Are you suffering from chronic pain that you can’t seem to resolve? Do you worry that you’ll never find any relief?
Over 20 percent of adults in the US suffer from chronic pain. You’re not alone, and there are new treatments that might help.
If you’ve heard of radiofrequency ablation, you might be considering it to treat your pain. Here’s a radiofrequency ablation guide to help you answer the question, what is Radiofrequency Ablation.
What is Radiofrequency Ablation?
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a procedure to treat pain using electrical current to reduce or remove the pain that isn’t responding to other treatments. It’s non-invasive, and your doctor or specialist can perform it in their office.
The ablation targets the nerve fibers that carry pain signals to the brain to either reduce their signal or block it completely. The current burns or ablates the nerve. Another name for this treatment is rhizotomy.
The physician uses fluoroscopy or x-rays to guide the RFA needle to the location of the nerves.
Radiofrequency Ablation Benefits
You can use this treatment to treat low back and neck pain and pain from degenerative arthritis. Find more answers at pain management Los Angeles.
Your specialist can perform this non-invasive procedure with or without mild sedation. You remain conscious the entire time. Ablation avoids surgery, and there is a quick recovery after the treatment is complete.
Radiofrequency Ablation Recovery Tips
Most people can get up and move around freely after a brief time in a recovery room. They may feel numbness or burning sensation in the area at first.
Take it easy for the first few days after the ablation and avoid baths. Take a shower instead. You can use ice packs for up to 15 minutes for swelling relief if needed.
It might take a couple of weeks to experience the full benefit of pain relief from the procedure. You can perform regular activities, letting your level of discomfort guide you.
Physiotherapy can be beneficial to help you regain strength and movement. If you’ve been in pain for a long time, it may take a while for you to get back to normal.
Will RFA Work for Me?
Patients with chronic pain are candidates if pain receptor block injections have successfully blocked their pain in the past. In most cases, RFA is 70 to 80 percent effective in people who have had these treatments.
Patients who have bleeding problems, are pregnant, or have an infection should not receive this treatment.
Are There Risks?
There are always risks with any procedure, especially with sedation. The overall risk with RFA treatments is much lower than surgical procedures. There’s a risk you might be allergic to medications.
The patient might feel some pain or inflammation in the area, which usually disappears quickly. A small percentage of patients don’t experience relief from pain.
Consider Trying This Treatment Option
Now that you understand what is radiofrequency ablation, you can decide whether this treatment might help you with your chronic pain.
We hope you found the answers you needed in this easy guide. If so, be sure to use the simple search feature to check out more supportive tips to help you manage your chronic pain.