[Peacemaker]

Has anyone had a Rhizotomy performed? I underwent a Rhizotomy last February but think that the peripheral nerves in my lumbar spine have grown back because my pain med doesn't seem to provide relief.

I have degenerative disease of the facet joints in my lumbar spine. The Rhizotomy can last 10-18 months or years. I just find it concerning that my nerves may be growing back right at 10 months. There is no way of knowing for certain if they have. My concern is that if I have a Rhizotomy before they have grown back, I will not only have no pain relief but will make it impossible for insurance to pay for another in case they grow back before insurance is willing to pay for another.

Anyone have advice?

[heyjoe]

Nerves produce sensations of pain, or heat or cold, as they heal, depending on the interpretation the brain is making of the garbled signals. Nerves also transmit pain as they push through tissue to reconnect to the areas that are damaged. I never heard of this procedure, but i imagine that it is very possible to have increased pain as you heal.

[Perna]

My husband has had nerves that were severed in his foot 50 years ago and still has pain from their jangling.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/q5154724l200578n/

When I had my wisdom teeth out... the oral surgeon severed some of the nerves... so.. my tongue.. my lower teeth, lip and lower jaw were numb..

As time went on... I experienced.. pain... here and there as nerves grew back... I had to work with the surgeon.. for pain relief.... and at times.. it did hurt...

So all grew back.. but my lower chin.... and it did take about 18 months.. I would say...