Re: I need help !!!! Hot probe treatment ????

[Guest guest]

Jenn

My name is Janine I have had simular problems. 1994 I had fell at work down som metal steps landed on the corner of one. i couldnt get up they carried me out on a stretcher. Dr's for years told me there was nothing wrong it was in my head or I had pulled muscles in my back. It wasnt until 2002 that they found out that I shattered most of my L4-5. Fragments embedded in my left side in the nerves. My right leg was completely numb. My left leg was all messed up felt like it was on fire most of the time. They said it took that long for the fragments to start messing with the nerves the way it did. They also said I will have permanent nerve damage they did Nerve conduction tests said my major nerves seemed just fine but the facial nerves were damaged some probably forever. They said that the bigger nerves were probably temporarily damaged and that is why they are not registering anything wrong. The pain sounds like there might be something wrong with the siatica did they

scan the nerves to see if there we any fragments there? They did not know until they cut me open how many fragments there really was and what kind of damage it had done. they had to cut through bone and muscle to get to some of the fragments. They were only on the left side and we dumbfounded with what was going on with the right leg but the Neuro Dr. told me that there are so many nerves in the spine area that anything is possible. They have me on a med that they give to epileptics (sp) They said it was proven that it helps with the nerves in the lower back and face also. I have been on this for almost 4 years now and I am having the bad feelings coming back full force in my left leg. It minimized the torture I was dealing with but never really took it away. They say now that I have massive scar tissue constricting the Thoratic(sp) nerve and that could be 1 possible reason why things are getting bad again amongst other things. I have never heard of the Hot probe

treatment. There is a gentleman in here by the name of Russ who is very knowledgeable he might know. If he does not there are many wonderful people here who research alot on the internet they might have heard of it. I am sorry that I couldnt help but I thought you should know that my fall was 7 years before I started losing feeling in my legs and feeling the pain that I had so it could be possible that when you fell it shattered fragments from your disc into nerves and now you are feeling the consequences from the fall. I am sorry that this happened to you I hope that you can find out some answers. Dont give up keep on top of the Dr's and persist that they find out what the heck is going on.

Sincerely Jainne In Cali JenieGirl <jeniegirl27@...> wrote:

Hi everyone -

It's been a long time since I wrote, but I'm hoping that some of you may remember me. Here's a quick version of what I've been through:

Nerve pain in right leg, back of thigh sometimes going as far down as to my foot and sometimes causing numbness in my foot to knee

Two herniated discs - L4-L5 and L5-S1 - leaning to left side

Disc fragment on left side of spine

Went through a series of 3 epidural injections with approximately two months in between each one. First one worked good, second and third only lasted a very short time.

I've had xrays, MRI's, high resolution-reconstruction catscans

Had a nerve/reflex test done - came back normal

I've tried the pack of anti-inflammatories, helped temporarily

Am now taking Nortripolyne (spelling?) which is helping somewhat

Accidents - as a child I broke my heel bone, foot specialist gave me a cushion for my right foot only causing my hips to be off slightly and causing slight scholiosis since I was growing. Then several years ago a friend at work pulled my chair back quickly as a joke, the chair went and I went crashing to the floor and landed on my tailbone. I was in a lot of pain and couldn't stand up right away but didn't have any problems after that. Then about 5-6 years later is when I started with this pain so I don't think these two incidences are related.

Now my problem - every single doctor that I have seen says that I should have pain down my left leg and not my right since my herniations are more towards the left and so is the disc fragment. I've seen Orthopedic surgeons, Neurosurgeons, Neurologists, Orthopedic Spine Specialist, etc. They all say the same thing.

The Neurosurgeon that I have been seeing since day one suggested that I get my hips checked out as a last resort. I went for that appointment tonight and he said my hips are absolutely fine. He did suggest that I either go back to pain management or talk to my doctor about a hot probe treatment. Has anyone had a hot probe treatment done, and if so can you please tell me about it? Any warnings/precautions, etc. And does anyone have any suggestions on what I might do now to figure out what is causing this pain. If I wasn't on this medication I'd barely be able to get around by this point. I need help desperately.

Thanks!Jenn

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[Guest guest]

I had L4/L5 degenerated, bone on bone. I had a test

called a discogram, it pin-pointed the 2 bad discs as

the source of my pain. I had spine fusion in Nov. 03

it took away the feeling that I'm going to break in

half. Now it seems as though I traded one type of pain

for another, foot pain due to nerve damage and a

burning where my hardware is located. At least I can

walk. I still take about 10mg hydrocodone to sleep and

not be down half of the day. Good luck! I do not know

of the (hot probe) it does not sound fun, the disogram

was not fun either!

