Radiofrequency Ablation Specialist

Glaser Pain Relief Center Our Services Radiofrequency Ablation

Glaser Pain Relief Center

Interventional Pain Management Specialists located in San Fernando Valley, Encino, CA

Chronic nerve pain from injury or disease can reduce your quality of life. To provide you with long-term pain relief, Jeffrey Glaser, MD, and John Zheng, DO, offer radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedures to patients in the San Fernando Valley and the Greater Los Angeles Area at the Glaser Pain Relief Center office in Encino, California. Radiofrequency ablation is a non-surgical minimally invasive treatment and can help you achieve maximum pain relief for up to two years. Find out if you’re a candidate for radiofrequency ablation by calling Glaser Pain Relief Center or by booking an appointment online today.

Radiofrequency Ablation Q & A

What is radiofrequency (RF) ablation?

Radiofrequency ablation, also called rhizotomy, is a non-surgical procedure to treat chronic nerve pain. The procedure involves destroying a damaged nerve with currents of radiofrequency heat energy.

By destroying the affected nerve, radiofrequency ablation disrupts the pain signals that travel from the nerve to your brain. Since your brain can’t process the signal, you can find long-term relief from pain.

What conditions can radiofrequency ablation treat?

The team at Glaser Pain Relief Center might recommend radiofrequency ablation to treat chronic pain that results from:

  • Arthritis
  • Spondylosis
  • Facet joint pain
  • Peripheral nerve damage

To determine if radiofrequency ablation is right for you, the pain specialists at Glaser Pain Relief Center might try a nerve block first. A nerve block involves an injection of an anesthetic medication into the affected nerve to temporarily prevent nerve signals from traveling to your brain.

If a nerve block successfully relieves your pain, the team can perform a radiofrequency ablation right in the office.

What is involved in radiofrequency ablation?

During your radiofrequency ablation procedure, the Glaser Pain Relief Center team uses a local anesthetic to numb the injection site. They also provide a mild sedative through an intravenous line to keep you relaxed and comfortable.

Under the guidance of fluoroscopy (real-time X-ray technology), the team positions a hollow needle in the treatment area. Through the needle, they pass an electrical current that ablates, or burns, the nerve fibers that contribute to pain.

Depending on your needs, the team can treat several nerves during the same procedure for maximum pain relief.

How long does it take to see the results of radiofrequency ablation?

You can expect to go home to rest soon after your procedure is complete. It’s common to experience an increase in your pain in the initial days after treatment. However, within 10 days of radiofrequency ablation, you should notice a reduction in your pain that continues to improve over the next few weeks.

Pain relief from radiofrequency ablation can last anywhere from several months to two years. In time, the treated nerve can grow back, and you may need to repeat the procedure to relieve additional pain.

To learn more about the benefits of radiofrequency ablation, call Glaser Pain Relief Center or book an appointment online today.

 

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