Radiofrequency Ablations

What Is Radiofrequency Ablation?

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure used to treat chronic pain caused by irritated sensory nerves. During the procedure, controlled radiofrequency energy is used to disrupt pain signals traveling from targeted nerves to the brain.

RFA is commonly recommended after successful diagnostic nerve blocks confirm the source of pain.

The procedure may help provide longer-lasting relief compared to injections alone and is commonly used for chronic spine, joint, and nerve-related pain conditions.

Conditions Commonly Treated with RFA

Radiofrequency ablation may help treat conditions including:

• Chronic neck pain
• Chronic thoracic and mid-back pain
• Chronic low-back pain
• Facet joint arthritis
• Cervical facet syndrome
• Thoracic facet syndrome
• Lumbar facet syndrome
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain
• Chronic knee pain
• Occipital neuralgia and headache-related pain
• Intercostal neuralgia
• Post-surgical pain syndromes
• Chronic nerve-related pain conditions

Types of Radiofrequency Ablation We Perform

At Alpenglow Pain & Wellness, we offer several forms of radiofrequency treatment depending on your condition and treatment goals.

Procedures may include:

• Cervical medial branch radiofrequency ablation
• Thoracic medial branch radiofrequency ablation
• Lumbar medial branch radiofrequency ablation
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint cooled radiofrequency ablation
• Genicular nerve cooled radiofrequency ablation for chronic knee pain
• Peripheral nerve radiofrequency treatment
• Occipital nerve radiofrequency treatment
• Intercostal nerve radiofrequency treatment

Cervical, Thoracic & Lumbar RFA

Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar RFAs are commonly performed to treat chronic spine pain caused by irritated facet joints and medial branch nerves.

These procedures use targeted radiofrequency energy to interrupt pain signals from the affected spinal nerves and may help reduce:

• Chronic neck pain
• Mid-back and thoracic pain
• Low-back pain
• Pain related to spinal arthritis and degeneration
• Pain worsened by twisting, bending, or prolonged standing

Many patients experience significant pain reduction and improved mobility following successful cervical, thoracic, or lumbar RFA treatment.

Cooled RFA for SI Joint & Knee Pain

We also perform cooled radiofrequency ablation (cooled RFA) for chronic sacroiliac (SI) joint pain and chronic knee pain involving the genicular nerves.

Cooled RFA uses specialized technology that creates a larger treatment area around targeted nerves while helping protect surrounding tissues. This approach may improve treatment precision and provide longer-lasting pain relief for select patients.

Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Cooled RFA

Cooled RFA may help patients with chronic SI joint dysfunction and low-back pain who experienced temporary relief from diagnostic SI joint injections or nerve blocks.

Genicular Nerve Cooled RFA

Genicular nerve RFA targets sensory nerves surrounding the knee and may help reduce chronic knee pain caused by arthritis, degeneration, or persistent pain after injury or surgery.

Symptoms That May Benefit from RFA

Patients who may benefit from radiofrequency ablation often experience:

• Chronic aching or burning pain
• Pain that worsens with standing, twisting, or movement
• Neck or low-back pain lasting several months or longer
• Pain returning after temporary relief from diagnostic nerve blocks
• Chronic headaches related to cervical facet pain
• SI joint pain or chronic knee pain interfering with mobility and daily activities

What to Expect During the Procedure

RFA is performed using fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance to ensure accurate needle placement and improved safety.

During the procedure:

• The treatment area is cleaned and prepared
• Local anesthetic is used to improve comfort
• Specialized needles are guided to the targeted nerves
• Radiofrequency energy is applied to interrupt pain signaling

Most procedures are completed in less than an hour, and patients typically return home the same day.

Benefits of Radiofrequency Ablation

RFA may help:

• Provide longer-lasting pain relief
• Reduce chronic nerve and joint pain
• Improve mobility and physical function
• Decrease reliance on pain medications
• Improve sleep and daily activity tolerance
• Support participation in physical therapy and rehabilitation

Relief varies depending on the condition being treated and individual patient response, but many patients experience improvement lasting several months or longer.

Comprehensive Interventional Pain Care

At Alpenglow Pain & Wellness, radiofrequency ablation is often combined with additional therapies to create a personalized treatment plan focused on long-term pain relief and improved quality of life.

Additional treatment options may include:

Interventional Pain Management

• Diagnostic and therapeutic nerve blocks
• Epidural steroid injections
• Facet joint injections
• Trigger point injections
• Spinal cord stimulation (SCS)
• Peripheral nerve stimulation
• Ketamine infusion therapy
• Image-guided minimally invasive procedures

Supportive & Regenerative Therapies

• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Acupuncture and integrative therapies
• Pain psychology and stress management
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
• Red light therapy to support healing and recovery

Our goal is to reduce pain, restore function, and help you return to daily activities using evidence-based, minimally invasive treatment options whenever possible.

If chronic neck, back, SI joint, knee, or nerve pain is affecting your quality of life, contact Alpenglow Pain & Wellness today to schedule a consultation and learn more about radiofrequency ablation treatment options.