Radiofrequency Ablation: A Drug-Free Remedy for Chronic Back Pain

Approximately 16 million adults in the United States experience chronic back pain that hampers daily activities and contributes to psychological distress. Luckily, experts have made great strides in developing non-surgical treatment options to relieve chronic pain.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of these innovative pain solutions.

Dedicated pain management physicians Kevin Elaahi, MD, and Benjamin Kim, MD, focus on restoring physical functioning for patients through radiofrequency ablation, as well as other interventional and regenerative therapies at Interventional Pain Consultants in Parsippany, Montclair, and Landing, New Jersey.

How we use radiofrequency ablation (RFA)

Our team performs diagnostic tests and evaluates your situation and medical history to decide whether RFA could be a beneficial option for you. If so, we schedule you for treatment, which usually takes only an hour.

We employ RFA to heat a small area of nerve tissue to resolve pain. For back pain, we mostly apply it to smaller medial branch nerves that transmit pain signals from your facet joints, which connect the bones of your spine.

Our interventional pain specialists perform RFA in four simple steps:

First, we numb the treatment area
Next, we place small needles into targeted nerves using continuous, live X-ray imaging known as fluoroscopy
Then, we inject local anesthetic around the problematic nerves
Finally, we transmit radiofrequency energy through the needles to heat the nerves

The RF energy currents destroy parts of those nerves, stopping them from sending pain signals to your brain. For most people, RFA reduces back pain for up to 12 months, allowing time for your injury to heal. Given that the treated nerves will eventually regenerate, however, you may opt to repeat the treatment if your back pain returns.

RFA versus surgery

You may have considered or tried surgery to relieve your back pain. We offer RFA as another option. Advantages of choosing RFA include:

Pain relief without surgery
Little to no recovery time
Quick return to daily activities
Reduced reliance on pain drugs

The risks remain minimal, other than temporary numbness, burning, or mild pain at the targeted sites. Our team helps you manage any post-treatment issues, so you can quickly return to your usual routine with less pain than before.

Alternate treatment areas

RFA works well for spine-related back pain as well as other body areas, including:

Hips and knees
Legs (sciatica)
Neck and shoulders

Since RFA provides an alternative to surgery, our knowledgeable doctors recommend it for patients with certain medical conditions or other factors that may prohibit them from more invasive treatments, as well as those who simply prefer a more conservative approach.

A pain-free way to alleviate chronic pain

Patients generally experience only minor discomfort during and after RFA treatment. Then, with the significant and sustained pain relief they attain, most people are able to partake in other helpful treatment modalities, like physical therapy and massage, to help foster faster healing and a more complete recovery.

If you’ve suffered long enough with chronic back pain or any other form of persistent discomfort, we can help.

Schedule a consultation with Interventional Pain Consultants by calling your nearest office in Parsippany, Montclair, and Landing, New Jersey, today, or using our online feature to book an appointment at your convenience.