Radiofrequency ablation is a procedure that is designed to disrupt the small sensory nerves that go to the joints in the spine (the facets). First, you need to be diagnosed with a facet disorder. You must have lower back pain (or neck pain if in the cervical spine). A series of injections (fact blocks or medial branch blocks) must give you temporary relief of your local pain (see facet blocks on the web site).
If that is the case, then you could be a candidate for facet rhizotomies (radiofrequency ablations). The success rate for reasonable relief is 70%.
Radiofrequency ablation will not cure or relieve buttocks pain, leg pain or foot pain and numbness.
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
