Radiofrequency Ablation

In the field of interventional pain management, over the last 2 decades, radiofrequency ablation has become standard-of-care for treatment of a variety of common painful conditions. Radiofrequency treatments are administered by way of a specially equipped cannula capable of delivering a high temperature lesion that destroys or disables nerves that cause neck pain, back pain, thoracic pain, and headaches. Radiofrequency ablation for spinal pain is performed only after diagnostic injections are performed to demonstrate that a radiofrequency ablation is likely to relief the pain. Therefore, prior to radiofrequency ablation a diagnostic procedure such as a medial branch block is necessary. Therefore, the process of treating back pain by way of radiofrequency ablation is really a two-step process, first the diagnostic and then, if indicated, the ablation. A great deal of sophistication and care is required to perform such procedures.