Your physician will confirm your diagnosis and, if you are a good candidate, present radiofrequency ablation as a treatment option. The physician will ask you questions about allergies, medical history and any medications or supplements you are taking.
Radiofrequency ablation is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure that uses a heat lesion to ablate the nerve and interrupt pain signals to the brain. It can provide lasting relief for people with chronic pain, especially in the lower back, neck, and arthritic joints.
First, you’ll lie on your stomach or back on an x-ray table. The physician will numb an area of your skin with a local anesthetic where your procedure will be performed.
Then, he or she will:
Most patients have some pain relief after radiofrequency ablation, but the amount varies by cause of pain and location. The relief can last up to 12 months.8
Adverse effects of thermal radiofrequency ablation can include bleeding, infection, needle placement induced nerve damage, and burns caused by incorrect grounding pad placement. However, adverse effects and complications of thermal neurolytic therapy are exceedingly rare. Speak with your physician about specific side effects and risks for your RFA treatment.
Typically, after the procedure, most patients go home the same day, and can resume regular activities, the next day. Follow your doctor’s instructions regarding activity, diet and medications.
Your physician has selected NIMBUS to provide the best possible care for you. NIMBUS provides a large volume lesion, which removes the uncertainty of treatment with the goal to provide a better result. NIMBUS is routinely used in the spine, sacrum, knee, and other areas of the body.
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Background:
Radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) can be an effective treatment for patients with chronic neck pain and cervicogenic headaches resistant to conservative care. However, the degree and duration of pain relief after RFN is dependent upon the thoroughness of target nerve coagulation.
Case Report:
This is a case of a 37-year-old patient with debilitating neck pain and headaches following a motor vehicle accident. Successful local anesthetic block of the third occipital nerve (TON) confirmed pain of C2-C3 facet joint origin. An initial RFN treatment of the TON, using standard 18G electrodes in bipolar mode, resulted in complete symptom amelioration for 8 months. Repeat RFN, using the same electrode configuration, was unsuccessful in alleviating the severe neck pain and headaches, and produced no demonstrable sensory loss in the distribution of the TON. RFN was then performed using the NIMBUS® electrosurgical RF multitined expandable electrode, which provides a larger zone of coagulation in volume than standard RFN electrodes even when used in bipolar configuration.
Conclusion:
The NIMBUS procedure resulted in successful coagulation of the TON with sensory loss in the TON distribution and reinstatement of palliative relief.
