Lumbar RF ablation

[Lea]

I had my RF of the lumbar L3-4-5 on the right side yesterday. Took them 4 tries to get an IV started. Woke up in 10 + pain. They gave me 2 IV Fentanyl, but didn't touch it. Took Norco several times but couldn't even lay down once I got home. The pain finally eased up right before bed time and is now about a 7 on the ricther scale. I can handle that easier, but I'm pretty worn out by it all. He also did a trans foraminal ESI so hopefully that will kick in soon as well.

Boy am I glad I took the rest of the week off, but my house is such a mess and I don't dare do any housework. My DH is out of town on business but my 11 y/o son is here to help a little. He's got half the dishwasher unloaded:)

Keeping my fingers crossed I will have the same pain relief I achieved with my neck RF.

On another note. A week ago I got to be present at the birth of my brother's first child Nora Alise. I was so proud of my sister in law. She was a trooper in spite of enduring 5 failed attempts at an epidural. She has some scoliosis and they just couldn't get it threaded into the epidural space. They were finally able to do a caudal block right before the delivery.

Here are some pictures of my niece.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v622/PsychLea/?action=view&current=DSCN0051_edited-1.jpg

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v622/PsychLea/?action=view&current=DSCN0093_edited-1.jpg

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v622/PsychLea/?action=view&current=DSCN0102_edited-1.jpg

[Mark N]

Lea, your niece is cute especially in the last picture. Good luck to her parents and her.

I hope that your RF starts giving you some relief soon. Sorry to hear you had so much pain immediately after. I hope you have a better night tonight and find you are feeling much better tomorrow.

[photonut]

Lea:
So sorry you have been going through all that you have. Don't worry about the house work. Some how it will all fall into place.
What a beautiful little angel. How sweet. I just couldn't stop starring at the photo. It reminded me of when my daughter was that small. They grow up too fast...She is 26 now. OMG am I getting old...Oh well take care and enjoy your little niece...Allie*dumbo

[Gimpy]

OMG! I can smell that sweet baby smell all the way here!!! :o :o

Your brother looks like his feet haven't quite touched the ground again. The little foot prints on his shirt, aweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Can you tell I'm a baby freak? Wish I'd had a dozen of em'.

I hope you feel better soon. I know seeing babies always makes me feel better.

Gimpy

[BrokenBladder]

Lea what an adorable niece!! I especially love the last picture of her she looks so peaceful.
Lea I'm really sorry for the pain you're going through. i just sounds horrible, but hopefully in the end it will help.:) Keep your chin up and don't give into that urge to do housework!!

[suede]

Lea,
I hope that your pain is down and that your feeling better soon..

Congrats on the little niece, what a Doll, I have to say the first picture says it all, "Where is this place and what am I doing here"?
Then the one with her sleeping so peacefully says she knows she is safe and surrounded by lots of love.

Linda

[Kathi49]

Lea,

Your niece is a doll baby! I just want to get a hold of her and squeeze her. :)

I, too, hope your pain is diminishing. Unbelievable that the pain was so bad! And, no, I don't mean that in a negative way. I just didn't have that kind of pain afterwards so it just makes me wonder what was done differently. Maybe it was due to the ESI too. I do know besides Versed I was given some Toradol...so maybe that made a difference. Did the RF's for your neck hurt as bad afterwards? I am just so curious because I will probably have another RF done in the lumbar....at some point. And I won't really go there on the IV's other than to say...I HATE them in the hand. And will avoid it if possible and ask them to place it elsewhere. I know how the many attempts can go! :eek:

And keep enlisting the help of your son! :) What a sweetie! I hope you are feeling better today. :)

[Lea]

Mark, Allie, Gimpy, Lisa, and Linda,

Thank you so much for your responses. Yes my niece is one of the prettiest babies I have ever seen. No I'm not predjudice:D

It's nice to know she has so many cyber aunts and uncles*fairies

I worry about my brother and his wife because her family is so large and intrusive and it makes me hesitant to visit too much. She was a week old yesterday. I hope to see them on Sunday.

I brought them a deli tray from WalMart last week which was a story in itself. I'll post later on that because it was really an unbelievable experience and I was so shook up afterwards I didn't get to enjoy my visit too much.

Still having some pain, but not as bad, just really groggy and hung over from all the meds I had to take to get through it. My son finally got the dishwasher loaded then treated me to a bowl of popcorn and a PPV movie "The Astronaut Farmer" He is a sweetie. My DH should be back in town tonite. I am trying not to do housework, but just had to clean off some of the counter tops. I'm not the neatest person in the world, but I don't want to live in filth either.

Thanks for your support.

[Lea]

Lea,

Your niece is a doll baby! I just want to get a hold of her and squeeze her. :)

I, too, hope your pain is diminishing. Unbelievable that the pain was so bad! And, no, I don't mean that in a negative way. I just didn't have that kind of pain afterwards so it just makes me wonder what was done differently. Maybe it was due to the ESI too. I do know besides Versed I was given some Toradol...so maybe that made a difference. Did the RF's for your neck hurt as bad afterwards? I am just so curious because I will probably have another RF done in the lumbar....at some point. And I won't really go there on the IV's other than to say...I HATE them in the hand. And will avoid it if possible and ask them to place it elsewhere. I know how the many attempts can go! :eek:


And keep enlisting the help of your son! :) What a sweetie! I hope you are feeling better today. :)
Kathi,

She is adorable isn't she?*cg07

I have had this problem off and on with the RF's. It isn't uncommon for you to have increased pain afterwards. I had had them where I had very little pain afterwards. It might depend on how inflammed and irritated they are at the time of the procedure. The good news is that my right side seems to be okay, so we are holding off on that for now.

I hate the IV sticks. I had two in my hand and two in my wrists:eek: My PM came by while they were trying to get the IV and started rubbing on my foot. I told him "Step away from the foot. You aren't even going there!*pow He stepped away reeeaaal quick like!

My son has been such a sweetie, even though he is a little under the weather from a severe sunburn his day camp let him contract after a trip to the pool:mad: He's doing much better today and playing gamecube in the living room.

I was suppose to go to the surgeon this morning for my 2 week follow up for my shoulder, but didn't feel safe to get into the car this morning. I am a little more alert right now and really need to go to the bank and take care of some business. Maybe treat my son to some ice cream if I can get myself going.

[Kathi49]

Lea,

You're right. I had forgotten about the "inflammation" aspect. I know in the past the facet injections REALLY hurt. But it as my PM said...pretty badly inflamed. Sorry 'bout that Lea. I am just not thinking clearly recently at all...too much going on. :) And to top all of that off...had to go to an Opthamologist today because there was a hair wedged under my eyelid and in some kind of tiny pocket..not across but sticking out and poking me every time I blinked! No wonder the rinsing or the eye drops the GP prescribed didn't do a thing! Anyway, sorry OT, I know. But this seems to be my life lately...just weird stuff! :)

Oh, I like your "Pow"! The foot???!! OMG! I would have said no and he** no! I just hate the ones in my hand because a vein collapses EVERY time! I have told them all...please, not the hand. And they are usually okay to put it elsewhere.

I hope you get to feeling better and can take your son out for some ice cream. :)