RFA of Radiofrequency ablation employs heat to destroy tissue. Radio waves are sent through the placed needle to heat the nerve area for pain management. It can prevent pain signals from being sent back to the brain. RFA is considered a long-term pain condition, especially in the different areas:
- neck
- lower back
- arthritic joints
These areas can be successfully treated with other methods.
Long-lasting pain relief for back
Pain relief occurs anywhere immediately after the process to about 4-6 weeks later. The hope is that the relief from the intervention lasts about 9-12 years of pain relief after the FRA. The pain can return after nerves regenerate. The process is repeated on the same nerve if using it in the fast for successful pain relief.
For some patients, radiofrequency ablation is long-term management for radiofrequency ablation back chronic pain. You can talk to your healthcare team if you are suffering from severe pain. A variety of treatment options are available, making a significant difference, including radiofrequency ablation.
What is radiofrequency ablation done?
The radiofrequency ablation goals are:
- Reduce or stop the pain
- Improves function
- Reduces the number of pain medications taken
- Prevent or delay surgery
What conditions are treated with RFA
Radiofrequency ablation can be used to treat the following health conditions:
- Chronic pain caused by different conditions, such as:
- Spondylosis (arthritis of the spine)
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain
- Pain in the neck, back and knee
- Peripheral nerve pain
- Cancer pain
- Tumors for killing cells
- Facial pain caused by the trigeminal neuralgia
- Heart rhythm problems
How does RFA work?
Radiofrequency ablation is using heat produced from radio waves, targeting diseased tissue. Radiofrequency is applied on the nerve tissue that damages the nerves, which prevents or stops pain signals from reaching the brain and pain relief results. During the RFA process, a small hollow needle will be inserted into the targeted nerve-causing pain. The electrode will be inserted into the targeted nerve-causing pain.
The heat-causing lesion prevents the nerve from sending the pain signals to the brain. The nearby healthy nerves are not damaged while on the RFA procedure.
RFA is used to manage pain that originates from joints, such as the knee and is often related to pain from the spine, especially the neck and lower back. In the spine, the nerves branch off from the spinal cord and can travel to the sacroiliac joints and facet joints.
FRA can be the best treatment to address back pain.