How painful is radiofrequency ablation?

How does RFA work? RFA is a simple, minimally invasive outpatient procedure. Your pain management specialisttargets pain-causing nerves and uses thermal energy to interrupt the pain signals at their source. Local anesthesia and a mild sedative may be used to reduce discomfort during the procedure .

For many people, pain relief will start to kick in around 10 days after having the procedure. However, for some people, it can take up to two or three weeks after the procedure for noticeable relief to begin.

Radiofrequency Ablation is a Minimally Invasive Non-Surgical Procedure . To be classified as a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure, the medical treatment must not involve removing any tissue or organs or involve cutting open the body.

Radiofrequency ablation is 70-80% effective in people who have successful nerve blocks. The procedure can be repeated if needed.

Radiofrequency ablation, or RFA, is a minimally invasive technique that shrinks the size of tumors, nodules or other growths in the body . RFA is used to treat a range of conditions, including benign and malignant tumors, chronic venous insufficiency in the legs, as well as chronic back and neck pain.

It’s not uncommon to feel some discomfort, superficial burning pain, or hypersensitivity in the area of the procedure . Some patients describe the feeling as similar to a sunburn. On average, this pain lasts no longer than 1 to 2 weeks after the procedure.

Radiofrequency ablation procedure-related risks. Damage to surrounding blood vessels and nerves during needle insertion resulting in excessive bleeding and/or irreversible neurologic damage causing long-term numbness and tingling. Heat damage to structures adjacent to the target nerve.