Radiofrequency Ablation

Chronic Pain Management

Radiofrequency ablation is a safe, minimally invasive procedure to treat chronic pain. If you experience frequent pain, American Pain Consortium provides personalized interventional pain management. The pain management experts offer radiofrequency ablation for treating pain in a number of areas throughout the body. To find out if radiofrequency ablation is right for you, call the office or book your appointment online today.

Call (888) 615-2726 or contact us online today to learn more about radiofrequency ablation.

What is radiofrequency ablation?

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an innovative treatment that helps patients manage and overcome their chronic pain.

Also known as a rhizotomy, RFA delivers radiofrequency waves to the nerves responsible for your pain. The electric current heats a small area of the affected nerve, preventing it from sending pain signals to the brain.

RFA is a minimally invasive procedure American Pain Consortium, performs without the use of general or regional anesthesia.

Radiofrequency ablation isn’t a cure for chronic pain, but it is an effective way to limit your painful symptoms for extended periods of time. Although results vary, radiofrequency ablation provides up to 12 months of effective relief. The procedure can then be repeated, as indicated.

What issues can radiofrequency ablation treat?

Typically, radiofrequency ablation targets pain caused by your facet joints. The facet joints are small joints between each vertebra in your spine.

Facet joints connect to nerves that carry signals from your joints to the spine and brain. Facet joints are a frequent source of chronic neck and back pain.

Facet joint syndrome refers to chronic pain caused by one or more facet joints. Issues like age and body weight can cause degenerative changes to the spine, resulting in problems with your facet joints.

RFA is also an effective treatment for pain associated with:

• Arthritis of shoulders and knees
• Degenerative disc disease
• Rotator Cuff Tears
• Chronic knee pain after surgery and/or knee replacement

How is radiofrequency ablation performed?

During your procedure at American Pain Consortium, your doctor has you lay on your stomach, side, or back depending on the treatment area. Radiofrequency ablation requires no regional or general anesthesia, so you’re awake during the procedure.

However, a sedative can be administered intravenously to help you relax. American Pain Consortium, has an experienced certified nurse anesthetist who helps ensure your comfort and safety during the procedure.

Your doctor begins your RFA treatment by numbing the treatment area. The physician uses an X-ray to guide the procedure and ensure the precise treatment of your affected nerves. A small electric current test helps confirm the position of the radiofrequency needle. You may feel a muscle twitch or brief pain.

Once the radiofrequency needle is in the proper position, your doctor administers more local anesthetic then uses a machine to deliver radiofrequency waves to disrupt the affected nerve. Radiofrequency ablation takes up to 30 minutes depending on the number of areas treated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I feel pain during the Radiofrequency Ablation procedure?

During the RFA procedure at American Pain Consortium, you will receive local anesthetic to numb the treatment area, and often a mild sedative to help you relax. While you might feel some pressure or a brief tingling sensation during the initial needle placement, significant pain during the ablation itself is uncommon due to the numbing medication.

How soon will I experience pain relief after Radiofrequency Ablation?

While some patients report immediate relief, the full benefits of radiofrequency ablation typically become noticeable within 1 to 3 weeks after the procedure. This is because it takes some time for the ablated nerve tissue to fully cease transmitting pain signals.

How many times can I have Radiofrequency Ablation performed?

There is generally no strict limit to how many times radiofrequency ablation can be performed, as long as it continues to be effective and safe for your specific condition. If your pain returns and a diagnostic block indicates the same nerve is responsible, repeating the RFA is often a viable option.

Will Radiofrequency Ablation affect my ability to feel sensation in the treated area?

The goal of RFA is to disrupt pain signals, not all sensation. While there might be some temporary numbness or altered sensation in the immediate area treated, it's typically not significant or permanent. The procedure specifically targets nerves that transmit pain.

To find out if radiofrequency ablation is right for your chronic pain, schedule an appointment at American Pain Consortium today.