Radiofrequency Ablation: Why It May Be the Solution to Your Chronic Back Pain

Chronic back pain can disrupt nearly every part of daily life. Pain makes it difficult to work, sleep, exercise, drive, or even sit comfortably to eat a meal. 

For many people, conservative treatments such as rest, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and injections help, but not always enough.

Coastal Spine & Sports Medicine PLLC, in Wilmington, North Carolina, specializes in diagnosing chronic back pain caused by injuries and degenerative conditions.

Our skilled pain management physician, Francis Pecoraro, MD, DAPMR, FAAPMR, focuses on medications and nonsurgical injection therapies to control pain. If these methods aren’t effective, we can determine if you’re a candidate for a minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation.

Radiofrequency ablation for chronic back pain

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may be a treatment worth discussing if you’re limited by chronic back pain.

RFA is a minimally invasive procedure that uses controlled heat from radiofrequency energy to interrupt the nerves that transmit pain signals. When effective, ablation can provide longer-lasting relief than some other nonsurgical options.

RFA is most often used when chronic back pain originates in the small joints in your spine (facet joints). These joints help stabilize your spine and guide movement, but they can become painful from wear-and-tear or degeneration over time.

The goal of RFA is not to fix the joint itself, but to destroy the nerves that carry pain messages from your joint to your brain. By interrupting those signals, RFA can reduce pain and improve your spinal function.

What to expect during radiofrequency ablation

People are often interested in RFA because it’s available as an outpatient procedure. Dr. Pecoraro uses imaging guidance, such as an X-ray, to place a needle precisely near the targeted nerve.

Radiofrequency energy goes through the needle to heat a small area of nerve tissue. The procedure usually takes 1-2 hours, depending on the area being treated, and most people go home the same day.

While some soreness at the treatment site can occur afterward, the procedure is generally considered less invasive than surgery and doesn’t require a long recovery period.

Benefits of radiofrequency ablation

One reason RFA may be a good option for those with chronic back pain is that it can offer longer symptom relief than oral or injectable medications.

Pain relief can start immediately after the procedure or several weeks later. The results of RFA can last 9-12 months but vary from person to person. 

Because nerves can regenerate over time, the effect isn’t always permanent, but repeat treatment may be possible in selected patients.

It’s important to note that RFA isn’t for everyone with back pain. This minimally invasive treatment typically works best when we can accurately identify the source of your pain. 

Before recommending RFA, Dr. Pecoraro often performs a diagnostic nerve block, which temporarily numbs select nerves to see whether your pain improves. If this test relieves your pain, Dr. Pecoraro may consider you a candidate for RFA. 

It’s important to understand that RFA is a pain management tool, not a cure-all for chronic back pain. Treatment may reduce pain enough to allow you to return to physical therapy, move more comfortably, and rely less on medication, but it’s usually one part of a broader treatment plan.

Contact Coastal Spine & Sports Medicine today to schedule a consultation to learn more about the benefits of radiofrequency ablation. You can also book a consultation online.