Yes, recoverying from a surgery is difficult either with no one with you or even with family who have lots of commitments w/ work etc. I am just guessing here, but it sounds like maybe you have gone through all other conservative treatments and they did not work, & this RF that you had, was the last hope of treatment besides the next surgery. If that is correct, then I understand why your PM Dr. is saying either surgery or nothing else after a yr. That is where I am at, I only have 1 last possible treatment, which is surgery, and if that doesn't work, then the Dr. will keep me on my medication for life. However, if I were to choose not to have the surgery, W/C would then drop me and I would not be able to see the PM again, which would mean no meds or help of any kind. Is that the same situation that you are in?
You were asking why the Drs. can't just let us be on meds. for the rest of our lives and not have to have the surgeries or other treatments. PM Drs. are suppose to work to get you off medication, if possible. Not only are the meds. addictive and your body can become tolerant of them, but more important, they can do a lot of damage to you liver and other organs, and you could die.
That is why it is different from any other medication given to people with other conditions. Your husbands heart & depression is treated w/ meds. 1st because his meds are not narcotics. But 2nd and the most important difference is because deseases of the heart, lungs, etc. can be fatal w/o the meds. So even if their meds. have side affects, they are not as bad as death. So, Drs. are more likly to put them on meds (but not usually narcotics) to save their lives or give them extra years to live. But for our backs, the damage that narcotics can do to our bodies and minds far out ways living in chronic pain. If, however, your back problem caused you to be depressed, your Dr. might feel it important to put you on an anti-depressant for life and that would be a similar case to your husbands. Does that make sense?
If your PM Sr. is like mine, he is saying that if you choose not to try the surgery, then he can only treat you for 1 year and in that time you will be on your meds, and he will try things like the RF. If you do choose to have the surgery and it does not work, then the PM Dr. will keep you on as a pt. and you will then be on meds. for life or so.
My meds. work when I take them, but they don't last the 12 hrs. that I am suppose to take them. They last about 8 hrs. and then it leaves me with 4 hrs. of tears and no activities.
I am glad to hear that the RF has helped. I take the Neurontin and it is wonderful. Just make sure your Dr. starts you on a very low dose and slowly work up to a normal dose, or you may have a lot of side affects. I was started at 300 mg. and upped it ea. week, I think. It wont work at first, because of the low dose, but that way it is more likely to help you in the long run.
As for my fusions, there is no way to tell when an auto-immune disorder is going to start attacking my insides. But even though I did not fuse, the surgery worked to stop my back pain. So, I tell people that I am still glad I had the fusions done. I am going in on the 21st, to consult wit a surgeon about inserting a stimulator in by back. I will then be able to figure if it sounds like I am a good candidate for it or not. I hope that I am, as I would love to be able to at least cut back on some of the meds. They really drive me crazy, with all the side affects. I am always falling asleep and my memory is shot. then of course there is the dry mouth that is non stop and the falling down and loosing my balance. I would do just about anything to lessent the meds. at this point. I never had a problem with bed wetting after the fusions. In fact, when you are in the hospital, you are using a cathater. When that comes out, they put a chair next to your bed, to use the bathroom in. Then once you are home, you are able to get up and walk to the bathroom, right from the beginning. So, I would not worry about that.
I will let you know after I have my consultation. Best of luck with the RF and the Neurontin. If that works, then you won't need to have the fusion.
Lorie
Workmans comp questions 
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