Radiofrequency ablation is an innovative approach to deactivating the nerves causing chronic pain. Board-certified pain specialist Nikhil Verma, MD, of Essential Sports and Spine Solutions, uses image-guided radiofrequency ablation to help patients with back, neck, and knee pain.
The results can last for many months, even when nothing else eases discomfort. To benefit from radiofrequency ablation for persistent pain, call the Essential Sports and Spine Solutions office in Columbus or Marion, Ohio, or request an appointment online today.
Radiofrequency Ablation FAQs
Radiofrequency ablation takes place under local anesthetic and, in many cases, mild sedation. While you can move about after radiofrequency ablation, you should plan to take it easy for a few days.
After radiofrequency ablation, you might benefit from a reduction in pain straight away. But you probably won’t feel the full effects of your treatment for a week or two.
To find out how radiofrequency ablation could relieve your back or joint pain, call Essential Sports and Spine Solutions or request an appointment online today.
When you visit Essential Sports and Spine Solutions for radiofrequency ablation, the first step is to find out which nerves are responsible for your chronic pain. Dr. Verma does this by performing a nerve block – an injection into your spine that numbs certain nerves.
He uses imaging technology like fluoroscopy to observe the path of the needle as it goes into you, ensuring there’s minimal tissue damage. When you feel an improvement in your pain, Dr. Verma notes the location of the nerves and targets them during radiofrequency ablation. The nerve block ensures he delivers the energy to the right nerves.
Dr. Verma uses radiofrequency ablation to treat various causes of spinal pain and large joints like the knees. Some of these conditions include:
- Herniated discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal stenosis
- Scoliosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Sciatica
- Neuropathic pain
- Knee injuries
Spinal conditions often involve nerve pressure or damage (radiculopathy). In your neck, damaged nerves can make your arms and hands feel weak, while in your lower back, nerve compression can cause pain in your legs and feet – that is exactly what happens when you have sciatica.
Radiofrequency ablation is a treatment Dr. Verma uses at Essential Sports and Spine Solutions to relieve chronic pain that other treatments aren’t resolving.
It works by blocking pain signals going from the nerves in the painful area to your brain. If the brain isn’t getting these pain messages, you don’t experience the same degree of discomfort. You may find the treatment eliminates your pain altogether.
Most people who undergo radiofrequency ablation benefit from long-lasting pain relief — results typically last from nine months to two years, after which the treated nerves regrow, and the effects of your radiofrequency ablation treatment wear off.