What are the Advantages of the Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy?
- Same-day procedure
- Local anesthesia
- No skin incision
- No recovery time; typically, patients can go back to work the following day
- Pain relief lasts for 6-12 months, and for some patients up to 18 months
- Least-invasive procedure
It only takes about 30 to 90 minutes to complete the entire radiofrequency ablation procedure. Although many patients can return to work the next day, it’s recommended that you do not drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 24 hours after the procedure is complete. There are rarely any complications associated with radiofrequency. However, patients sometimes experience a few radiofrequency ablation side effects that you should be aware of, including:
- A superficial burning sensation over the treated area, similar to a sunburn
- Light skin numbness over the same area
- Mild headaches or dizziness
- Soreness at the injection site
These are not dangerous side effects, and they generally resolve on their own not long after the procedure. Although every patient is different, nearly 50 percent of patients who undergo radiofrequency ablation experience significant pain relief for over a year. Of the remaining patients, about 50 percent of these will experience pain relief for a shorter amount of time.
How Long Will It Take for the Procedure to Work?
As nerves heal after the procedure is complete, you’ll experience significant improvement in pain. To feel the full effects of radiofrequency, it usually takes about two weeks but can also take up to four weeks. However, the pain relief experienced generally lasts for six months to a year.
ARE YOU A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR THIS PROCEDURE AT OUR CENTRAL NEW JERSEY LOCATION?
To see if you are a good candidate for a radiofrequency ablation procedure, take our pain evaluation questionnaire and someone from our office will follow-up with you as soon as possible.
