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Radio-Frequency Ablation for Chronic Back Pain

July 26, 2018

Millions of Americans suffer with chronic back pain. A procedure at Hartford Hospital involving radio-frequency ablation may help. Dr. Ricardo Taboada is an anesthesiologist with the Hartford Hospital Pain Treatment Center:

Q: What is radio-frequency ablation?

A: Once a structure has been determined to be a pain generator, its nerve supply is targeted for interruption through radio-frequency ablation. A small insulated needle or RF cannula is positioned next to these nerves with fluoroscopic X-ray guidance by the interventional pain specialist. The shaft of this cannula is covered with a protective insulation so that the electric current only passes through the tip into the surrounding tissues. After a successful test confirms good cannula tip position, a local anesthetic is injected to numb the area. A radio-frequency generator is then used to heat the cannula tip for up to 90 seconds, and the targeted nerve is destroyed through cauterization.

Q: How does this procedure work to block the pain?

A: By selecting nerves that carry pain impulses and selectively cauterizing the nerve, pain can be reduced for periods of several months to a year. The goal of interventional pain procedures is to increase function. By reducing or eliminating the pain for longer periods of time, patients are more active and have a better quality of life.

Q: Who is a good candidate for the radio-frequency oblation procedure?

A.  Radio-frequency oblation is used for many chronic neck, knee and back conditions, including post-surgical pain conditions.  A patient’s candidacy is usually determined by the degree of his or her pain relief from a diagnostic nerve block.  The degree of success with the nerve block will determine if radio-frequency oblation will be helpful.

Q: Is the procedure itself painful? 

A. This procedure is no more painful than many other interventional pain management procedures.

If you suffer with chronic pain, the Hartford Hospital Pain Treatment Center can help. Learn more here, or call 1.855.HHC.HERE (1.855.442.4373).