
Chronic neck and back pain can be debilitating! Even for those of us with a “tough it out” attitude, persistent pain can ruin sleep, hold us back from the activities we enjoy, and even make it difficult to interact with the people we love. Often, heat packs and Aleve are not enough—fortunately, a minimally invasive procedure called radiofrequency ablation (“RFA”) can alleviate chronic spinal pain.
A significant portion of us with spinal pain have symptoms that are originating from our facet joints. These are the small joints along the sides of the spine that allow the neck and back to move. When these joints are damaged or irritated, it can cause a pain cycle that is hard to escape because it’s not possible to stop using your spine like you could an injured hand or sprained ankle. Even the small, everyday movements like turning your head or bending over involve our facet joints, and these motions can be enough to keep these joints inflamed.
RFA is an excellent treatment option for back or neck pain coming from the facet joints. There is no cutting or stitches! RFA involves inserting a high-tech needle near the nerves that are conducting pain signals from the problematic facet joint. The needle emits a high-frequency radio wave that disrupts those pain signals. The pain relief typically lasts for 6 to 12 months, after which the procedure may be repeated.
More great news: this advanced procedure is covered by health insurance! Our office works with a variety of PPO plans and it is typically a quick and easy process to get an RFA procedure approved by your insurance company.
Key Facts
Many people with spinal pain have a difficult time staying active, or even participating in physical therapy. Decreasing activity patterns can lead to a slippery slope, progressively weakening the lower back and neck muscles, which can make you feel even worse. You don’t have to suffer from spinal pain. You’ve worked hard, and self-care is great care!