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Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency Ablation services offered in Near Marshall University  Football Stadium, Huntington, Hurricane and Charleston, WV

Inflamed nerves and tissues can cause chronic pain that limits your mobility and range of motion. At Pain Management 360, with offices in Huntington, Hurricane, and Charleston, West Virginia, pain management physician Rudy Malayil, MD, and the team use radiofrequency ablation to destroy inflamed tissues and alleviate your discomfort without extensive downtime. Call the office nearest you today or schedule an appointment online to learn more.

What is radiofrequency ablation?

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat to destroy damaged tissue. One of the most common uses for the procedure is to treat inflamed nerve tissue. When the tissue around a specific nerve inflames, it can cause chronic neck, back, or leg pain. Radiofrequency ablation is a safe alternative to surgery that can reduce your pain.

What are the uses for radiofrequency ablation?

Radiofrequency ablation can help alleviate many types of pain, including:

Neck pain

Radiofrequency ablation can deliver long-term relief from neck pain in individuals with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome. 

Patients with nerve damage from neck injuries, such as whiplash, spinal arthritis, and previous spinal surgeries, may also find more success from radiofrequency ablation than temporary treatments, like nerve blocks.

Back pain

Back pain can result from a wide range of chronic pain conditions and injuries, such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. Compressed nerves in the spine can cause pain, weakness, and tingling in your back, neck, or extremities. Radiofrequency ablation targets dysfunctional nerves in the back to relieve pain and improve your quality of life.

Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain

The SI joints sit at the base of your hips and spine. You have one on each side of your spine. Because the SI joints endure weight from your upper body when you move, they can wear down over time and irritate surrounding nerves. Radiofrequency ablation may help relieve nerve pain that radiates through your hips, lower back, and legs.

Trigeminal neuralgia

The trigeminal nerve connects to the brain and helps control biting and chewing. When you have trigeminal neuralgia, facial pain and sensitivity can disrupt your life. Radiofrequency ablation targets damaged nerve tissue to relieve this pain.

Your provider reviews your medical history, performs a physical exam, and orders imaging scans to determine if radiofrequency ablation is right for you.

What happens during radiofrequency ablation?

Before radiofrequency ablation, your provider injects a local anesthetic to relieve any discomfort. Next, they guide a needle into your area of pain with a fluoroscopy. The radiofrequency current moves through the needle and into your damaged nerve tissue to prevent pain signals from reaching your brain. The procedure takes 15 minutes and relieves pain for up to one year.

Call Pain Management 360 today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about radiofrequency ablation.