Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Radiofrequency ablation treats chronic back and neck pain coming from the facet joints — the small joints connecting each pair of vertebrae. A specialized needle heats the tiny nerve branches (medial branches) that carry pain signals from an arthritic facet joint, interrupting the signal for an extended period. For well-selected patients, RFA delivers some of the longest-lasting relief in non-surgical pain medicine — typically 6 to 12 months, sometimes longer.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Honest expectations
The treated nerves regrow over roughly 6–18 months, and pain may return; the procedure can be repeated with similar success. RFA doesn't fix the arthritis itself — pairing it with core strengthening extends and compounds the benefit.
FAQs
How long does relief last?
Most successful patients get 6–12 months; repeat treatments tend to work as well as the first.
Is it surgery?
No — needle-based, no incision, home the same day.
Why do I need the test blocks first?
Because RFA on the wrong joints helps no one. Blocks are how we make sure you're in the group this works for.
CTA: Call 720-749-5599 (CO) / 602-325-2024 (AZ).
Who it helps
Chronic (3+ months) axial low back or neck pain, worse with extension or rotation; facet arthritis; and persistent post-whiplash neck pain, where facet joints are a common culprit.
The part that matters: selection
RFA only works when the facet joints are truly the pain source, so we never go straight to ablation. First you get one or two diagnostic medial branch blocks — a small dose of numbing medication at the target nerves. If the block gives significant temporary relief, that confirms the diagnosis and predicts the ablation will work. If it doesn't, we just saved you a procedure that would have failed — and we go looking for the real source.
Risks, plainly
Serious complications are rare when performed image-guided by trained physicians. Common and minor: temporary soreness, a short-lived pain flare, facial flushing, or elevated blood sugar in diabetics for a few days. We limit steroid injections to a sensible number per year and always weigh them against your overall picture — tell us about blood thinners, infections, or diabetes.
What the procedure is like
In-office, under X-ray guidance, with local anesthetic (light sedation available where appropriate). The physician positions the RFA needle at each confirmed nerve, tests placement with stimulation before treating, then heats each site for about 90 seconds. Expect 30–45 minutes. Soreness for up to 1–2 weeks after is normal — full relief often arrives after that settles.