Radiofrequency ablation (or rhizotomy) is a treatment method that employs heat to destroy pain-inducing nerves. This procedure is commonly employed to address backache associated with facet joints of the spine.
Radiofrequency seems to be an effective treatment option for alleviating chronic musculoskeletal pain; however, more high-quality clinical trials must be completed to confirm these results.
What is Radiofrequency Physical Therapy?
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an innovative pain management procedure that uses heat to destroy nerve tissue. Primarily utilized for back pain relief, RFA provides long-term relief by blocking or reducing signals sent from damaged nerves to the brain and is recommended as an option for those who have tried other forms of relief such as medications and physical therapy without success.
RFA, or Radio Frequency Ablation, has been around since the 1970s. An outpatient procedure requires having a pain management specialist insert a thin tube through your skin into the area that hurts and use fluoroscopy to make sure its in its correct location. Once in position, they inject small doses of numbing medication before connecting this thin tube to an electrode wire carrying radio waves that cause nerve destruction; typically taking between 20 to 90 minutes depending on nerve size and extent of damage required for completion.
As part of your procedure, you may experience some slight tingling or burning sensations during treatment. If any discomfort arises or you are uncomfortable with the process, be sure to inform your physician right away.
Once the procedure has concluded, you will be transferred to a recovery room where your pain management specialist will monitor you closely. They may provide muscle relaxants as well as local anesthetic injections in order to numb the area where surgery was performed.
After your procedure, your physical therapist will provide specific exercises and techniques designed to increase range of motion and mobility, including strengthening and flexibility exercises as well as an appropriate stretching program. These will assist your recovery faster so you can return to normal activities sooner. INDIBA Therapy is a revolutionary way of speeding healing while decreasing pain – get back on the path toward normality sooner with this revolutionary healing solution!
How Does Radiofrequency Physical Therapy Work?
Radiofrequency (RF) therapy is a noninvasive technique that works by disrupting nociceptive pathways at various sites to relieve chronic musculoskeletal pain syndromes, especially when other conservative or surgical treatments prove ineffective or are contraindicated [1].
Procedure involves inserting a needle electrode into the nerve that transmits pain signals, then heating it with radiofrequency current to damage parts of it that transmit them and cause them to stop sending pain signals; this reduces discomfort over time resulting in long-term relief of symptoms.
One of the primary applications of radiofrequency treatment is relieving back pain caused by facet joint arthritis. This pain typically arises in either the lower back or neck area and, left untreated, may become chronic – difficult to alleviate with medications or physical therapy alone. The discomfort arises from small nerves providing sensation to facet joints in the spine that then radiate pain signals out to other regions like shoulders and arms – and RF waves can destroy their ends to stop transmitting these pain signals back to the brain.
To assess whether RFA treatment would be a suitable fit, your physician will use imaging scans to locate the source of pain. Once identified, they may inject that facet joint with local anesthetic and cortisone injections; if pain reduction occurs significantly this indicates positive responses from this therapy.
RFA procedures involve pain medicine specialists placing special needles into affected nerve areas, using numbing agents as needed, then fluoroscopy to guide needle electrodes into their precise positions for treatment. Radiofrequency current then creates small burns on these nerves which interferes with pain signals sent out from them – the entire procedure usually taking less than an hour with patients able to go home shortly thereafter.
Who is a Good Candidate for Radiofrequency Physical Therapy?
Radiofrequency neurotomy may provide relief to long-term pain in your spine that has not responded to more conservative treatments such as pain medication and physical therapy. This procedure uses radiofrequency current to heat and destroy nerve tissue that sends pain signals directly to the brain – offering long-term pain relief from one minimally invasive procedure, potentially helping reduce dependence on painkillers while potentially decreasing dependency and side effects associated with their use.
Before undertaking the RFA procedure, our team conducts an in-depth medical evaluation to ascertain if RFA will provide optimal relief from your condition. In some instances, diagnostic nerve blocks may also help us locate the source of discomfort to ensure you will gain maximum benefit from this therapy.
Once we numb your affected area with local anesthetic, we carefully insert a needle near the source of pain using real-time X-ray guidance in order to place it correctly. A mild electrical stimulation test is then conducted in order to verify that we have placed it appropriately and away from motor nerves that could cause muscle weakness. Once confirmed, a radiofrequency electrode is attached and radiofrequency current applied which heats up nerve tissue, stopping it from transmitting pain signals directly into your brain.
Once a nerve has been destroyed, you will experience a significant decrease in pain. This will improve your quality of life by allowing more activities without experiencing discomfort, as well as decrease your dependence on pain medications, which often have harmful side effects and increased risks of addiction.
RFA works to eliminate pain, restore mobility and range of motion and help you get back to what matters. It has been shown to offer significant pain relief in patients suffering from chronic neck or low back pain. For more information about its advantages contact one of our pain management specialists now!
What is the Recovery Period Like for Radiofrequency Physical Therapy?
Patients undergoing the procedure are administered sedatives either via pill form or intravenous (IV). Once this has taken effect, pain management team members numb the area where needles will be inserted with local anesthetic before inserting their needles and using fluoroscopy to monitor them. Once in place, radiofrequency energy will be delivered directly onto nerve endings to heat them up, thus disabling pain signals from being sent directly to their brains.
After their procedures, patients will be monitored closely. When it is safe, patients will be discharged home. Ice packs may help alleviate any discomfort at the injection site; pain should diminish over time.
As your nerve branch recovers from radiofrequency therapy, its nerve signals will slowly resume sending pain signals again – this is why OrthoIllinois’ musculoskeletal pain specialist recommends following-up physical therapy programs as preventative measures against its return.
A physiotherapy program typically includes conditioning, strengthening and range-of-motion exercises with the aim of increasing muscle strength around painful joints so that pain won’t return when nerves regenerate.
OrthoIllinois’ pain specialists often recommend this minimally invasive procedure for individuals experiencing neck, back or knee pain that has not responded to medication or physical therapy. If you’re living with chronic discomfort, don’t hesitate to call us. Our initial consultations are always free of charge; plus we accept most major insurance plans; if there are questions regarding your coverage we can work directly with your provider as well as help locate physical therapists within network with them if need be. Call now and schedule your appointment – we can’t wait to help make life better!
