Yes after having the nerve ablation the nerves can certainly regenerate and sometimes the procedure might not work on patients. My Neurologist who confirmed my initial diagnosis that the Anesthesiologist made at the pain clinic, told me that they use ablation for "Cluster headaces-a type of migraines" on a nerve in the neck, and that 3 things can happen:
1. the nerve pain gets better!
2. the nerve pain can get worse
3. the nerve pain can stay the same
BUT after 1 1/2 years of throbbing NERVE PAIN I was willing to take the chance!! AND fortunately for ME the pain got so much better!! As with all procedures there are risks, but I simply could not take the PAIN ANY MORE!! and I was not willing to keep taking Oxycodone in the PM and Ultram during the day for pain. They also had me try high doses of Neurotin for nerve pain BUT it made me so sleepy and I think caused me to have an ulcer! I'm having an endoscopy next Friday to see IF i do indeed have an ulcer!
The nerves can certainly regenerate and the procedure CAN last anywhere from 6-12 months, and sometimes they have to repeat the ablation again. BUT PERSONALLY I AM SO GLAD I took the chance and had the nerve ablation done!! At least now my pain has been reduced from a HIGH at times of "8" when it was the worst (on a scale of 1-10). I even tried "vaginal trigger point injections: at one point last November 2007 to TRY and help my pain, which did not help my pain. THAT SHOWS HOW DESPERATE I was to try anything to reduce my nerve pain!
Good luck with your quest for pain relief. Keep us posted and certainly try and find some doctors who have plenty of experience in the area of steroid injections!
steroid injections for pelvic pain
