HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

What To Do If Having Tenderness, Bruising On Head, Headache After Having RF Ablation On Neck?

I had a rf ablation on the neck three and a half weeks ago. since than I have had tenderness and bruising at various spots on my head, including the very top and on the side. then I woke up with an excruciating headache. I don t think these side effects are normal.
Fri, 12 Jul 2019
Report Abuse
Neurologist 's  Response
Hello,

Just as with ANY medical procedure cervical radiofrequency ablation also comes with complications but these are usually reported as minor and they are neck pain and burning feelings or numbness in the areas that were injected or otherwise manipulated.

Also, bruising and tenderness to the touch in and around the areas injected also occur and these are expected to the fact that nerves are the target of the procedure.

Sometimes more severe complications occur such as Bleeding, Nerve damage which can lead to more long term problems, weakness of the neck muscles as well as shoulder and arms, sometimes paralysis of muscles, and there is always the possibility of a Severe pain that can occur of a REBOUND nature (headaches come into this category) due to the reactivity of the nerve tissue itself to the ablation procedure and/or the anesthetic material used to inject the site while destruction of the nerve was being done.

Recovery time for the minor side effects can be up to 4 weeks while the more severe side effects can last up to 9 months before they start to improve.

You should speak to your doctor to see if they can recommend anything for the headache depending upon whether it seems to be coming from the procedure as a side reaction or is it a "garden variety" migraine headache which could've triggered by the procedure of ablating the nerves that can be easily treated with specific sorts of medications on a short term basis?

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Dariush Saghafi, Neurologist
I find this answer helpful

1 Doctor agrees with this answer

Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Recent questions on Radiofrequency ablation


Loading Online Doctors....
What To Do If Having Tenderness, Bruising On Head, Headache After Having RF Ablation On Neck?

Hello, Just as with ANY medical procedure cervical radiofrequency ablation also comes with complications but these are usually reported as minor and they are neck pain and burning feelings or numbness in the areas that were injected or otherwise manipulated. Also, bruising and tenderness to the touch in and around the areas injected also occur and these are expected to the fact that nerves are the target of the procedure. Sometimes more severe complications occur such as Bleeding, Nerve damage which can lead to more long term problems, weakness of the neck muscles as well as shoulder and arms, sometimes paralysis of muscles, and there is always the possibility of a Severe pain that can occur of a REBOUND nature (headaches come into this category) due to the reactivity of the nerve tissue itself to the ablation procedure and/or the anesthetic material used to inject the site while destruction of the nerve was being done. Recovery time for the minor side effects can be up to 4 weeks while the more severe side effects can last up to 9 months before they start to improve. You should speak to your doctor to see if they can recommend anything for the headache depending upon whether it seems to be coming from the procedure as a side reaction or is it a garden variety migraine headache which could ve triggered by the procedure of ablating the nerves that can be easily treated with specific sorts of medications on a short term basis? Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care Regards, Dr Dariush Saghafi, Neurologist