If your chronic pain doesn't improve despite standard medical care, you owe it to yourself to learn about radiofrequency ablation.
Few treatments offer the hope of such long-lasting pain relief. And radiofrequency ablation works for chronic pain caused by many conditions.
Our pain management experts at the Centers for Pain Control & Vein Care in Hobart, LaPorte, Munster, Valparaiso, and Merrillville, Indiana, provide customized treatments targeting the source of your pain.
If they determine you’re a good candidate for radiofrequency ablation, you can look forward to long-lasting pain relief. Learn when it’s time to consider radiofrequency ablation and why you should.
Radiofrequency ablation is not the first line of treatment for chronic pain. Your treatment always begins with conventional, nonsurgical therapies, such as medication, physical therapy, and injections.
It’s time to consider radiofrequency ablation when:
Radiofrequency ablation works by blocking the pain signals traveling through nerves from the source of your pain to your brain.
We identify the nerve based on your diagnosis and then verify we have the exact nerve by injecting a local anesthetic. If the anesthetic eases your pain, it confirms we’re targeting the right nerve, and we can consider treating it with radiofrequency ablation.
Radiofrequency ablation is such a precise procedure that we can treat many nerves, relieving chronic pain caused by a wide range of conditions. A few examples include:
In other words, it’s time to consider radiofrequency ablation when you have ongoing pain caused by nearly any problem.
These benefits give you three more reasons to consider radiofrequency ablation:
Radiofrequency ablation is an outpatient procedure that doesn’t require general anesthesia. You only need a local anesthetic and can take an oral sedative if needed to reduce anxiety and help you relax.
We use a needle-like radiofrequency device, so the procedure is similar to getting an injection. Using real-time X-rays (fluoroscopy) to see the device and nerves, we guide it through your skin and place it on the specific nerve.
Then, we send a short burst of radiofrequency energy through the needle into the nerve. The heat creates a wound that effectively stops pain signals.
You’ll spend a little time in the office after the procedure. After you’re walking and we’re sure you’re doing fine, you can go home. However, we advise you to relax for at least 24 hours.
The downtime you take depends on when you feel ready to do more. Each person reacts differently, but most return to work within three days. Everyone should avoid strenuous activities until their follow-up office appointment.
You’ll have some discomfort (pain, swelling, muscle cramping) at the needle insertion site. However, these side effects should improve within a few days.
Your chronic pain may improve shortly after the procedure, but many people need to wait a short time before experiencing optimal pain relief. It takes up to three weeks (10 days on average) for the full effect of radiofrequency ablation to kick in.
Once your pain improves, you can look forward to pain relief lasting nine months to two years or longer. How long your results last depends on whether the nerve regrows. Some nerves may regenerate. If that happens, your pain may return.
No matter what causes your pain, radiofrequency ablation may be a good option. Our caring team will evaluate your health and determine if it’s a good option for you. To learn more, schedule an appointment online or call the nearest Centers for Pain Control & Vein Care office today.
