What is Radio frequency Ablation? RFA for C4 C5 C6 C7 - Pre & Post O
Channel: JoshC TV
Date: 02/07/2021

This isn't a video on money buying free time or an exciting adventure - it's a little bit of life. I apparently had a herniated disc for a good amount of time and a year ago it finally started to put the squeeze on my nerves.

I couldn't find much on patient testimonials and what post op was like so I made my own!

***UPDATE*** 11/5/2022

I wasn't feeling like making another video on this but I have had comments asking about the current process. I ended up going back through a second round of nerve blocks and RFA with a different physician early 2022. There were a lot of complications with muscle spasms and having to stop the meloxicam (which outside of ibuprofen is the only thing that was helping). Fortunately after about a week I was back in the gym and thought this time it really worked. It took over 2 months before I could drop down to every other day with Meloxicam. I also started sleeping on my side. At this point I am taking Meloxicam every day but I believe the procedure helped get this back to a manageable level where I can live my active lifestyle. For maintenance I've changed my diet to exclude most added sugars, cut processed lunch meats, and no alcohol (although I have stopped that for some time). I also have to get my blood drawn every 6 months to make sure everything is still operating. Thanks for all the great comments and engagement. If you're dealing with this just know that it doesn't have to end in surgery (for most) and that you should definitely see as many doctors as possible.

***UPDATE*** 8/14/2021

Unfortunately after more than 7 weeks of hoping the RFA was going to kick in (based on data it's anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks for relief) I was still having issues sleeping. The Physician prescribed Meloxicam and some physical therapy hoping that would be my last ditch effort. While the range of motion improved, my nerve pain came back after two days off of Meloxicam. I scheduled another follow up and have started looking at other physicians specializing in TDR. Looking at the Mobi-C and M6-C.

***UPDATE*** 11/16/2021

After another opinion from a different Neurosurgeon, I found out I actually had healed my herniations/they weren't there in the first place. The neurosurgeon I visited for my 3rd opinion felt that he needed a better image and that surgery at my age just didn't make sense. Sure enough I got the MRI and was prescribed to visit a chiropractor again for soft tissue work and a pain management physician. The pain physician suggested a facet joint injection and I opted for this at first to try. Just recently got it and a follow up appointment is coming up again - so far so good.

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Time Stamps

00:00 Introductions

00:56 DISCLAIMER

01:40 How I ended up with a herniated disc

08:35 pre op medial branch block

10:07 post op medial branch block

13:09 pre and post op radio frequency ablation

15:56 How I’m feeling now

18:22 Why I chose RFA