Radiofrequency ablation is a form of pain management that uses heat to block pain signals. Many people have gone through radiofrequency ablation with no complications and therefore it has proven to be a safe method of pain management. It is mostly used to manage conditions that cause chronic pain like spondylosis, peripheral nerve pain, and back pain.
Chronic pain can lower the quality of life of a person and therefore any intervention that reduces such pain helps people to resume their normal lives pain-free. Radiofrequency ablation in Louisville can be performed on a person who has struggled with chronic pain, who does not have bleeding disorders or infections and is not pregnant.
What Are the Advantages of Radiofrequency Ablation?
Radiofrequency ablation helps to treat chronic pain which is a problem that bothers many people with some having lost hope of ever being pain-free. The procedure helps people to avoid invasive surgeries that come with many risks like long recovery times and the risks of anesthesia. A person who has undergone radiofrequency ablation benefits from pain relief immediately after the procedure.
Radiofrequency ablation has a short recovery time and, therefore, you can go back to work after a short period. It also enables you to resume carrying out normal activities that you could not do with chronic pain. It also helps to avoid the daily intake of painkillers and other medications for the unpleasant pain.
How Is the Radiofrequency Procedure Done?
Before the procedure is done, you will need to visit a doctor who will assess whether you qualify for the procedure. If you qualify, the doctor will schedule you for the procedure. You will be required to stop taking any anti-clotting medications days before the procedure to reduce the risk of bleeding. You should also fast 6 hours before the procedure and have a person to help you get home because you cannot drive yourself that day.
The procedure is conducted in the outpatient department. During the procedure, local anesthesia will be given to prevent the perception of pain and the doctor may also use a mild sedative. General anesthesia is not used and therefore you will remain awake during the procedure. The doctor will then use an x-ray to guide the insertion of a needle to the painful area.
After the doctor confirms that the needle is in position, he will insert a microelectrode through the needle to deliver a radiofrequency current to the target area. The current causes heating of the tissues. This will help to relieve pain over the area.
What Happens After Radiofrequency Ablation?
The local anesthesia may make your leg numb after the procedure but this goes away after a few hours. You may also experience mild discomfort on your back for about two days but this will go away with ice application or by using painkillers. You can remove the wound dressing at night after the procedure.
Do not do strenuous work or operate machinery within the first 24 hours after the procedure. You can eat a normal diet after the procedure. You should however consult your doctor if you experience worsening pain at the site of the injection if there is swelling over the area, if your limbs start feeling weak or if the area becomes red. The pain relief may last for 6 months to 1 year.
Radiofrequency ablation is a method of chronic pain management using heat and is carried out at the outpatient department. The advantages of the procedure include the minimal time of recovery and immediate pain relief. You should not operate heavy machinery 24 hours after the procedure.
