Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group 4th radio-frequency on SI joint

On 3/15, I had 4 levels of lumbar spine done and on 3/29, I got the SI done. I've had both procedures done before (once for lumbar and 3 previous times for SI) and never had anything happen other than pain/inflammation for the short term and pain relief for the long term. This time was different.

Got through lumbar part pretty well 2 weeks ago. Got through the procedure for SI well, but then it got weird. No different meds (other than I was on Humira this time as opposed to Enbrel the last time). Never had trouble laying on my stomach for 1 to 1.5 hrs before either. Always abide by the 'NPO' instructions and never have anything but a sip for a pain pill (ok) before my procedure. At the end of the procedure, doc said I spoke up and said I felt weird (I don't remember this completely due to the Versed). She said she asked me to elaborate, but I could only tell her I felt weird. Then said my throat hurt and my nose hurt. She thought it might be nausea and gave Zofran and turned me on side. Then got moved to recovery and she ordered chest xray and EKG, then went to talk to my hubby since I was delayed. (It must be tough to get good information from a patient on Versed and Fentanyl...LOL)

All that stuff was normal and I was feeling better and more alert as meds were cleared out of system. After 2 hrs in recovery, they let me go home. At that point, I gathered ice packs, retired to my recliner and watched TV the rest of the afternoon/evening. Then phone rang about 8pm. I didn't get to it in time to answer, but saw it was a blocked caller. Voicemail pinged and I went ahead and listened to what I figured was a wrong number. It was my dearly appreciated pain doc!!!! I called the office and left message with answering service and gave them my number. She called me back, saying she was concerned and wanted to make sure I was doing okay. She guesses it was a small bout of reflux, but xray showed no aspiration and my heart was fine. O2 was still hooked up and my O2 sat was 100% throughout. I told her I was planning on resting the rest of the night, but had to work Saturday. She said if I had to go home early, let her know and she would write a letter excusing me. I worked the whole shift and only got sore...not too bad. Today, however, much more sore and stiff. Off Monday and back to work Tuesday. Great doc, huh?

a good doctor is worth their weight in gold!

Hope you are feling the benefit of the procedure really soon!

Good doctors are rare...hang on to that one.

I have liked this doc from the first visit. She believed my pain. It was before I got a firm rheumy dx, but was getting treated with MTX already. Just to have a doc believe my pain...priceless. She is very compassionate. Good qualities in docs.

How weird Rumble,

I have never had that happen and I have had 4 of them now. Did they do more then 1? Do you have a Lidoderm patch to throw on it? Works well for me. Sorry you had that reaction. Maybe you got a little more Versed then they intended.

thanks for sharing your experience.

i don't remember the details now, but i think it was dow's wife marsha that went in for some procedure and had problems with either the versed or fentenyl or something. maybe PM him and he can give you the details?

i do wonder if you had some sort of rxn to the drugs, as "weird" is a fairly "typical" rxn for me on certain drugs and other "chemicals" that i am sensitive / allergic to. i can never explain it exactly, just this weird feeling.

anyway, yes, i love my docs that really seem to care about me and my well being. only a few that will call me at home to check up on me if i don't seem to be doing well.

priceless indeed!

hope you get good relief from the RF!

i know its something i have in my back pocket for my neck if i need it, largely due to you and others here sharing your experiences with the procedures.

thanks again for the update.

I am glad you have a nice doctor.It was so nice of her to call you.I have a few like that as well and I always recommend them to my family. I had a si ablation done too. How many can a person get in their lifetime?

I suppose as long as I tolerate them and there are no major problems. I'll ask today, if I see doc for my Toradol shot before work. Do know that Possi has had issues. And forgot that Dow's wife did, too. Hmm. I was thinking it was a med reaction as I've had the procedure done 3 times. Of course, I've had all the drugs before, multiple times.... Maybe a fluke?

Do you know that the doctor used exactly the same amounts of each drug? or a higher dose?

though too we can become sensitive to things that we weren't before.

or it could be something else.......

She didn't mention different doses, but who knows? I'm thinking the reflux seems the best suspect, though I had nothing in my stomach but one swallow of water from 2 hrs before. Go figure. At least she was proactive and tested the usual things...lungs and heart.