--- JenieGirl <jeniegirl27@...> wrote:

> Hi everyone -

>

> It's been a long time since I wrote, but I'm hoping

> that some of you may remember me. Here's a quick

> version of what I've been through:

>

> Nerve pain in right leg, back of thigh sometimes

> going as far down as to my foot and sometimes

> causing numbness in my foot to knee

> Two herniated discs - L4-L5 and L5-S1 - leaning

> to left side

> Disc fragment on left side of spine

> Went through a series of 3 epidural injections

> with approximately two months in between each one.

> First one worked good, second and third only lasted

> a very short time.

> I've had xrays, MRI's, high

> resolution-reconstruction catscans

> Had a nerve/reflex test done - came back normal

> I've tried the pack of anti-inflammatories,

> helped temporarily

> Am now taking Nortripolyne (spelling?) which is

> helping somewhat

> Accidents - as a child I broke my heel bone, foot

> specialist gave me a cushion for my right foot only

> causing my hips to be off slightly and causing

> slight scholiosis since I was growing. Then several

> years ago a friend at work pulled my chair back

> quickly as a joke, the chair went and I went

> crashing to the floor and landed on my tailbone. I

> was in a lot of pain and couldn't stand up right

> away but didn't have any problems after that. Then

> about 5-6 years later is when I started with this

> pain so I don't think these two incidences are

> related.

>

> Now my problem - every single doctor that I have

> seen says that I should have pain down my left leg

> and not my right since my herniations are more

> towards the left and so is the disc fragment. I've

> seen Orthopedic surgeons, Neurosurgeons,

> Neurologists, Orthopedic Spine Specialist, etc.

> They all say the same thing.

>

> The Neurosurgeon that I have been seeing since day

> one suggested that I get my hips checked out as a

> last resort. I went for that appointment tonight

> and he said my hips are absolutely fine. He did

> suggest that I either go back to pain management or

> talk to my doctor about a hot probe treatment. Has

> anyone had a hot probe treatment done, and if so can

> you please tell me about it? Any

> warnings/precautions, etc. And does anyone have any

> suggestions on what I might do now to figure out

> what is causing this pain. If I wasn't on this

> medication I'd barely be able to get around by this

> point. I need help desperately.

>

> Thanks!

> Jenn

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

> Hi everyone -

>

> It's been a long time since I wrote, but I'm hoping that some of

you may remember me. Here's a quick version of what I've been

through:

>

>

> Nerve pain in right leg, back of thigh sometimes going as far

down as to my foot and sometimes causing numbness in my foot to knee

> Two herniated discs - L4-L5 and L5-S1 - leaning to left side

> Disc fragment on left side of spine

> Went through a series of 3 epidural injections with

approximately two months in between each one. First one worked good,

second and third only lasted a very short time.

> I've had xrays, MRI's, high resolution-reconstruction catscans

> Had a nerve/reflex test done - came back normal

> I've tried the pack of anti-inflammatories, helped temporarily

> Am now taking Nortripolyne (spelling?) which is helping somewhat

> Accidents - as a child I broke my heel bone, foot specialist

gave me a cushion for my right foot only causing my hips to be off

slightly and causing slight scholiosis since I was growing. Then

several years ago a friend at work pulled my chair back quickly as a

joke, the chair went and I went crashing to the floor and landed on

my tailbone. I was in a lot of pain and couldn't stand up right away

but didn't have any problems after that. Then about 5-6 years later

is when I started with this pain so I don't think these two

incidences are related.

>

> Now my problem - every single doctor that I have seen says that I

should have pain down my left leg and not my right since my

herniations are more towards the left and so is the disc fragment.

I've seen Orthopedic surgeons, Neurosurgeons, Neurologists,

Orthopedic Spine Specialist, etc. They all say the same thing.

>

> The Neurosurgeon that I have been seeing since day one suggested

that I get my hips checked out as a last resort. I went for that

appointment tonight and he said my hips are absolutely fine. He did

suggest that I either go back to pain management or talk to my doctor

about a hot probe treatment. Has anyone had a hot probe treatment

done, and if so can you please tell me about it? Any

warnings/precautions, etc. And does anyone have any suggestions on

what I might do now to figure out what is causing this pain. If I

wasn't on this medication I'd barely be able to get around by this

point. I need help desperately.

>

> Thanks!

> Jenn

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Sports

> Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football

Jenn ~

When you say " hot probe treatment " are you talking about Intradiscal

Electrothermal Therapy (IDET)?? Here is a site for you to check out:

http://www.orthoassociates.com/IDET.htm I have a few more and more

information also on this. Please let me know if this is what you are

talking about.

