Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation is a long-lasting treatment for chronic pain. Noble Pain Management, led by Bradford R. Noble, DO, FAOCPMR, has the foremost pain specialists in Columbia, Missouri. They offer a broad spectrum of treatments, including radiofrequency ablation, to help their patients escape long-term pain and enjoy the best quality of life. To learn more about how radiofrequency ablation can relieve your pain with lasting results, call the office or book your consultation using online scheduling now.

What is radiofrequency ablation?

Radiofrequency ablation is a procedure that heats pain-causing nerves to deactivate them and prevent pain signaling. With the treated nerve unable to relay pain signals, you experience significant pain relief and can get back to doing the activities you enjoy. 

Is radiofrequency ablation the right treatment for me?

Radiofrequency ablation is best suited to people who have chronic lower back, neck, or knee pain, but it can also treat other painful areas. 

If you’ve tried medication, physical therapy, injections, and other methods of managing your pain but now need longer-lasting results, radiofrequency ablation could give you the relief you seek. 

Noble Pain Management can evaluate your individual needs and recommend a treatment plan that gives you lasting results based on your condition, symptoms, and goals. 

What is the radiofrequency ablation process? 

Radiofrequency ablation starts with a local numbing injection. Fluoroscopy (a series of X-ray images) helps to target the exact nerve, and your provider inserts a thin, hollow needle there. 

In many cases of lower back pain, the basivertebral nerve is the ideal nerve to target. All of the nerves that link your spinal vertebrae to your brain begin at the basivertebral nerve, so deactivating that nerve is an effective way to relieve lower back pain. 

For lower back pain, Noble Pain Management uses a special basivertebral nerve ablation system, Intracept®, with components specially made to target that nerve effectively. 

After delivering a small amount of electrical current as a test to verify proper needle position, your provider delivers additional anesthetic and uses an electrode to send radiofrequency waves through the needle.

This creates a heat lesion, which deactivates the nerve. Your healthy, functioning nerves nearby aren’t affected.

You can go home shortly after your radiofrequency ablation treatment. While you need to take it easy for a day or so after the treatment, most people return to normal activities within a few days.

What are the benefits of radiofrequency ablation?

Radiofrequency ablation offers excellent pain relief and, as a result, improved mobility for up to 12 months. The treated nerve regenerates over time, but you can have retreatment at that time to maintain your results. 

Radiofrequency ablation may help you avoid surgery, so it’s a leading choice for people who struggle with chronic pain. Learn more by calling Noble Pain Management or clicking the online scheduling feature now.