8 Painful Conditions That Respond Well to Radiofrequency Ablation

As we learn more about how the human body functions, we gain ways to develop more targeted and effective treatments. 

Take pain that doesn’t respond to other treatments as an example. Not so long ago, the primary path for managing persistent pain was medication. These often come with side effects, however, so researchers look for alternatives.

They found it in radiofrequency ablation. With this innovative treatment, you can address pain at its source: the nerve sending the pain signal.

Ike Malik, MD, offers radiofrequency ablation as part of his suite of pain management treatments. At our Texas Pain & Orthopedics office in Pflugerville, Texas, he and our team can help you figure out if this minimally invasive treatment could be right for you. 

Conditions that often respond to radiofrequency ablation

This kind of treatment works best when two factors are at play. First, Dr. Malik needs to know which nerve(s) send the pain signals to your brain. Secondly, those nerves need to be located in a place where it’s safe to apply ablation.

Radiofrequency ablation uses heat generated by the radiofrequency to destroy the nerve tissue. This stops the pain signals from reaching your brain. 

Dr. Malik uses a needle to send the heat precisely where it’s needed, protecting the surrounding tissue. Treatment has the potential to deliver lasting relief.

Some of the conditions that radiofrequency ablation can work for include: 

1. Chronic back pain, including pain from problem discs
2. Chronic joint pain, including knee and hip pain
3. Chronic neck pain 
4. Facial pain from trigeminal neuralgia
5. Facet joint pain
6. Spondylosis (spine arthritis) 
7. Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain
8. Peripheral nerve pain

Dr. Malik offers nerve testing to figure out what’s going on and if you’re a good candidate for radiofrequency ablation.

What to expect with radiofrequency ablation

Generally, Dr. Malik won’t recommend jumping straight to radiofrequency ablation. Instead, he starts with more conservative treatment options like physical therapy, activity modification, and medication.

If your pain doesn’t respond to these kinds of interventions, Dr. Malik scales up treatment. He determines if radiofrequency ablation can likely improve your pain levels. 

If he thinks it can, he schedules your procedure. To get started, he numbs the treatment area. Then, he uses a specialized X-ray machine to guide the needle to the problem nerve. Next, Dr. Malik sends radiofrequency energy through that needle, heating the nerve to destroy the tissue. The procedure should stop the nerve from sending pain signals to your brain.

You go home the same day as your procedure, and you can go back to work quickly (immediately for desk jobs, within a few days for manual labor that might affect the treatment site). You might have some soreness around the treatment area for a few days, but it should subside over time. 

If you want to explore radiofrequency ablation to stop pain at its source, schedule a consultation with Dr. Malik. Call our office or book your appointment online today.