Understanding Radiofrequency Ablation: Procedure, Benefits, and Risks

In the era of life-threatening diseases spreading at an alarming rate, the need for painless treatment is indispensable. One of the modern-day treatments that significantly reduces pain is Radiofrequency Ablation.

Radiofrequency Ablation, or RFA, is a minimally invasive treatment that is used for several purposes in the medical world, including neck pain, arthritis pain, facial pain, tumours, etc. The best thing about RFA is that it can be provided easily while the patient can go home the same day after treatment.

Let’s read ahead and explore this revolutionary process more!

Elaborating Radiofrequency Ablation!

Radiofrequency Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that leverages the power of radio waves to create a current that easily heats up a small area of the nerve. When the area heats up, it becomes dysfunctional and does not transmit the pain signals to the brain, leading to pain reduction and even elimination.

Besides pain relief, radiofrequency ablation is also super effective in improving organ or tissue functioning, reducing the number of pain medicines, and avoiding surgery (only in some circumstances).

Health Conditions Treated By Radiofrequency Ablation

Well, so far, we know that radiofrequency ablation can be used to treat pain. However, it is not for all types of pain. Here is a quick overview of health conditions that radiofrequency ablation can treat.

Cancer pain and, in some settings, small cancers can be treated with radiofrequency ablation.
Chronic pain conditions, such as spondylosis (spine arthritis) and sacroiliac or joint pain, can be treated with RFA.
Tumors like cancer can be destroyed with the help of RFA. Radiofrequency ablation can be used to treat several cancers, like breast. Bone, kidney, liver, pancreas, etc.
Facial pain which is caused by trigeminal neuralgia
Heart rhythm problems
Peripheral nerve pain

The Radiofrequency Ablation Process

The process of radiofrequency ablation is a simpler one. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the process!

The patient lies on the operation table with their stomach down. If sedation is required, an intravenous line is injected.
To eliminate the chances of infection, the skin over the treatment area is thoroughly cleaned.
The small area where the needle has to go is made numb by injecting an anaesthetic.
With the use of an X-ray, the doctor guides the needle towards the medial or lateral branch nerve.
On successful placement of the needle on the targeted nerve, an electrode is inserted through the needle, and a radio wave or a small electrical current is sent through the needle to the nerve.
The current or heat creates a lesion in the nerve that keeps it from sending pain signals to the brain.

Note: This is a process that may take anywhere between 30 to 90 minutes to complete!

Cancer Treatment with Radiofrequency Ablation

The best thing about RFA is its utility in cancer treatment. RFA is a solution for cancer as long as there are multiple small tumours in an organ, and they are causing pain and discomfort.

The process of treating cancer with the help of Radiofrequency Ablation is the same. The needle is inserted into the cancer tissue, and the heat generated by the current extinguishes the nearby cancer cells.

Who can Get The Radiofrequency Ablation Treatment?

There are several aspects that make a patient fit for the RFA treatment!

If your pain goes away after a nerve block injection, the doctor will know the source of pain. This makes it easier to decide if the patient needs RFA for long-term relief.
If medication and therapy for chronic pain are not making it go away, the patient needs to go for a radiofrequency ablation.

Note: A patient is not an ideal candidate for RFA if they are pregnant, have a bleeding issue, or have an infection as it involves a needle injection.

What to do After an RFA Treatment?

Well, once the whole procedure is complete, the patient is required to rest for 15 minutes in the healthcare facility itself. When the effect of provided sedation is over, they may go home, but they should not drive.

Some precautions that need to be followed are!

Take a rest on reaching home.
Don’t do anything strenuous within 24 hours of the procedure.
Apply an ice pack to the injection area for 15 to 20 minutes after a gap of every 2 hours.
Take a warm shower only after 2 days of the procedure.

Note: The patient will experience pain for some weeks after the treatment. Therefore, it is best to rest for an ample amount of time before returning to your daily activities.

Are There Any Side Effects of Radiofrequency Ablation?

Yes, there are some minor side effects of radiofrequency ablation that include swelling, bruising, and discomfort in the area of treatment. However, this is not permanent. It goes away after some time.

Conclusion

In the case of both mild or chronic pain that is not going away with medication, RFA is the perfect solution. The simple procedure involves some pain, but it is all worth it in the end. You can return home the same day but must take precautions. The RFA treatment is also meant for cancer if the tumours are small.

References:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17411-radiofrequency-ablation
https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/injections/radiofrequency-ablation-rfa-procedure-and-recovery
https://mayfieldclinic.com/pe-nerveblocks.htm