What to Expect During Radiofrequency Ablation

What to Expect During Radiofrequency Ablation

One in two American adults is living with a musculoskeletal condition like back pain or arthritis. Your musculoskeletal system includes your bones, joints, and muscles — and all too often, disease or damage can leave you with musculoskeletal pain that doesn’t go away.

Chronic pain can limit your mobility and erode your quality of life. Diagnosing the cause of your pain and treating it effectively can be difficult, but help is available. If you’re living with pain, it might be time to see a pain management specialist for relief.

Eric Fanaee, MD, offers the latest in pain management techniques for people of all ages, including radiofrequency ablation, a nonsurgical option that delivers lasting pain relief in more than 70% of patients.

Radiofrequency ablation for pain management

Pain is complex. Pain signals originate in your nervous system, and when those signals travel to your brain, you feel pain. It’s your body’s way of telling you something is wrong, but sometimes pain continues without a useful purpose.

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure for pain relief. It works by stopping the pain where it starts: in the nerves of your spine or other joint. Dr. Fanaee recommends radiofrequency ablation as a treatment option for a number of pain conditions, including:

You could be a candidate for radiofrequency ablation if you had a diagnostic nerve block injection and it helped relieve your pain. Both temporary nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablation stop specific nerves from sending pain signals to your brain, effectively relieving certain types of pain.

Radiofrequency ablation is a good option for many people with back, neck, or joint pain, but the procedure may not be recommended in some cases. If you’re pregnant, you have an infection, or you have a bleeding disorder, Dr. Fanaee can suggest other methods to relieve your pain.

What to expect during a radiofrequency ablation procedure

If you choose radiofrequency ablation, our team gives you instructions to prepare for your procedure. This might include fasting for at least six hours before your appointment and not drinking any liquids for about two hours beforehand.

Our team starts by administering an intravenous anesthetic to keep you comfortable. We help you lie on your stomach or back depending on your treatment area, and Dr. Fanaee starts the procedure, directing a small needle into the area. Using X-ray to guide him, he precisely positions the needle and inserts a microelectrode.

The microelectrode transmits radio waves that gently heat the target nerve. You may feel tingling, but the process shouldn’t hurt. The heat effectively destroys the nerve that’s responsible for sending those chronic pain signals. The result is less pain.

There’s no downtime after radiofrequency ablation, but you need to have someone drive you home once your procedure is complete. Dr. Fanaee checks in with you over the following weeks, and he may recommend additional radiofrequency ablation sessions depending on your needs.

Effective treatment for your chronic pain

Radiofrequency ablation is safe and effective for many people dealing with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Although individual results vary, you may enjoy lasting pain relief for 6-12 months or even longer.

When conservative treatment isn’t enough — but you don’t want surgery — radiofrequency ablation could be the answer to your chronic pain. Schedule a pain management consultation with Dr. Fanaee by calling our office at 631-265-2020, or book one online now.

You Might Also Enjoy...

5 Ways to Fight Fatigue and Lessen Your Chronic Pain

Chronic pain and fatigue often go hand in hand, having a profound impact on your daily life. The good news is that there are effective ways to manage your pain and boost your energy levels. Get tips from our pain management specialist here.
How Can Weather Affect Health and Chronic Pain?

How Can Weather Affect Health and Chronic Pain?

The seasons are changing. And if you’ve noticed worsening chronic pain, the weather could be to blame. Learn how barometric pressure and more can impact your health and your perception of pain as well as what you can do about it when it affects you.
The Importance of Relieving Anxiety and Stress

The Importance of Relieving Anxiety and Stress

Living with chronic pain isn’t easy. Along with the physical discomfort, it can have a serious effect on your mental health. Learn more about the connection between mind and body, and discover how relieving anxiety and stress can improve pain, too.
Intracept Procedure: What It Is and Key Facts

Intracept Procedure: What It Is and Key Facts

Is your life limited by chronic low back pain? When traditional therapy fails to make a difference, the Intracept procedure could be for you. Learn how this minimally invasive treatment stops basivertebral nerve pain at the source for lasting relief.
How To Pick Up the Pieces After a Failed Back Surgery

How To Pick Up the Pieces After a Failed Back Surgery

Surgery is meant to relieve chronic pain and restore function, but if you still have pain after back surgery, you’re not out of options. Here’s how to start picking up the pieces and moving on after failed back surgery.

What Is Spoon Theory?

The spoon theory explains the impact of living with chronic illness, chronic pain, and disability on a daily basis. It highlights the differences between living with illness compared to living without illness.