Can Radiofrequency Ablation Resolve Your Back Pain?

Chronic back pain significantly interferes with work performance and quality of life and is the most common reason people visit their doctor. It’s often challenging to treat and is the leading cause of disability. There’s good reason to consider radiofrequency ablation (RFA) if you’re dealing with ongoing back pain. This minimally invasive treatment may provide months of much-needed pain relief.

The Pain Management Specialists of Rockville and Frederick, Maryland have your back when it comes to chronic back pain. Board-certified pain management physicians Stuart Hough, MD, and Ramani Peruvemba, MD, offer comprehensive, patient-centered care to relieve your pain and improve how you feel and function.

Our team offers effective treatment options to manage your pain. We find the most success in employing multiple treatment approaches to get your pain under control so that you can enjoy your life. RFA is a treatment option particularly effective for chronic neck or lower back pain. Talk to one of our providers to find out if RFA is right for you. 

Radiofrequency ablation provides extended relief 

While back pain is very common, it’s often challenging to treat. The spine is complex. Home to roughly 33 vertebrae, and supportive structures, including tendons, nerves, ligaments, and other soft tissues. Fortunately, modern treatment options like RFA bridge the gap in effective minimally invasive treatment options.

For many patients with chronic back pain, RFA is a life-changing treatment. It involves delivering controlled radio waves to areas where the pain is occurring. Doing so reduces the ability of nerves in the target area to send out pain signals, resulting in significant pain relief that may last months. 

RFA as part of a comprehensive plan 

At Pain Management Specialists we believe pain is best controlled using more than one therapy. While RFA can provide great relief in most cases, we find that it’s most effective as part of a comprehensive pain management plan.

Patients with chronic back pain who visit our team receive a thorough evaluation prior to the implementation of any treatment plan. Our team uses their knowledge and experience managing a full range of pain conditions to create a treatment plan to address your ongoing back pain.

Along with RFA, your plan may include lifestyle changes such as stress management, non-narcotic medication, and dietary changes. 

RFA: what to expect

The procedure itself is relatively simple and takes about 30 to 40 minutes, followed by a 15 minute recovery period. When effective, RFA provides 50% or greater pain relief for an average of three months. Some patients experience relief for 6 to 12 months. If RFA works to relieve your pain, then it’s a good option for longer-term pain relief.

When chronic back pain strikes, you can rely on the top-quality providers at Pain Management Specialists to find the most effective way to manage your pain. We’re here to help you live a happier, healthy life with less pain. To learn more about RFA and other ways we manage pain, give us a call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hough or Dr. Peruvemba, or send your request online today.