Radio Frequency Nerve Ablation (RFNA) is a safe, effective treatment option for those suffering from chronic pain. By using radiofrequency energy to ablate the nerves responsible for transmitting the pain signals to the brain, RFNA can provide long-term relief that often surpasses other traditional methods of care, such as steroids or physical therapy. Successfully targeted and applied correctly – this minimally invasive procedure has been known to reduce symptoms significantly, allowing patients an improved quality of life.
RFNA offers a safe and successful solution for numerous chronic pain conditions like sciatica, post-operative discomfort after surgery, herniated discs, or arthritis in the back & neck area. It can even be used to treat trigeminal neuralgia or occipital neuralgia caused by cancer-related nerve pain. Your doctor must assess your medical history, including imaging tests, before recommending Radio Frequency Nerve Ablation as an appropriate treatment – once they have identified it is suitable, you will discuss with them which areas need focusing on and how long relief should last following procedures.
During treatment, an anesthetic is applied first before inserting a small needle into the affected area in order to temporarily numb it so that there is no discomfort during the actual procedure. Then a thin wire electrode is placed inside this needle which delivers heat energy through radio waves at precise temperatures in order to ablate (or disable/destroy) certain nerve tissue associated with pain sensation pathways in order to block transmission of these signals from reaching the brain’s cortex where they would otherwise be interpreted as painful sensations.