Nerve Ablation Procedure

Find Pain Relief with Radiofrequency Ablation

If you live with chronic neuropathic pain, you could find relief with nerve ablation treatment at Commonwealth Pain & Spine. Also known as radiofrequency ablation, this minimally invasive procedure uses heat to destroy the nerve fibers responsible for sending pain signals to your brain. Our dual-board certified physicians offer safe nerve ablation to stop pain signals from traveling between your brain and the rest of your body, relieving back, neck, and arthritic joint pain.

What Conditions Can Nerve Ablation Help With?

If physical therapy, medication, or other treatments haven't relieved your chronic pain, consider nerve ablation as an effective alternative. This procedure can address various chronic pain conditions:

• Damaged facet joints
• Arthritis
• Chronic nerve pain conditions
• Failed back surgery syndrome

Commonwealth Pain & Spine can offer solutions for your nerve pain and assess if nerve ablation is suitable for you! Our team specializes in minimally invasive nerve ablation and advanced pain management for chronic pain relief.

The Many Advantages of Nerve Ablation

Instead of relying on medication to find relief or other traditional surgeries, nerve ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that avoids large incisions and lengthy recovery times. The advantages of nerve ablation include:

• Targets nerves to avoid invasive surgery
• Quick return to normal activities post-procedure
• Less pain medication needed, reducing long-term use and dependency
• Better quality of life with increased mobility, improved sleep, and enjoyment of daily activities

Radiofrequency ablation offers long-term relief for chronic pain. At Commonwealth Pain & Spine, we use advanced technology for nerve ablation to reduce discomfort and improve outcomes.

Learn More About The Nerve Ablation Process

Kickstart your journey to pain relief by filling out our self-referral form. We'll work with your PCP to get a referral and then contact you to schedule your appointment.

Here's what you can expect during the nerve ablation process:

1. Consultation: To start, our physicians will review your medical history, conduct a comprehensive physical examination, and order diagnostic tests to determine if nerve ablation is the most appropriate treatment.
2. Preparation: To begin, we'll numb the treatment area with a local anesthetic. You'll remain awake throughout the process, but we can offer a mild sedative to help you stay relaxed. The entire procedure takes 10-20 minutes, depending on if one or both sides are treated.
3. Needle Insertion: Your physician will use a fluoroscope to guide a thin, hollow needle precisely to the site of the malfunctioning nerve. You may feel some pressure during the insertion, and most patients feel a tightness or burning sensation.
4. Electrical Current Delivery: Once the needle is in place, your physician will send a radiofrequency current for about 90 seconds. The current converts to heat, creating a small, precise burn (lesion) on the nerve, disrupting the pain signals it produces.
5. Recovery: Most patients experience immediate pain relief following the nerve ablation procedure. While you may have some tenderness at the injection site, most patients can return to regular activities within 24-72 hours.

We'll arrange follow-up appointments to track your progress and ensure you're getting the pain relief you need. Commonwealth Pain & Spine is here to help you every step of the way to better pain management.