15 Oct Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): How Long Does Pain Relief Last?
If you struggle with chronic neck or back pain caused by inflamed spinal joints — especially pain that worsens when you twist or bend backward — you may have heard about Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), sometimes called Rhizotomy.
Unlike standard steroid injections that reduce inflammation for only a few weeks or months, RFA is designed to provide longer-lasting relief for chronic joint pain. This advanced procedure uses controlled heat to safely disrupt the tiny nerve responsible for transmitting pain signals. When performed accurately, RFA can offer relief that lasts several months — and sometimes longer — helping you return to daily activities with greater comfort.
The key to success lies in your pain management specialist correctly identifying the specific nerve causing your pain, which is confirmed through a test injection before the RFA procedure.
Part 1: What RFA Is — and What It Isn’t
To understand how RFA provides longer-term relief, it’s important to know what it’s designed to treat — and what it’s not.
The Target: Painful Spinal or Pelvic Joints
RFA is typically used to address pain coming from:
- The facet joints in the neck (cervical spine) or lower back (lumbar spine) can become inflamed due to arthritis, injury, or natural wear and tear.
- The sacroiliac (SI) joints, which connect the spine to the pelvis, can also become painful over time.
The Process: Interrupting Pain Signals
- Guided Precision: Using specialized imaging such as fluoroscopy (real-time X-ray), your doctor precisely places a thin needle near the target nerve.
- Controlled Heat: A small radiofrequency current is sent through the needle to gently heat and disrupt the nerve’s ability to send pain messages to the brain.
- Outcome: Because the pain signal is interrupted, the affected joint no longer sends those pain messages, resulting in reduced or eliminated discomfort.
This minimally invasive approach is sometimes referred to as radiofrequency neurotomy or nerve ablation — all terms referring to the same technique of using heat to disrupt nerve activity.
RFA vs. Nerve Block Injections
While both RFA and nerve blocks address pain, they work very differently:
- Nerve Block or Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI): Uses numbing and anti-inflammatory medications to block pain and reduce swelling temporarily. Relief typically lasts days to months.
- Radiofrequency Ablation: Uses controlled heat to disrupt the nerve’s function, which can lead to longer-lasting relief since it takes time for the nerve to regenerate.
Part 2: How Long RFA Relief Lasts
Patients often ask, “How long will the relief last?” While results vary from person to person, RFA is widely considered a long-term option for chronic joint pain that hasn’t improved with temporary treatments.
Why It Lasts Longer:
RFA works by disrupting the nerve’s ability to send pain signals. It can take several months for the treated nerve to regrow and resume normal function. During this time, most patients experience significant relief.
What to Expect:
- Relief may last anywhere from several months to a year or longer, depending on your body’s healing rate and activity level.
- The procedure can often be safely repeated if pain returns after the nerve regenerates.
- The period of relief allows patients to participate comfortably in physical therapy and strength-building exercises, helping to improve long-term mobility and stability.
Part 3: The Most Important Step — The Test Injection
Before proceeding with RFA, your pain management specialist will perform a diagnostic nerve block to ensure the correct nerve is being targeted.
Purpose of the Test:
A diagnostic injection delivers numbing medication to the suspected nerve or joint. If you experience significant temporary relief afterward, it confirms that the correct nerve has been identified.
This diagnostic step is essential because it ensures RFA will target the precise pain source, maximizing the likelihood of lasting relief and avoiding unnecessary procedures.
Part 4: What to Expect During the RFA Procedure
If you’re a candidate for RFA, the procedure is quick, minimally invasive, and typically performed as an outpatient treatment.
Before the Procedure:
- You may need to stop taking blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin temporarily.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home afterward, as you may experience mild soreness or fatigue.
During the Procedure:
- You’ll lie comfortably while your doctor uses X-ray guidance to precisely position the treatment needle.
- A small amount of numbing medication is used for comfort before applying the radiofrequency energy.
After the Procedure:
- You can go home the same day.
- Mild soreness at the injection site is normal and typically subsides within a few days.
- Avoid strenuous activity for the rest of the day, and follow your doctor’s aftercare instructions.
RFA offers a valuable opportunity for patients with chronic joint pain to experience sustained relief without surgery — especially when other treatments have failed to provide meaningful improvement.
At Principal Spine & Pain Management Consultants, Dr. Paul Kurian offers advanced, image-guided procedures, including Radiofrequency Ablation, to help patients in the Carrollton and Denton locations manage chronic spine and joint pain safely and effectively.