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

I am glad you have a good dr. Rumble. I have been thinking of you. Hope today is a good day.

Hugs.
Possi

Well, it's a little over a week since procedure. Skin/muscle/tendons overlying SI seem swollen still, but not as tender. Not feeling as much pain, but still feel dull ache. Overall, a bit better. This procedure is really helpful. For those with SI pain, it's worth asking pain docs about it. Especially if you get relief from steroids. My doc did steroids one time under fluoro, then said 'no more steroids, I have something better.' She was right.

Thanks for the update

Good to hear how helpful these are for you

I am so glad you are getting some relief. A couple of years ago, I got 11 months of basically full relief. I am sorry I cannot have them anymore...or steroids. :o( Glad you can! :o)

Hugs.

It's two weeks since the RFA. After about 10 days, the ache/pain was down to only annoying. Then that massive storm front went through the area and ramped up a lot of pain. Today, it's back down to achy. Never underestimate the effect of a big-AS cold front. OUCH!!! SI area still feels a little swollen.

Since I'm able to do my own labs (work in a medical lab), I thought I'd check out the effects of this procedure on various tests. CRP stayed stable, which was surprising, though mine doesn't vary much more than from 0.2 to 0.8 or 0.9. Once it shot up to 1.9 after a procedure. This time it didn't. However, my CPK/CK went from my normal of 40-ish up to near 200!!! Decided to check it a week later and it's down to 100. Must have been a lot of muscle damage from all the needles/cannulas between the lumbar RFA 2 weeks prior to this SI RFA. It was a little surprising.

Hi Rumble,

That front did a number on both of us also. I hear we have another one next week. There were a lot of trees down from the ice and wind. A huge one across the street. I am ready for Spring to quit teasing us and stay. I love the rain though.

Possi

I am so longing for the 80s (temps, not years--lol). Finally have shaken most of the pain. Had to get another Toradol shot last Tuesday. Then was surprised at work and sent to set up some old instruments in a new lab. Instead of my customary hard 40-hr week, I put in 52 hrs in 5 days. I am so beat. Get to do it next week, too.

Have a mildly (I hope) complex legal skirmish with an my ex and a phone conference with an attorney in the morning. Some people just won't go away and stay there. Prayers appreciated. Peace.

I am sorry you are having a bump in the road. I hate it you have had to work so much and deal with this. Stress which you are dealing with physically and emotionally is not good.

I am longing for the 80's along with you and here we are supposed to be in the 30's again. I am getting tired of covering up pots. :o)

I will be praying for you. I am glad your pain is better. Do the Toradol shots last very long? I really need something.

Yesterday I don't know what happened but for just a moment, I zoned out and fell right straight sideways right in to the corner of the house. Bruised by shoulder and back which did not need any more trauma. 3 Lidocaine patches only cover so much. :o) This is twice now. I think I am going to see the dr. and discuss TIA's. The first one involved a little more than this one. May be the CNS Lupus again.

You were up late!! or early!! Hope this is a good day.

Hugs.

Awww, Possi. You should get this looked at. Not sure which would be better or worse, CNS lupus or TIA. But you need it checked out. As for the Toradol...I believe it's just active for a few hours, but it sometimes knocks back the inflammation enough to quiet the pain longer than that. Maybe it's placebo. Not sure. One time, I started a Medrol pack the day before the procedure....worked pretty well. It was also to break a huge flare. But she didn't want me doing it the next time because I had just had an ESI. That cautious doc strikes again. Turning cold tomorrow, I believe...down to 30s again. Spring just can't get started here this year.

And the attorney is still stuck in court...have to wait for a call 'later today'...no clue as to when. Yup, stress.

This procedure hasn't been going so well this time. I still have a focus of pain right in R SI. If it keeps up another week, I'll make an appt to see doc again. And I'm getting another focus of pain in the lumbar area. Hoping both are a result of putting in some horrendous overtime in past 2 weeks. Thinking it's on the order of 100+ hrs for the past 2 weeks. I got to sit down a lot of it, but it was way too much. It was an isolated period, hopefully. Next week should be a little better. My dear hubby, who also has PsA had his SI pain treated with the same procedure (same doc), so he's pretty sore right now. I warned him.