Radiofrequency Ablation in Boston
Chronic neck and back pain can prevent you from moving around freely or make it difficult to sit at a desk at work each day. At Boston Advanced Medicine, the integrative team of board-certified physicians offers radiofrequency ablation treatments for adults in the Boston area. This nonsurgical procedure can relieve pain and increase mobility. Call our office to find out if radiofrequency ablation is right for you.
Radiofrequency Ablation Q & A
What is radiofrequency ablation?
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a pain management technique that often provides lasting relief from chronic pain. This nonsurgical, minimally invasive procedure uses heat to reduce or stop the transmission of pain signals to receptors in your brain. Typically, the team at Boston Advanced Medicine uses radiofrequency ablation to treat pain in your neck, lower back, and arthritic joints.
How does radiofrequency ablation work?
Before this fairly simple procedure, which takes place at Boston Advanced Medicine, your doctor uses a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area. You may also receive intravenous medication to help you relax as you lie on the X-ray table. Once the treatment area is numb, your doctor inserts a thin needle into the area where you feel pain, such as on your spine or neck.
Your provider uses live X-ray guidance (fluoroscopy) to target specific nerve endings and deliver a small electrical current through the needle. The heat from the radiofrequency energy essentially “burns” the nerve so it can no longer send pain signals. Your doctor may treat several nerves during the same procedure.
What are the benefits of radiofrequency ablation for chronic pain?
The benefits of RFA include:
- Nonsurgical procedure may help you avoid neck or spine surgery
- Quick recovery
- Immediate pain relief
- Decreased need for prescription pain medications
- Improved function
Radiofrequency ablation is a form of natural pain relief that often allows you to return to your daily activities without debilitating pain. Most people get immediate relief and are able to leave the office soon after the procedure, so there’s no lengthy hospital stay.
How successful is radiofrequency ablation at relieving pain?
Many men and women feel immediate relief from pain and are able to return to work or other activities 24-72 hours after their RFA appointment. Pain relief often lasts nine months to more than two years. If you get pain relief for several months, but your pain returns, your physician at Boston Advanced Medicine can repeat the treatment.
Are you living with chronic pain in your spine, neck, or lower back? Find out if you’re a good candidate for radiofrequency ablation treatment at the state-of-the-art treatment center in Waltham, Massachusetts. Call our office today.
