What Is Radiofrequency Ablation? How Can It Help You?
When you’ve suffered any type of traumatic injury or have a degenerative condition that’s causing chronic pain, you want relief. An effective and well-known treatment option for long-term pain, particularly in the joints, lower back and neck, is radiofrequency ablation, a procedure available through Core Medical Center.
What Is Radiofrequency Ablation?
Radiofrequency ablation, or RFA, also known as radiofrequency neurotomy, is a procedure that uses radio waves to create heat, destroying tissue that includes nerves that send pain signals to your brain. The radio waves are transmitted through a needle, which allows the treatment to be targeted to the precise location of your pain. Technicians use a small, hollow needle, with an electrode inserted at the top, creating a lesion that prevents nerves from sending signals to your brain.
What Can You Expect before a Radiofrequency Ablation?
Before recommending the procedure, we’ll conduct a thorough review of your medical history, including any medications you have used. We may ask you to stop taking some of them a couple days before the RFA. We may take some x-rays and will take the time to confirm the source and extent of your pain, so that we know where to perform the ablation.
What Happens during the Procedure?
An RFA can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple hours, depending on the location of your pain and whether or not you need multiple ablations. You’ll be awake for the entire procedure, with local anesthesia to numb the specific area of the ablation. You may also receive medication to relax you.
The technician will use a continuous “real-time” x-ray to monitor the location of the needle, so that the ablation is accurately targeted.
An RFA is generally done on an outpatient basis. You can expect to go home within an hour or so of the procedure, but you’ll need someone else to drive. You’ll need to rest for about a day, but then can return to your normal activities.
Contact Core Medical Center Today
Take action today to get immediate and effective treatment for chronic pain. At Core Medical Center, with offices in Blue Springs, Missouri, we offer non-surgical treatment options, including trigger point injections, to help treat chronic pain. To learn more, contact us online or call our offices at (816) 336-9970.
