Can anyone tell me what radiofrequency ablation of the trigeminal nerve is?

[melzan]

I have been a nurse for 5 years and have never had any medical problems. I have found out that I may have trigeminal neuralgia. I am going for an MRI and MRA of the head next week. I told the doctor that I do not want to take any meds and lets just go straight to some procedure.( the meds they use are the anti- seizure meds and I refuse to be doped up all the time). He said we would probably do the radiofrequency ablation, but I can not find any information on the actual procedure anywhere. I would have it done at Barnes at St.Louis. There is only one doctor that performs it there and I think his name is Grubbs, but I can't find his name or the procedure anywhere on the Barnes website. Please let me know if you or anyone you know have this diagnosis and if anyone can tell me about this procedure. thanks!

[pickledpepperRN]

I met a nurse who had it done. She had been unable to work due to severe pain.

It was an outpatient procedure with sedation.

She went from medicated and suffering back to a functioning enthusiastic staff nurse.

She truly thought she was a miserable depressed drugged out woman before her procedure.

Now no pain.

Her husband supported her, worked, and managed the home while she was so sick.

[Kelly_the_Great]

Here's a website that's got some information on it:

http://www.cigna.com/health/provider/medical/procedural/coverage_positions/medical/mm_0182_coveragepositioncriteria_radiofrequency_ablation_for_trigeminal_neuralgia.pdf

Here's another one:

http://www.paincaredocs.com/RadiofrequencyAblation.ivnu

[melzan]

I met a nurse who had it done. She had been unable to work due to severe pain.

It was an outpatient procedure with sedation.

She went from medicated and suffering back to a functioning enthusiastic staff nurse.

She truly thought she was a miserable depressed drugged out woman before her procedure.

Now no pain.

Her husband supported her, worked, and managed the home while she was so sick.

Thank you so much for writing this, it helps to hear this more than you know. Everything I can find on this subject only talks about how people want to kill themselves over the pain, which is scary.

[melzan]

Here's a website that's got some information on it:

http://www.cigna.com/health/provider/medical/procedural/coverage_positions/medical/mm_0182_coveragepositioncriteria_radiofrequency_ablation_for_trigeminal_neuralgia.pdf

Here's another one:

http://www.paincaredocs.com/RadiofrequencyAblation.ivnu

Thank you, this is exactly what I am looking for.

[KPOP]

HI THERE.

I HOPE THAT YOU WILL FEEL BETTER!

http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?query=radiofrequency%20ablation%20of%20the%20trigeminal%20nerve

http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?query=trigeminal%20neuralgia

JUST PRINT THIS AND TOUCH IT ON YOUR AFFECTED AREA AND PRAY TO GOD AND TO JESUS CHRIST!

DO NOT TELL TO ANYBODY BUT WITNESS TO OTHERS BUT TELL HOW YOU GOT HEALED!

MABUHAY!

KATHY

KPOP