Shirl

[Guest guest]

Jenn...

Here's one definition of hot probe treatment and the web page address

where you can find it:

" More lasting relief of the facet joint problem can be obtained by

destroying some of the tiny nerve endings serving the joints. This can

be accomplished by a tip freezing or an electrified hot probe

technique (also known as a facet rhizotomy) performed under careful x-

ray control, (or for a lesser time by a carefully controlled injection

of botox toxin which treats the muscle spasm). "

http://www.spine-health.com/topics/cd/facetjoint/facetjoint03.html

Russ

[Guest guest]

Honestly, I don't know. The Orthopedic that I saw yesterday only told

me that it was a hot probe treatment that they use to heat up and

shrink the discs that are herniated. He didn't tell me an actual name.

>

> Jenn ~

>

> When you say " hot probe treatment " are you talking about Intradiscal

> Electrothermal Therapy (IDET)?? Here is a site for you to check out:

> http://www.orthoassociates.com/IDET.htm I have a few more and more

> information also on this. Please let me know if this is what you are

> talking about.

>

> Shirl

[Guest guest]

Thanks Russ - I'll read this now.

> Jenn...

> Here's one definition of hot probe treatment and the web page address

> where you can find it:

>

> " More lasting relief of the facet joint problem can be obtained by

> destroying some of the tiny nerve endings serving the joints. This

can

> be accomplished by a tip freezing or an electrified hot probe

> technique (also known as a facet rhizotomy) performed under careful x-

> ray control, (or for a lesser time by a carefully controlled

injection

> of botox toxin which treats the muscle spasm). "

>

> http://www.spine-health.com/topics/cd/facetjoint/facetjoint03.html

>

> Russ

[Guest guest]

I have been told that next to surgery, the discogram is my next

option but many have warned me not to do it. The weird thing is that

I don't really get pain in my back, the nerve pain is mainly in my

leg.

>

> > Hi everyone -

> >

> > It's been a long time since I wrote, but I'm hoping

> > that some of you may remember me. Here's a quick

> > version of what I've been through:

> >

> > Nerve pain in right leg, back of thigh sometimes

> > going as far down as to my foot and sometimes

> > causing numbness in my foot to knee

> > Two herniated discs - L4-L5 and L5-S1 - leaning

> > to left side

> > Disc fragment on left side of spine

> > Went through a series of 3 epidural injections

> > with approximately two months in between each one.

> > First one worked good, second and third only lasted

> > a very short time.

> > I've had xrays, MRI's, high

> > resolution-reconstruction catscans

> > Had a nerve/reflex test done - came back normal

> > I've tried the pack of anti-inflammatories,

> > helped temporarily

> > Am now taking Nortripolyne (spelling?) which is

> > helping somewhat

> > Accidents - as a child I broke my heel bone, foot

> > specialist gave me a cushion for my right foot only

> > causing my hips to be off slightly and causing

> > slight scholiosis since I was growing. Then several

> > years ago a friend at work pulled my chair back

> > quickly as a joke, the chair went and I went

> > crashing to the floor and landed on my tailbone. I

> > was in a lot of pain and couldn't stand up right

> > away but didn't have any problems after that. Then

> > about 5-6 years later is when I started with this

> > pain so I don't think these two incidences are

> > related.

> >

> > Now my problem - every single doctor that I have

> > seen says that I should have pain down my left leg

> > and not my right since my herniations are more

> > towards the left and so is the disc fragment. I've

> > seen Orthopedic surgeons, Neurosurgeons,

> > Neurologists, Orthopedic Spine Specialist, etc.

> > They all say the same thing.

> >

> > The Neurosurgeon that I have been seeing since day

> > one suggested that I get my hips checked out as a

> > last resort. I went for that appointment tonight

> > and he said my hips are absolutely fine. He did

> > suggest that I either go back to pain management or

> > talk to my doctor about a hot probe treatment. Has

> > anyone had a hot probe treatment done, and if so can

> > you please tell me about it? Any

> > warnings/precautions, etc. And does anyone have any

> > suggestions on what I might do now to figure out

> > what is causing this pain. If I wasn't on this

> > medication I'd barely be able to get around by this

> > point. I need help desperately.

> >

> > Thanks!

