migrainepage
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

Radio Frequency Ablation

3 posters

Go down

Radio Frequency Ablation Empty Radio Frequency Ablation

Post  Sprout 87 Mon Mar 16, 2015 1:40 pm

I'm new to this board but not new to migraines. I've had them for at least 40 years, although it might have been longer just not diagnosed as  such. Over the course of time I have tried pretty much everything on the market. I've had multiple MRI's, CTA's, & MRA's but the only thing that showed up was a persistent trigeminal artery. Was sent to a neurosurgeon for that & he referred me to a vascular surgeon. In the end, it was nothing that had anything to do with my migraines so was released from their care. I've seen neurologists, headache specialists & am now going to a pain management doctor. Which leads me to my question. Has anyone had a Radio Frequency Ablation done for their migraines & was it successful? I had one done almost 3 weeks ago &, if anything, my migraines are worse. I've been having them daily for over a year but the intensity had escalated since the RFA.

Sprout 87

Posts : 12
Join date : 2015-03-16

Back to top Go down

Radio Frequency Ablation Empty Re: Radio Frequency Ablation

Post  tortoisegirl Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:50 pm

Welcome! Sorry you are dealing with this. Unfortunately I have heard of few folks who report relief from ablation online. And enough folks have reported increased pain that its not something I would consider. I hope your increased pain subsides. Have you seen your doctor since the procedure? If so, what did they say?

A pain management doctor has been the type of doctor that has got me the most relief, but it can be tough to find a good fit (which I define as one who offers a variety of options besides just procedures, and truly cares about the patient improving). Hang in there! Best wishes.

tortoisegirl

Posts : 357
Join date : 2009-12-14
Location : Washington

Back to top Go down

Radio Frequency Ablation Empty Re: Radio Frequency Ablation

Post  Sprout 87 Mon Mar 16, 2015 9:04 pm

I have not seen the doctor since the procedure. I was told it could take 4-6 weeks for full effect so I have an appointment the 25th of this month. This is a new doctor. My old one left his practice abruptly & the one who took over was awful. The treatment plan of the first doctor he "wasn't interested in doing that", & the pain medicine routine he would only give me one of them but not both. I had one for daytime & one for night since it made me drowsy. The daytime one wasn't really strong enough to last all night so I went in search of another doctor. We're still in the "getting to know you stage" so I'll see what happens next week.

Sprout 87

Posts : 12
Join date : 2015-03-16

Back to top Go down

Radio Frequency Ablation Empty Re: Radio Frequency Ablation

Post  Sprout 87 Wed Mar 25, 2015 11:40 am

Had my follow up this morning. Nothing. Ordered me a topical to try & calm the nerves down. Wanted to know if I wanted to the blocks again. Why would I do something again that didn't work the first time? Really! Shocked I don't understand. Got my pain meds refilled so at least I can get some sleep at night.
PS I have since found out that the compounding pharmacy is in MS (I'm in AZ). Last year another doctor ordered something from a pharmacy in Florida & by the time it got delivered it was unusable. Had discolored, separated & was oozing from the container. Put a call in to ask him to change it to a local pharmacy. Of course didn't get a return call. Went to pick up the pain med & found out when the pharmacist called about a scrip that he faxed over for something I'm not taking anymore they were told I was not to take the pain med I use for daytime, only the one I use at night. I know we had had a discussion about them when I first went to this doc because the doc I had before left the practice abruptly & his replacement said he would give me one or the other but not both. I am just getting so fed up with all doctors. Mad

Sprout 87

Posts : 12
Join date : 2015-03-16

Back to top Go down

Radio Frequency Ablation Empty Re: Radio Frequency Ablation

Post  tortoisegirl Wed Mar 25, 2015 8:56 pm

Ridiculous for a doctor to ask if you wanted to try a procedure again that didn't work right after discussing that it didn't work (unless if it is something like Botox that is proven to have a build up effect for some folks). I hope your nerves calm down soon. Its discouraging your doctor didn't have any comments. If I were in your shoes I'd be looking for another doctor.

It can unfortunately be very tough to find good ones, especially for chronic headache conditions. I've sure been through a long list of them. I think the major issue is time...they are pressed to fit so many patients in that they can't really ever devote their whole attention and take interest in a case, even during the short time slot. Then they don't have time to do any research for a patient between visits.

I hope you get the pain med and compounded med thing sorted out too. Odd there wouldn't be a local compounding pharmacy that would work with him. Often places are very willing to work with doctors and will even give them a check box prescription form where they can just check off what they want of common topical pain relief ingredients.

Plus the obvious that you need this now, not in days or weeks when it will get to your through the mail. You may have to do some legwork and figure out what ingredients were in what they prescribed, then call around to compounding pharmacies and see if they can do it, then ask your doctor to fax it to a specific pharmacy (if they use an out of state one I assume they don't know of one locally, but its likely there is one). Best wishes.

tortoisegirl

Posts : 357
Join date : 2009-12-14
Location : Washington

Back to top Go down

Radio Frequency Ablation Empty Re: Radio Frequency Ablation

Post  lorente Thu Mar 26, 2015 8:05 am

A tip for finding doctors who work with compounding pharmacies: Call the pharmacies and ask for names of a few doctors who treat migraines and deal through them. The pharmacy cannot recommend a doctor, but they can tell you which ones they do business with. Just an idea. Best of luck. I hope you're doing better soon.

lorente

Posts : 81
Join date : 2014-02-22

Back to top Go down

Radio Frequency Ablation Empty Re: Radio Frequency Ablation

Post  Sprout 87 Sun Apr 05, 2015 3:43 pm

Finally got the cream &, so far, it doesn't appear to be doing anything except make my face tacky to the touch. Supposed to be an anti-inflammatory/anesthetic. Don't see doc for a couple more weeks so am just trying to cope.

Sprout 87

Posts : 12
Join date : 2015-03-16

Back to top Go down

Radio Frequency Ablation Empty Re: Radio Frequency Ablation

Post  Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum