This minimally invasive procedure restricts pain signals to the brain and helps combat the debilitating symptoms of conditions such as arthritic joint pain, neck pain, and lower back pain.
During the procedure, radiofrequency needles are placed alongside the nerve that goes to the joint. The physician makes the joint numb with local anesthetic and then heats the needles with radiofrequency waves to burn the nerves that go to the joints. This process damages the nerves, restricting their ability to send pain signals to the brain.
Patients are typically sore for a couple days after the procedure and it takes two to six weeks for the procedure to become effective. Patients typically experience 80% to 100% pain relief that can last for six months to several years. Results of radiofrequency ablation are not permanent because it only temporarily interferes with how the spinal column sends pain signals to the brain. If the patient experiences sufficient relief but the pain returns, the procedure can be repeated.