> > Jenn

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >

[Guest guest]

Do not read any further if you're not ready to be

shocked. The discogram is done with you being half

sedated, you are out but not really. You can still

answer ? from the DR but I do not remember the

questions. I do remember waking up screaming in pain

because my L4/L5 was the source of my pain. They take

a spinal needle and inject a dye into your suspected

bad discs. This pressurizes your disc and the object

is to take a MRI after with the dye in you. The test

also is to try and wake you out of sedation in pain,

this is confirmation that the suspected discs are the

problem. I was very nervous before the test, but in

several hours the pain they induced was gone. At least

I was sure of the source of my pain. They recommended

2 level fusion. I have 6 screws and 2 titanium rods in

me.

I have a ? for anyone out there, how hard was it to

get on SS disability? I was turned down once and they

said because I could run errands and was not

housebound that I did not qualify. They act as though

I should be able to dance the jig or something. I

can't lift more than 10lbs. I can't sleep due to

constant foot pain and back problems. I'm lucky if I

sleep 4hrs in a row. I spend at least 3-4hrs a day

during the day flat on my back. I have been paying for

disability income, a private policy for 5yrs. This was

well before my surgery and I can not get that till SS

decides in my favor.

--- jeniegirl27 <jeniegirl27@...> wrote:

> I have been told that next to surgery, the discogram

> is my next

> option but many have warned me not to do it. The

> weird thing is that

> I don't really get pain in my back, the nerve pain

> is mainly in my

> leg.

>

>

>

> >

> > > Hi everyone -

> > >

> > > It's been a long time since I wrote, but I'm

> hoping

> > > that some of you may remember me. Here's a

> quick

> > > version of what I've been through:

> > >

> > > Nerve pain in right leg, back of thigh

> sometimes

> > > going as far down as to my foot and sometimes

> > > causing numbness in my foot to knee

> > > Two herniated discs - L4-L5 and L5-S1 -

> leaning

> > > to left side

> > > Disc fragment on left side of spine

> > > Went through a series of 3 epidural

> injections

> > > with approximately two months in between each

> one.

> > > First one worked good, second and third only

> lasted

> > > a very short time.

> > > I've had xrays, MRI's, high

> > > resolution-reconstruction catscans

> > > Had a nerve/reflex test done - came back

> normal

> > > I've tried the pack of anti-inflammatories,

> > > helped temporarily

> > > Am now taking Nortripolyne (spelling?) which

> is

> > > helping somewhat

> > > Accidents - as a child I broke my heel bone,

> foot

> > > specialist gave me a cushion for my right foot

> only

> > > causing my hips to be off slightly and causing

> > > slight scholiosis since I was growing. Then

> several

> > > years ago a friend at work pulled my chair back

> > > quickly as a joke, the chair went and I went

> > > crashing to the floor and landed on my tailbone.

> I

> > > was in a lot of pain and couldn't stand up right

> > > away but didn't have any problems after that.

> Then

> > > about 5-6 years later is when I started with

> this

> > > pain so I don't think these two incidences are

> > > related.

> > >

> > > Now my problem - every single doctor that I have

> > > seen says that I should have pain down my left

> leg

> > > and not my right since my herniations are more

> > > towards the left and so is the disc fragment.

> I've

> > > seen Orthopedic surgeons, Neurosurgeons,

> > > Neurologists, Orthopedic Spine Specialist, etc.

> > > They all say the same thing.

> > >

> > > The Neurosurgeon that I have been seeing since

> day

> > > one suggested that I get my hips checked out as

> a

> > > last resort. I went for that appointment

> tonight

> > > and he said my hips are absolutely fine. He did

> > > suggest that I either go back to pain management

> or

> > > talk to my doctor about a hot probe treatment.

> Has

> > > anyone had a hot probe treatment done, and if so

> can

> > > you please tell me about it? Any

> > > warnings/precautions, etc. And does anyone have

> any

> > > suggestions on what I might do now to figure out

> > > what is causing this pain. If I wasn't on this

> > > medication I'd barely be able to get around by

> this

> > > point. I need help desperately.

> > >

> > > Thanks!

> > > Jenn

> > >

> > >

> __________________________________________________

> > >

[Guest guest]

At 08:52 AM 7/2/2005, you wrote:

>Do not read any further if you're not ready to be

>shocked. The discogram is done with you being half

>sedated, you are out but not really. You can still

>answer ? from the DR but I do not remember the

>questions. I do remember waking up screaming in pain

>because my L4/L5 was the source of my pain. They take

>a spinal needle and inject a dye into your suspected

>bad discs. This pressurizes your disc and the object

>is to take a MRI after with the dye in you.

I don't think there's anyone here who has gone through all the pricks and

probes and pain and indignities of spinal problems and/or surgeries that

would be shocked by your post.

The hot probe treatment is a new one for me, though <ouch!>