Radiofrequency ablation, also known as rhizotomy, is a minimally invasive procedure that eliminates or ablates the nerve fibers responsible for sending pain signals into the brain. If you’re suffering from back pain, neck pain, joint pain, or other painful conditions, the pain doctor uses numerous techniques to identify and kill the nerve endings responsible for sending the pain signals. This treatment provides long-term relief from pain.
How does Rhizotomy Work?
Back pain, neck pain, and other painful sensations can be caused by numerous factors. You may suffer from pain because of injuries or dysfunctions related to your spine, vertebrae, muscles, tendons, nerves, and other spinal components. Whatever the source of your pain might be, the nerve endings are responsible for carrying pain signals into your brain from the legs, arms, neck, back, and other parts of the body.
Rhizotomy, also known as radiofrequency ablation, involves using thermal energy to burn the nerve endings responsible for carrying the targeted pain signals. Once the targeted nerves are blocked or burned, you don’t experience pain anymore. A rhizotomy is often preceded by diagnostic nerve block injections that identify the specific nerve endings responsible for the pain signals. This treatment alleviates chronic pain and improves your quality of life.
Radiofrequency ablation alleviates pain
caused by the following conditions:
- Arthritis
- Disc herniation
- Spinal stenosis
- Spinal degeneration
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Joint pain
- Peripheral nerve disorders
- Spasticity
- Other spinal conditions that cause pain
Benefits of Rhizotomy:
- Minimally invasive pain treatment
- Concludes within an hour
- Treats the root cause of pain
- Provides long-term relief from pain
- No need for opioids or open surgery
- No major side effects
- Minimal post-treatment downtime
Your Radiofrequency Ablation in Edison
Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive and in-office procedure. The procedure is performed after a thorough evaluation and diagnosis. The pain doctor will review your health history, discuss your symptoms, and administer various imaging tests, such as CT scans and MRIs, to diagnose the root cause of your chronic pain. You may also undergo a nerve block, which involves injecting numbing medicine into the targeted facet joints or medial nerves to identify the true source of your pain.
Your radiofrequency ablation can begin after the diagnostic process is complete. The pain doctor will numb a small area on your skin around the spine, following which a radiofrequency needle is guided into the targeted nerves under fluoroscopic guidance. The pain doctor will deliver a small amount of electrical current into the targeted nerve, which may induce a muscle twitch. The electrical current will ablate the targeted nerve ending, following which you may feel a mild warm sensation.
Post-Treatment Recovery & Aftercare
You may experience mild soreness in the treatment area for a few days after the procedure. This treatment provides instant pain relief because it burns off the nerve endings responsible for transmitting the pain signals into your brain. The results will last for 3 to 12 months, following which the nerve might regenerate. Rhizotomy is completely safe, and it doesn’t involve extensive downtime. You can resume most of your normal activities the day after the procedure, but you should avoid strenuous activities for a few days.
Schedule an Appointment
Edison Spine & Pain Management is the premier interventional pain management practice specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of pain conditions. Our pain doctors review your medical history, administer diagnostic tests, and curate personalized treatment plans that address your specific goals. We aim to address the root cause of your chronic pain, helping you lead a pain-free life without relying on opioids. Please schedule an appointment to determine if you’re a candidate for radiofrequency ablation in Edison.
