Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) Therapy
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy, a procedure used to fight chronic back pain, is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure that has been proven to be very successful in treating people suffering from chronic facet joint pain.
Facet joints are the small joints that link the back of the spine. The body has six facet joints in the neck, twelve in the mid-back, and five in the lower back. Because these joints are full of nerves and nerve endings, they are one of the most common sources of chronic back pain. Facet joints can be easily aggravated by trauma from sports injuries or car accidents, or simply by age-related changes in the body.
Who may benefit from RFA therapy?
To determine if RFA is a viable option for a patient, they must first undergo a diagnostic facet block, which tests the facet joints as the source of the pain. During this safe and simple procedure, the doctor targets the facet joints that are believed to be responsible for the patient’s discomfort. If the pain is alleviated after the facet block, the doctor can confirm that those particular facet joints are indeed responsible for the pain, indicating that the patient would benefit from RFA treatment.
How does RFA work?
When a patient undergoes RFA, radio waves generate heat around the nerves that supply the facet joints, or media branch nerves. When a person suffers from facet joint pain, these nerves carry pain signals to the spinal cord and, ultimately, to the brain. This restricts motion, causes muscle spasms, and often prevents the body’s natural healing processes from occurring. However, the heat that is generated during radiofrequency ablation disarms these nerves, rendering them unable to transmit pain signals to the brain – thus providing long-lasting relief.
What kind of results can be expected with Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy?
For many patients, RF allows a far greater level of activity, while lessening their reliance on pain medication, it can be performed with either local anesthesia or conscious sedation, since, once the area is anesthetized, the patient cannot feel the radiofrequency ablation at the site. The procedure usually takes under an hour, and is performed under direct visualization using digital fluoroscopy. This enables the treatment to be safe and relatively painless.
How long does RFA therapy last?
Pain relief achieved through RFA often lasts for years, and is sometimes permanent. If the effects of RFA should wear off, it is generally safe for the patient to repeat the procedure. If the pain does return when the nerves regenerate, it is generally not as severe as it was before ablation.
