am still having pain/ache after having the ablation( where they go in and burn the nerves). I go back in January and see if there is anything else they can do. I bought me a lumbo back brace to wear when I am doing things around the house. It helps some. Still trying to find the "sweet" spot to wear it. I am havingva stimulator device implant procedure on September 17th. I have been accepted in a research study for Neuropathy in my feet. I wore it on the outside for a week to see how well it helps my Neuropathy. And it did help so they will do the device implant on the 17th.

[@walkonby100]

@@scarroll656 I'm completely heartbroken over the outcome for you. It sounded like the RFA should have worked after your first MBB showed 90 % pain relief results. Did the 2nd MBB test in June not produce the same great pain relief results? At the Canadian Clinic I'm going to they only do a single MBB test and then straight to the RFA. I can only hope to get 90% pain relief from it. On Sept 17th you're having the implant and I'm getting the 1st MBB. Best of luck to us both!

[@russenz5106]

You sound a lot like you’re having the same problems I am I’m going in for that procedure tomorrow I went through the other stuff that gave me relief just like you. Thank you for taking the time gentleman to make this video.

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Good luck!!

[@KillerSmurfy]

Would love to hear a follow up on how you are feeling now after the procedure.

[@brefrett]

Just had RFA 6 weeks ago. I felt great for a week and then I was back to my normal pain 😢

[@Made_in_Garage]

Hi, how do you feel now? Have same story after one week pain come back😢

[@HtetMyatMaung-t2d]

@@Made_in_Garageme too brother. I’m from Myanmar.Failed nasal RFA.

[@its_ari5458]

How your doing now

[@Raymss1]

How do you feel now

[@kimberlyblackburn5706]

Me too

[@Mike-ny6sf]

Ive had rfa two days ago for the 2nd time. First time lasted 10 months. Worked great for me. But looking into riseotomy next time

[@timharris7425]

I had 3 rfa treatments at different times at 6 months apartment in multiple levels in my facet joints for severe arthritis the first time worked well for 2 months then the pain came back worse than before so had it done again and did absolutely nothing in fact it made things worse, also i have an anular tear in lv l5 and arthritis in my si joint, and the pain in my back radiates around both sides down into my hips and in my groin and down the thighs and the longer i stand and walk it gets so painful i simply can't go anymore

[@albertbrooklyn]

Useful videos but the musical interludes blare and are a bit harsh. I am not sure if the music is all that helpful in the videos.

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Thanks for your input! I appreciate your perspective.

[@tugrulbey3095]

i love those music :) its lovely

[@mimicro83]

Support from Croatia 🇭🇷🎉

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Right back at you!

[@michaeldaggitt2635]

Due to chronic lower back pain I paid nearly £5,000 to have RFA though it failed. My pain is now far worse ie. 7-8/10. This was 18 months ago and the pain is so severe I get very little sleep and now very rarely leave the house. Is it possible that the doctor who carried out the procedure, which was done via imaging, may have missed the offending nerve fibres? Thank you in advance and I appreciated your video... Mike

[@jackattack9799]

would love to be on the podcast and for you to look over my mris? looking for a second opinion big fan, first saw you performing dvrs and how affective they are

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Call Phebe at 602 256 2525. I hope to meet you soon!

[@jackattack9799]

@@BestPracticeHealth will do , im getting another mri in 2 months and ill give you a call

[@vcash1112]

This guy should try the RFA again with a different doctor! Surgery should be the last resort and I don’t here very good things about it. Just the fact they cut your muscles to get to the spine sounds so invasive…🌧️

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Good point. Thanks for the comment.

[@brianruhl5945]

Love the dancing cats!

[@rachael1572]

Could be the hips as well

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Always a good thought.

[@no2thenwo737]

Sacroiliac joints?

[@rachael1572]

Hips I am dealing with the same thing.. I have labrum tairs in both hips..need arthroscopy for labrum tairs.

[@vcash1112]

People need to strengthen the hips.

