I had to fast no food for 6 hours,with the last 2 hours no liquids NPO. Afterwards My blood sugar was 60 after I asked them to check it. They offered me juice boxes of orange juice and graham crackers while I waited 20 minutes in recovery.

I did not even change my clothes into a gown. I had an IV with a mild sedative in my wrist so I could be on my tummy on pillows. There was one nurse watching by the IV,and another one reminding me to breathe deeply. A xray machine was on my right with a man running it, One doc did procedure while another watched and directed from a computer.

So this is my experience. I do not know all technical stuff. They inserted a needle to find the right nervve bundle. They said woohoo thats it when I let out a holler. It is no more painful than what I deal with daily. Then for 30 min they apply the radiofrequency stuff. They talked about food places,food,which was the worst torture because I had not eaten since dinner the day before. Who cared there was something sticking into my spine. Next thing I knew they were cheering and taking Out needle and off to recovery no longer than after I give blood. Honestly there were a few times I felt a zap of quick pain but it was tolerable. That was in the beginning finding the site. That is why you must be awake. Doc had to wake me a few times...those pokes hurt. He would have preferred no sedation. I did not.

I did not feel immediate relief. I had the familiar burning leg. Doc said it did not work? He said give it a week. He hoped it would assist the meds if not replace them.

So then my son took me to a restaurant and to Target. I walked around without pain pill dose. I was thrilled. I walked better with my new padded shoes. It was obvious there was improvement hours later.

A week later, there is reduction of pain so I can walk longer,better, I feel like the meds work,I go to sleep without waiting for pill to work, I do not wake with urgent need for pain pill. I still take 12 hr opana,and 6 hr immediate release, feel burning and pins and needlesBUT the deep ache and cutting edge pain, stabs and crackles are bland or disappeared. My mind is clear. I am happy. I do not want a SSRI to deal with pain. I am on an SNRI max dose.

So the procedure is supposed to reset the brain. I have follow up in 6 weeks. I thought i was having some desensitization trainingm maybe later.