04 Dec Stop or Avoid Prescription Drug Dependency with Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Integrated Pain Consultants prioritizes patient safety and comfort. The country is in the midst of an opioid epidemic, just upgraded to a national health emergency, and offering alternatives to addictive opioids and opiates is a priority. There are many procedures that are healthy, natural, and drug-free alternatives to opioid and opiate use. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an option for some patients suffering from neck pain, lower back pain, and pain from arthritis.
How Radiofrequency Ablation Works
Radiofrequency Ablation works via an electric current that creates radio heat waves in select areas of the nerve tissue. It ultimately minimizes the pain signals sent to the brain from that area. RFA, just like opiates and opioids, does not stop the pain. However, RFA can reduce the body’s ability to register that pain and offer pain relief. It’s important to remember that there’s a big difference between a “painkiller” and “pain relief.” The healthiest goal is pain management and relief to improve daily living.
Once the electrical current is introduced into the nerve tissue via a needle, the area is immediately heated up to produce a lesion. That’s what minimizes the pain signals. The lesion is safe and internal (it can’t be seen). Usually, all that’s required is a local anesthetic. With mild sedation, the procedure takes under 30 minutes. Radiofrequency Ablation can help provide more prolonged pain relief compared to steroids, better range of motion, less dependency on pain medication such as opioids, and it offers a shorter recovery time than some other options.
Most patients report pain relief, sometimes nearly pain-free, for up to 12 months. In some cases, the relief lasts up to two years. There’s a relatively minor risk of nerve damage compared to some other treatments, which means less anesthesia. For patients facing knee replacement, the Radiofrequency Ablation relief can be so immediate and intense that there’s no need for replacement. The long-lasting effects of RFA have earned it the title of “semi-permanent” pain relief.
You may experience some bruising and swelling at the injection site, but Radiofrequency Ablation is safe and side effects generally disappear within one week.
Contact Integrated Pain Consultants in Mesa and Scottsdale
Are you interested in a pain management approach that’s relatively safe, immediate, and an alternative to opioids or to “get off” opioids? Ask Integrated Pain Consultants about Radiofrequency Ablation by calling 480-626-2552. We also invite you to learn more about Dr. Nikesh Seth and other providers including Dr. Anne-Marie Cosijns, Dr. Lisa Sparks, Dr. Michael Givens, and our team of Nurse Practitioners.