Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)

Radiofrequency ablation is a cutting-edge procedure that numbs your pain for 6-18 months without medication. Manonmani Antony, MD, DABA, DABIPP, of Sussex Pain Relief Center, is one of the few providers in the region who performs this procedure because it requires advanced administrative and clinical coordination that most medical practices lack. To learn more about how this powerful non-drug therapy can help you, call either the office in Georgetown or Lewes, Delaware, to book a consultation online now.

Radiofrequency ablation FAQ

What is radiofrequency ablation?

Radiofrequency ablation is an outpatient procedure that relieves back pain, neck pain, arthritis pain, and other kinds of chronic pain. In this procedure, the Sussex Pain Relief Center specialists use electrical currents created by radio waves to heat the nerves triggering your pain. This decreases pain signals going to your brain, significantly reducing your pain.

spine

Dr. Antony is very successful in doing this procedure for chronic back, neck, thoracic spinal pain, and occipital/cervical headache. It is also used to treat chronic sacroiliac joint pain and knee pain after total knee replacement.

rfa procedure

Who is a radiofrequency (RFA) ablation candidate?

Patients with the following can be treated with RFA:

A radiofrequency ablation is a treatment option for patients who have experienced successful pain relief after two diagnostic medial branch nerve blocks of the facet joints.

rfa targetting irritation

What can I expect during the radiofrequency ablation procedure?

You typically get local anesthesia to numb the treatment area, along with intravenous sedation to help you remain relaxed during the radiofrequency ablation procedure. Your specialist uses advanced X-ray imaging like fluoroscopy to guide the treatment needles to the location where your pain originates.

Then, your specialist uses electrodes to test nerve stimulation in the immediate area. This helps them plan optimal areas for the radiofrequency current. They use the needles to deliver the radiofrequency current, thereby disabling specific nerves so they stop sending pain signals.

Depending on your pain, your specialist may treat more than one area in a single procedure. The radiofrequency ablation procedure can take as little as an hour.

What is recovery like after radiofrequency ablation?

Following your procedure, you generally have a short recovery period on-site, and then your driver can take you home. It's normal to have some discomfort around the treatment area for a few days. You can generally return to your normal routine fairly quickly, often within only a day.

Most patients enjoy significant pain relief within two or three weeks. The Sussex Pain Relief Center team gives you specific instructions regarding your recovery so you can enjoy the maximum benefit from your radiofrequency ablation procedure..

How long does radiofrequency ablation stop my pain?

Radiofrequency ablation can stop your pain for 6-18 months without medication. It can offer remarkably long-lasting relief if you're dealing with chronic pain that doesn't respond to other treatments, or if you don't get sufficient relief from injections.

Some benefits of RFA include:

If your current pain management plan just doesn't yield the lasting relief you need to live your life, ask the Sussex Pain Relief Center team whether radiofrequency ablation might work for you. Call either office or click the online appointment maker to start now.