Do you have low back pain, or neck pain? Have you tried steroid injections with no pain relief? Not ready for surgery? A radiofrequency ablation may be an option. But first, you would start with a medial branch block to see if in fact you are a candidate.
A medial branch block is an injection of a strong local anesthetic on the medial branch nerves that supply the facet joints in the spine. If the patient experiences marked pain relief immediately after the injection, then the facet joint is determined to be the source of the patient’s pain. This is when radiofrequency ablation (RFA) comes into play. RFA can be considered for longer term pain relief.
RFA is a type of injection procedure in which a heat lesion is created on the nerve that transmits the pain signal to the brain. The goal of it is to interrupt the pain signal to the brain, while preserving other functions, such as normal sensation and muscle strength. As a general rule, if effective, the ablation will often provide pain relief lasting at least 9 to 14 months and sometimes for longer. After this period of time, however, the nerve will regenerate and the pain may return. RFA can be used to help patients with chronic (long-lasting) low-back and neck pain and pain related to the degeneration of joints from arthritis. Dr. Vashi performs these procedures. Stop living in pain, and make the call to find out more on how these procedures can help bring back some quality of life! 262-764-5595.
