Chronic back pain can significantly impact day-to-day functioning and quality of life. If you've been dealing with persistent lower back pain, finding relief is essential. One option for relieving this pain is combining a medial branch block and radiofrequency ablation.
At Advanced Spine and Pain, we routinely see cases of chronic back pain and have experience with a variety of approaches to manage it. If you are considering medial branch blocks and radiofrequency ablation for pain relief and would like to learn more, call us today at (480) 573-0130 or contact us online.
Let’s take a closer look at how these treatments work and why you might choose them.
What is Causing My Lower Back Pain?
Lumbar pain (also known as lower back pain) is often related to the joints in your lower spine, known as facet joints. Like any joint, the surrounding cartilage can become worn and damaged, causing arthritis to develop. Injuries such as car accidents or a bad fall can also damage facet joints.
When a facet joint is swollen or inflamed medial branch nerve endings transmit pain signals along the spinal cord to the brain. The pain may be felt in the lower back, hips, thighs, buttocks, or knees.
What is a Medial Branch Block?
A “medial branch block” is a diagnostic procedure used to treat medial branch nerves near the facet joints. During this procedure, a trained healthcare provider injects a steroid medication and local anesthetic near the nerves, temporarily helping them block pain signals.
Medical branch blocks are often used as nerve block tests before radiofrequency ablation to help diagnose the sources of pain. If a medial branch block results in pain relief, the facet joint is the source of the problem. Sometimes, the test is repeated1 to ensure clear identification of the source of nerve pain.
What is Radiofrequency Ablation?
Your pain specialist may recommend radiofrequency ablation as a long-lasting solution to treat facet joint pain. During this simple procedure, local anesthetic is injected into the area of the nerves identified as the source of pain. The needle is then heated with thermal energy to stop the nerve from transmitting pain signals.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Radiofrequency Ablation
If your doctor recommends radiofrequency ablation after a medial branch block, there are a few things to know, including:
How long does radiofrequency ablation last?
Typically, radiofrequency ablation can last 6-12 months2. However, it can last longer in some cases.
Are there any risks with radiofrequency ablation?
Like nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation can occasionally cause bleeding or infection at the needle insertion site. It can also cause nerve damage, leading to bowel, bladder, or mobility problems.
How long does the radiofrequency ablation procedure take?
Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that takes about 15 minutes to perform. Afterward, there is a short recovery and observation time before you can return home.
Ready for the Next Step in Treating Low Back Pain?
If you believe a medial branch block and radiofrequency ablation may help your chronic pain, the expert team at Advanced Spine and Pain can help you weigh all your options for the best results.
Contact us today to learn more, or call us at (480) 573-0130.
References
- Manchukonda, R., Manchikanti, K. N., Cash, K. A., Pampati, V., & Manchikanti, L. (2007). FaCET Joint pain in chronic spinal pain: An evaluation of prevalence and false-positive rate of diagnostic blocks. Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques, 20(7), 539–545. https://doi.org/10.1097/bsd.0b013e3180577812
- McCormick, Z. L., Marshall, B., Walker, J., McCarthy, R., & Walega, D. R. (2015b). Long-Term function, pain and medication use outcomes of radiofrequency ablation for lumbar facet syndrome. International Journal of Anesthetics and Anesthesiology, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.23937/2377-4630/2/2/1028
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