Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

What is it and how does it work?
Radiofrequency Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat application to sensory nerves to stop the transmission of pain. This procedure requires the use of a specialized device and radiofrequency needles, placed alongside the nerve. The physician then transmits a small electrical current to make sure the right nerve is being targeted. RFA uses heat to disrupt the nerve’s ability to send pain signals, lessening the pain felt by the patient. The electrode is heated to 80°C and kept at that temperature for about 90 seconds to achieve ablation. Radiofrequency Ablation can provide immediate pain relief, decreases the dependence on pain medications and helps avoid major surgery.
How do I know if this treatment is right for me?
Before an RFA can be performed, a patient must first go through two Medial Branch Block (MBB) trials to ascertain that the right nerve is being targeted. Once two successful MBBs have been performed and cause the patient to feel reduced pain, an RFA can then be scheduled.
RFA is typically used to treat Axial Low Back Pain. This is facet-mediated pain secondary to Osteoarthritis of the spine. RFA can be performed in the Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar areas. It can help treat various conditions like:
- Migraine Headaches
- Cancer Pain
- Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
Conditions
- Arthritis
- Cancer Pain
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Compression Fractures of the Spine
- Herniated Discs
- Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatica)
- Post Laminectomy Syndrome
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Whiplash CAD
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Neck Pain
- Chronic Abdominal Pain
- Chronic Pelvic Pain
- Neuropathy
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Migraine Headaches
Treatments
- Kyphoplasty
- Lidocaine Infusion
- Lumbar Epidural Spinal Injection (LESI)
- Lumbar Radiofrequency Neurotomy
- Medial Branch Block (MBB)
- Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD)
- Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
- Regenerative Medicine
- SI Joint Injections
- Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)
- Stellate Ganglion Block
- Sympathetic Nerve Block
- Transforaminal Epidural Spinal Injection (TFESI)
- Trigger Point Injections
- Vertebroplasty
- Capsaicin (8%) Patch
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Disc Nucleoplasty
- Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulator (DRG)
- Endoscopic Discectomy
- Facet Joint Syndrome
- Intrathecal Pain Pumps
- Ketamine Infusion
- Hip Joint Injections
- Platelet Rich Plasma
- Knee Joint Injections
- Botox Injections
- Lumbar Sympathetic Ganglion Block
- Intercostal Nerve Block
- Minuteman Procedure
- Vertiflex Procedure