Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic Lower Back Pain: What to Expect 

Back pain affects virtually everyone at some point in their lives, but not everyone develops long-term, chronic lower back pain. It can be a difficult condition to treat, given the complexity of the spine and nerve tissue branching out from the spinal cord. 

Some back pain patients respond well to nerve blocks, anesthetic injections that effectively control their pain for short lengths of time. They’re candidates for other treatments including radiofrequency ablation (RFA). 

At Premier Pain Consultants in San Antonio, Texas, Dmitriy Buyanov, MD, specializes in RFA treatments. When conservative therapies fail to produce satisfactory results, but you’re not yet ready to try extensive back surgery, RFA may be able to reduce or eliminate your chronic pain. 

To help with your decision-making, we’ve prepared this overview so you’ll know what to expect from radiofrequency ablation. 

The success of nerve blocks

Many lower back pain patients find temporary relief from nerve block injections. These take several forms and cover many parts of your body. When they’re effective, nerve blocks provide important information about the source of your chronic back pain. 

A successful nerve block identifies the specific origin of your pain. This location becomes the target for your RFA procedure. Typically, we treat only one location at a time, then observe the results and determine if further procedures are necessary. 

What to expect from an RFA treatment

Radiofrequency energy is the principle behind microwave ovens. Radio waves excite and heat water molecules in their target field. We use this energy to disrupt the activity in the nerve that’s causing your back pain. 

Typically, RFA procedures use local anesthesia and sedation delivered intravenously to keep you comfortable. We also use numbing injections at the site of the procedure. 

Using a fluoroscope, an X-ray imaging device, Dr. Buyanov guides the needle-like RFA probe into a precise location. The probe heats the target nerve, limiting its ability to transmit pain. 

RFA is usually mild on your body. You might feel pain or tenderness at the treatment site, but this lasts only a few days. RFA treatments are outpatient procedures, so you return home the same day. 

Relief from RFA varies among patients. Some experience immediate relief, while in others, it could take up to six weeks to appear. Pain relief should last about 9-12 months, but this too can vary widely, both longer and shorter. 

Your body can regenerate nerve tissue, so it’s possible for your pain to reappear. RFA can treat the same nerve again, if necessary. When the RFA procedure reduces or eliminates the amount of pain medication you require, it becomes a valuable part of your pain management plan. 

Find out more about RFA and learn if it’s an effective option for you. Contact us at Premier Pain Consultants, online or by phone, to schedule your personal consultation today.