I've had three of them. Like you I had multiple problems and had 3 surgeries and still suffered. More steroid injections and then the RFL. which means radio frequency ligation of the facet joint. Here's how it works. You are taken in and lie face down on a table that has a hole for your face. The dr. will inject a needle in you (doesn't hurt) and then tell you he or she is going to test the nerves to locate the right one. He will ask you what you feel and for several of them it's just a whirring feeling that doesn't hurt, when he finds the nerve that's bothering you it will feel some pain for a nano second and that's it. He will then novacaine you and proceed to burn out the nerve ending (doesn't hurt) That's it. Takes about 20 minutes. My pain clinic never gave any meds for it but I've known others that give you a relaxant which I think is humane so you're not so tense. If you can stay relaxed it's not as bad as it sounds. The first one eliminated the pain for a year, second for ten months and third for six months and then I read a book suggested by someone in this forum. It was written by Dr. John Sarno. The title has the works back pain in it. Purchased it on Amazon. I read the book with the idea that his theory couldn't possibly work but it did and within a week I was almost 80% better and that was four years ago. Every time I feel tense and the pain is coming on I follow what he said and it goes away. I wish you the best of luck. Please try and follow the book.

Yaya,
Thank you for your great info! I feel much better now. I think I'll get the book too. It sounds interesting.

Beth P.

Like Yayagal, I've had the RFL. It went just as yayagal said. I've been really lucky - The pain management dr. said that the relief from pain most likely wouldn't be long lasting and I was actually scheduled for surgery. About 4 week after the RFL the intense pain totally disappeared - woke up without it one morning - and it has been gone for almost 7 years!!

Helene

THere are several books by Dr. Sarno, but the one that I recommended, based on my DHâÂÂs experience and others with whom we have shared the book, is Healing Back Pain. I am so happy that it helped Yayagal. If one person is helped in the way it helped my DH, it is worth taking the time to pass the word around.

Bethpen, I hope that you are feeling better soon. I do think that before you undergo any procedure, it is worth reading the book. It is not large or complicated, so it isnâÂÂt a huge time commitment. I will just tell you what my DH says, and he was the ultimate skeptic about this book idea when I gave it to him : 'It saved my lifeâÂÂ.

He was on disability from May to early Aug one year because his back was so bad. He couldnâÂÂt stay in any one position for any length of time - sitting, standing, lying down were all painful. He was on double Vicodin and it didnâÂÂt touch the pain. He was seeing a pain specialist at a local hospital, and after all kinds of other efforts, he was about to have surgery. He literally was at his witâÂÂs end. Then I read about the book and decided to order it without telling him. WHen it came, I asked him to just consider reading it. I started to tell him what I had read about it, and he asked me to stop- he didnâÂÂt want anything to plant any ideas or prejudices in his head. He went upstairs to our room and started reading, and within an hour had called me up there to tell me that there were SO many things in there that he could relate to, and that made sense,

Within 4 days, his back pain was gone - the same pain that had be torturing him physically and mentally for almost 4 months. The pain doc, when he cancelled the scheduled procedure, told him it wouldnâÂÂt last and he would be back. But our family doc told him that if it worked for him, that was what mattered, and to keep him updated.

It has been 7 years since that summer. He still has two deteriorating disks at 4 and 5, and a bulging disk as well. But no more back pain, except for an occasional twinge that he knows how to deal with and what is causing it.

Back pain in general, like a pulled muscle, will resolve itself in 6 weeks, whether you treat it or not. But if someone has the kind of experience my DH and Yayagal have had, then the book is worth a look.

Les, I thank you sooo much for taking the time to tell me about that book. I had intractable pain for 15 years to the point that I couldn't drive and had to lie down in the car to get from one place to another. I could only lie or stand. Had multiple surgeries which corrected each situation but left me with the hideous despairing pain. Like your husband, my mind wrapped around the concept immediately and I would totally relax and tell my sub conscious that I was fine and could do anything. My life has totally changed. No more surgery, no more shots, no more pain clinic, I'm enjoying life to the fullest. It's a shame we have to learn these things on our own and not from the medical oriented people. Hopefully Beth will get on board with Dr. Sarno's plan and be fit as a fiddle in no time.

Thanks so much Helene, Yaya and Les. I am heading out today and will pick up the book. I read a few reviews on Amazon, it seems worth a try. I'm usually up for anything.

I've also got a heel spur, so all in all, walking around is painful, what have I got to lose? PT for that starts this week.

Beth P.