Pulsed radio frequency injection therapy may provide relief from chronic pain conditions. It may be recommended if other injection treatments have not worked or only provided minimal relief.
Under this procedure, local anaesthetic is injected at the site, followed by placement of needle and small electrode as close as possible to your target nerve using fluoroscope guidance.
What is PRF?
Pulsed Radiofrequency Therapy (PRF) is a painless noninvasive therapy which utilizes pulses of electric current to reduce inflammation and repair nerve and tissue damage, relieving symptoms associated with nerve compression or damage in muscles or tendons as well as chronic wounds. PRF can be applied successfully against conditions including muscle and joint pain, inflammation disorders and chronic wounds.
PRF is a relatively complex procedure and its clinical efficacy was only recently established through rigorous randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Chua et al (2011) conducted an exhaustive analysis of published data concerning PRF’s efficacy in managing chronic pain. They located 6 RCTs and 3 observational studies comparing PRF to other treatments such as corticosteroid injection or conventional RF thermocoagulation; their findings demonstrated significant pain relief as well as enhanced function following this form of therapy.
Assumptions about PRF indicate it works by disrupting nociceptive nerve fibers that carry pain signals to the brain, specifically through rapid changing electric fields produced by PRF which alter the transmission of these nerve signals, blocking or interrupting them altogether. Other mechanisms may include reduced release of neurotransmitters like c-Fos, which contributes to pain relief.
Although PRF remains unknown in terms of its mechanism of action, it has proven safe and effective treatment with no noticeable side effects. Your Pain Consultant will discuss this treatment option and its advantages over alternative therapies.
PRF can pose some risks, although these are very uncommon. You may experience occasional mild bleeding around the needle site that usually clears quickly; trauma should be avoided until full sensation and movement return, to protect the area against further injury. Furthermore, infection needs to be treated promptly with antibiotics; in rare instances it could even cause an allergic reaction from using local anaesthetic.
PRF therapy is considered safe, but may not be appropriate for everyone. Your Pain Consultant will discuss whether this approach would work well for you and may offer other alternatives if that proves ineffective.
How does PRF work?
PRF (Platelet Rich Fibrin) is a blood-based treatment with an abundance of platelets, fibrin, mesenchymal stem cells and other essential cells. To obtain it, your own blood must be collected in a centrifuge but spun at much slower speed compared with PRP for best results. This allows more beneficial cell types to remain intact within its final product – similar to PRP!
Blood samples taken from patients will then be combined with their own marrow to promote healing and tissue regeneration, before being injected directly into areas where you experience discomfort using a tiny needle with electrode. Once in, fluoroscopy or ultrasound will confirm its exact placement for injection; once administered, PRF will release growth factors which stimulate collagen, new skin cells and blood vessel formation in that area.
As soon as growth factors are released, the area begins to heal naturally, which reduces inflammation and eases your pain. Furthermore, new blood vessels help bring nutrients and oxygen directly to the area to support healing as part of the overall healing process.
Pulsed radiofrequency therapy reduces your pain in another way: by altering how nerves transmit pain signals. Unlike radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which destroys nerve tissue to block its ability to send out pain signals, PRF sends energy currents directly into an irritated nerve to stimulate it into “resetting itself”, thus ending long-term nerve damage and stop sending pain signals outwardly.
Studies of rats’ dorsal root ganglia using PRF electrodes show no thermal damage to nerve axons, while in vitro studies with human embryonic kidney cells and rabbit dorsal root ganglia show the electrode temperature is orders of magnitude less than what would be necessary for cell death.
Pulsed radiofrequency treatment can be utilized to address a wide variety of nerve pain conditions. We typically suggest this procedure for those who have not found relief through conservative measures like steroid injections, diagnostic nerve blocks or other noninvasive therapies.
What are the side effects of PRF?
PRF therapy can be an excellent solution for many conditions, including arthritis. Although not a cure, PRF can relieve discomfort for months or even years while improving surgical outcomes and aiding tissue healing post-op. Furthermore, this noninvasive procedure is both less invasive and cost-effective than surgery or long-term pain medications.
As with any medical procedure, PRF does carry some risks; however, these are typically rare. Possible side effects include infection, bleeding and nerve damage. If severe symptoms develop after receiving PRF treatment, notify your healthcare practitioner immediately.
Pulsed radio frequency therapy offers many advantages over radiofrequency denervation in terms of its ability to reset dysfunctional nerves without harming them. While radiofrequency denervation relies on high heat temperatures for deactivating nerves, pulsed radio frequency therapy uses short bursts of heat in short bursts; thus lowering risks and making treatment of nerve pain more efficient and safer.
PRF can also help reduce inflammation. Inflammation can be painful and stiffening in the back, hips, knees and shoulders, but with PRF’s ability to stimulate new blood vessel production it can ease these discomforts as well as speed the healing process faster than ever.
Platelet-Rich Fibrin can speed the healing process by releasing growth factors that promote cell regeneration and proliferation, increasing nitric oxide levels within your body and thus decreasing pain while increasing mobility.
PRF may take effect within a week of treatment; however, others may take several months. The full effect can depend on a number of factors including severity of injury, post-treatment care instructions compliance rate and general health status. Dr. Attaman and his team are here to guide your journey back to health with confidence – contact us now to arrange an initial consultation session where we are always happy to address your concerns and give advice as to whether PRF might be a suitable solution.
How long will PRF last?
PRF therapy can provide much-needed relief in many areas of the body. Its state-of-the-art approach can effectively address nerve pain in the back, neck, shoulders, arms, legs and head. PRF is often an effective option for people who have not found relief through traditional approaches like injections with local anesthetic and/or steroids injections, medications, physical therapy or other management techniques; it is generally safe and effective option; however it’s essential that patients discuss individual risk factors and health histories with their doctors before making this decision.
As part of your PRF procedure, a local anesthetic will be administered to numb the area before your consultant administers pulsed radio frequency treatments. After injection you may experience some mild bruising or tenderness at the injection site which should subside after several days; occasionally there may also be an increase in pain following the procedure.
PRF therapy relies on bursts of electrical current that deliver bursts to alter how your tissue transmits pain signals to the brain, also known as neuromodulation. This process does not damage nerves and is thus very safe.
PRF therapy’s effects may last up to 18 months, although everyone experiences them differently. While any local anesthetic numbing may wear off quickly after the procedure, pain relief should become noticeable gradually over several weeks.
Researchers continue their investigation, yet some doctors believe PRF therapy can be an effective tool in treating specific conditions. A case study by Navani et al [21] on occipital neuralgia showed that three rounds of PRF treatments on C1 and C2 dorsal root ganglia resulted in 60% to 70% pain relief at four-month follow-up follow-up.
Researchers have discovered that this treatment not only aids chronic pain relief, but can also enhance bone healing, speed up wound recovery and promote new cell growth. Due to its potential to aid regeneration and treat pain effectively, this technology has been labeled as “a new generation of biological therapies” which could transform medicine.
