Pain comes part and parcel with the human experience.
Growing up, scraping your knees lets you know that you should be careful not to
fall down. Injuries sustained by playing youth sports can teach you how to play
better. Touching a hot kettle can teach the dangers of fire and extreme
temperatures.
According to Web MD, back pain
can emerge as a result of performing everyday activities such as simply lifting
heavy objects, a sedentary lifestyle, accidents, and different diseases.
You may also end up dealing with a significant amount of joint pain later in
life. Similar to back pain, joint pain can be brought about by a variety of
factors, with the disease known as arthritis among the leading causes.
Neck pain is yet another problem many people end up experiencing at some point.
Along with diseases, injuries, the gradual aging of joints, neck pain can also
be caused by things people do as they relax. Harvard Health
notes that if your body is in an “unhealthy position” while you’re reading or
watching TV, you may experience neck pain later on.
As you can see, pain can be caused by all kinds of things, but as experts such
as Dr. Nikesh Seth are quick to point out, there are also effective ways to
address whichever unpleasant sensation you may be suffering through at the
moment.
For addressing back, joint, and neck pain specifically, people should strongly
consider the procedure known as radiofrequency ablation.
What You Need to Know about Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation is known by many names. Some refer to it as radiofrequency neurotomy while others may call it radiofrequency rhizotomy. To cut down on syllables, you may also hear some medical professionals refer to it as simply RFA.
According to the Mayfield Clinic, the medical professionals who are qualified to perform this particular procedure include anesthesiologists, neurologists, physiatrists, radiologists, and surgeons.
During the procedure itself, needles will be inserted near the part of your body where you are experiencing pain. Once the needles are inside your body, they will start to emit radio waves that are designed to hit the problematic nerves.
After being affected by the heat from the radio waves, the nerves should be rendered unable to transfer pain signals, at least temporarily.
How to Prepare for Radiofrequency Ablation
Once you have been deemed to be a good candidate for radiofrequency ablation – likely following numerous tests and consultations – you will be asked to stop taking certain forms of medication.
To be more specific, if you are currently taking aspirin or a blood thinner, your physician may advise you to stop ingesting them at least a few days before the procedure is scheduled to take place. If you are taking other forms of medication, ask your doctor if you should drop those temporarily as well.
You should also avoid smoking on the day that you will be receiving the procedure, notes the Mayo Clinic.
Lastly, don’t forget to ask a friend or family member to take you home following the completion of the procedure.
What to Expect during the Procedure
You don’t have to do much of anything while the procedure is taking place. Throughout most of it, you’ll be lying face down with your stomach resting on an X-ray table.
While the procedure itself should be painless because your body will be numb, you may feel a bit of a sting because of the sedative being administered.
The good news for patients is that a typical radiofrequency ablation procedure is not expected to last long. It should be over in about 45 minutes and that’s the upper limit of this procedure’s expected length.
What to Expect after the Procedure
Following the procedure, you will be given an opportunity to rest and recover. Typically, you will be allowed to go home on the same day that the procedure took place.
Expect some soreness to linger in the days after the procedure. If you want to alleviate some of that, feel free to use ice packs, but avoid heating pads for now.
Don’t be surprised if you still experience a bit of pain even two weeks after the procedure, but it should be easy to bear. You should also be fit enough to go back to work a day or two after the procedure.
Results vary, as some people may only experience pain relief for a few months while the relief could last for years for others.
Are There Any Risks Related to Radiofrequency Ablation?
Apart from some lingering pain and soreness, there are no other common side effects linked to having this procedure done. In extremely rare cases, radiofrequency ablation can lead to the development of an infection or nerve damage.
Dr. Nikesh Seth and numerous other medical professionals can attest to the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation. For people out there who have been forced to deal too long with back, joint, or neck pain, this procedure promises to provide some badly needed relief.