Dr. Ankit Meshram
Orthopaedic Excellence
Dr. Ankit Meshram
Orthopaedic Excellence
Chronic pain can impact all aspects of life. Constant knee, back, neck, or joint pain can make walking, working, exercising, and even sleeping uncomfortable. For some serious cases, surgery may be the only treatment option, but not in all cases for all patients. Minimally invasive treatments can be an alternative if the cause and severity of pain are not as intense. One such solution is Radiofrequency Ablation for chronic pain.
If radiofrequency ablation is a possibility for patients from Mumbai who seek non-surgical treatment for their chronic pain, getting to know more about the procedure, its suitability, and what it entails may allow them to have an educated discussion with their orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Ankit Meshram.
RFA, also known as radiofrequency ablation, is a minimally invasive procedure that involves targeting specific nerves that carry pain signals.
The procedure involves a specialized needle or probe being placed near the nerve that is to be targeted, typically with the help of imaging. Radiofrequency energy is then applied to the area to decrease the nerve’s ability to send certain pain signals.
The large surgical incisions are not involved in RFA. But it remains a medical procedure and isn’t suitable for all types of chronic pain. To be treated, a detailed evaluation is needed.
Sometimes, even after the actual wound or disease has been cured, pain-signalling nerves persist in sending pain signals, causing chronic pain.
Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic Pain is designed to block the signals from selected nerves. The goal is to decrease pain and possibly restore and enhance motion and daily activities.
The duration of pain relief varies in length for different patients and can either be partial or full. Some other variables that can influence results are the nature of the disease being treated, the area where pain is felt, response to diagnostic tests, and general health status.
The radiofrequency ablation may be offered to certain patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. It can be employed as a component of a comprehensive programme of pain relief for a variety of conditions affecting areas including the:
In a few patients with chronic knee pain or spinal pain, for instance, the patient may be assessed for RFA if the pain is associated with a particular nerve or structure that can be targeted.
RFA is appropriate based on the person’s diagnosis. The procedure is not guaranteed to be helpful to all patients with chronic pain.
Chronic knee pain is caused by conditions like arthritis, past injuries, inflammation, and degeneration of bones and joints. Certain patients could be candidates for nerve procedures if conservative treatment has been found ineffective.
Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic Pain involving the knee targets specific sensory nerves that transmit pain out of the knee. The procedure is designed to alleviate pain, but not replace the knee joint or perform extensive surgery.
Before deciding on the appropriateness of RFA, evaluation by a specialist will be performed that uses a combination of the patient’s symptoms, physical examination findings, imaging, prior treatment history, and functional limitations.
The low back can have a variety of chronic causes of pain, some of which are related to facet joint issues. In some instances, nerves that communicate with these joints can be targeted for radiofrequency therapy.
But back pain is no simple matter, and RFA may not be appropriate for all types of back pain. So proper diagnosis is an important component of treatment planning.
A doctor might prescribe physical exams, imaging, and other tests to help identify if the pain is an appropriate target for an RFA procedure.
Usually, RFA is a minimally invasive procedure. Local anaesthetic is used to numb and clean the treatment area. The doctor guides the special probe close to the nerve under study using imaging.
Once it is established, controlled radiofrequency energy is applied. The process is meant to selectively affect the chosen nerve, but not damage adjacent tissues.
The preparation, technique, and time can vary based on the patient and the part of the body.
RFA is one of the primary reasons that patients are considering using this therapy, because it can be a minimally invasive method of treating certain chronic pain conditions.
The potential benefits are:
There is variability, and pain relief is not guaranteed. Your doctor can discuss the potential benefits and limitations of your particular situation.
No. The efficacy of RF Ablation in chronic pain is critically dependent on the patient selection process as well as the ability to accurately determine the origin of the pain.
Patients may be initially assessed with a thorough clinical examination. Sometimes, a nerve block is performed to find out if a specific nerve is playing a major role in causing pain.
Before treatment, patients should also communicate with their doctor about any existing medical issues, medicines, previous medical procedures, and other health-related issues.
Chronic pain can’t be tackled just by concentrating on the site of the pain. For instance, the cause of knee pain may be several, and the cause of back pain may be from various structures. The therapeutic response to a wrong pain diagnosis may be of little relevance.
Dr. Ankit Meshram can perform orthopedic assessment for those who are suffering from knee joint and musculoskeletal pain in Mumbai. An individualized assessment could be useful to determine if non-surgical treatment options such as physical therapy, medication, injections, or RFA would suit the patient.
For some serious conditions, major surgery may be a critical treatment method, but not always the preferred method for chronic pain. In appropriate patients, pain management treatment may include minimally invasive options like Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic Pain.
If you are suffering from knee, back, or joint pain and this is making your life difficult, consult an orthopaedic expert to find out about its cause and the possible remedies. If it is possible to diagnose the cause and tailor a plan for you, you can decide how to manage your pain.