[@rachael1572]

Google labrum tairs

[@petermark9660]

So I know the video is more than a year old. I am 71, had l4l5 fusion. I had severe spondylolisthesis, two different surgeons from two different hospital systems told me get the fusion, not elective. Two years later I painted the ceiling (wish would not have done that). Now I have terrible pain left side of l5s1. I believe the pain is from a facet joint. The physicians assistant ordered MRI and xrays ( the one that circles the body). She did not want to see where the pain was, I could push on an area and the pain was terrible. Tests showed moderate stenosis l3l4 and some arthritis facet l5s1. Physician assistant wanted to give an injection l3l4, and possible fusion. I said no. I saw the surgeon, showed him where it hurts, he said that is a facet joint and gave referral for pain doctor. The fellow with the pain doctor said it is a SI joint and wants to inject the SI joint. This is going on 11 months. Cant walk much at all or stand. Now pain is starting to radiate down front of left leg to outer ankle. Now also have pain crossing from just left of bones of spine across to rt side. Oh well, I am going for SI joint injection reluctantly. Also have developed groin pain both left and right. Anyone else experienced anything like this.

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Yikes! You've been on a long road. I hope you are OK. Hang in there. RFA is a great treatment for facet pain adjacent a prior fusion. That's a good place to start (with medial branch block). This is typically done by a pain management doctor. If the MBB is negative, then this may be S1 root pain, whick often goes to the outside ankle. The initial treatment for that is a L5/S1 epidural block. Either way, it sounds like you need to see a pain management doctor first. Look for one who is double board certified and does not over prescribe narcotics.

[@petermark9660]

@@BestPracticeHealth Thank you.

[@michellem8284]

What about trying the diagnostic block again without steroid?

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Technically diagnostic blocks have no steroid, just local anesthetic.

[@leeleeirv1270]

Im scheduled for RFA this week. Im praying it works so I can get some relief 🙏

[@BestPracticeHealth]

You can do it!

[@rachael1572]

Please have your hips MRI.. I dealt with that pain for quite some time only to find out that I have labrum tears.

[@rachael1572]

I never know that hits could cause so much trouble now that I had an MRI I have Labor on tears and both my it's in that is worse than back pain

[@rachael1572]

Even the knee's but our hips are the center of our bodies and it is my labrum

[@XX-166]

So tell us how you’re doing and how the procedure went.

[@rosiek649]

I'm going by how you are in this video - This guy sacrum and lower back is still knotted up. Lots going on on right sacrum (buttock area) all the way up that spine right side going up to mid-back is more swollen next to spine. Also right foot has a lot going on, bit on left foot from base of toes to end of toes. Right hand has more inflammation too, left hand a little bit. Also C7 and T1. I can scan your body in the video which is how I am giving you information. So basically I scanned your body before I started listening and sure enough right sciatic is inflamed etc. You can reach out to me if you want me to help you. Basically you don't need to give me any information cuz I already can see through your body

[@kaffirfromgod5162]

Nooe nope nope dude i can tell you do not take two shhiats a day. You my freind are constipated....i have same region way worse than yours and this solved almost all my problems except sleeping just cant do it. So If i dont take a doocky I am a cripple. Its so bad and my movement is so slow, I cant sit on the towlet, I have to stay in one position cant walk. I have to take oxypowder to evacuate the bowels and boy does it work.. with each dramatic evac my mobility is instantly better with each one untill regular again. Since figuring this out I wondered if i even had to have two laminectomies in your levels.... Try it prove me wrong..what goes in must come out daily......... Not to mention every one i see at pain MGMT is completely constapated and why the doc cant figure it out i dont know its suspect.....

[@MamasCountryCookingnMore]

You are right. I have lots of issues with my L4 L5 and s1 when my pipes get overloaded I have more severe back pain. I have to watch this and make sure I go everyday. A stool softener is necessary some times. Magnesium everyday helps as well as raw veggies.

[@Raj-ul9my]

If you want to know were the pain is coming from is by doing a “Spect-CT scan” it’s as simple as that. Around 90% sensitive and accurate. It’s the only scan that tells the surgeon we’re the pain is coming from 🎉

[@leeleeirv1270]

Dr you dropped some weight. 😊

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Thanks for noticing!

[@vcash1112]

The doctor doesn’t look very healthy.

[@Scott-cu4ol]

lol. pig? it’s a blind squirrel. 🐿️

[@BestPracticeHealth]

. That definitely makes sense.

[@rishabhvishwakarma5084]

In the end, every doctor leaves the decision up to us 🥲. Rather than correlate and make the right decision.