Radiofrequency Ablation Specialist

If you have nerve pain that’s interfering with your life, radiofrequency ablation can stop the pain signals from traveling to your brain. At Evolution Pain and Spine in League City and Lake Jackson, Texas, Sunil Thomas, MD, a double board-certified interventional pain management and physical medicine specialist, offers radiofrequency ablation treatments to relieve nerve pain. Call Evolution Pain and Spine or schedule a consultation online today to find out how radiofrequency ablation can fit into your pain management plan.

Radiofrequency Ablation Q&A

Radiofrequency ablation is an interventional pain management treatment that uses an electric current to create a lesion on a nerve. The small burn prevents pain signals from traveling to your brain and provides long-lasting relief from chronic pain.

Radiofrequency ablation is a drug-free method of pain relief that can help you avoid more invasive treatments, including surgery. There’s little to no recovery time, and the therapy restores your mobility and quality of life rapidly.

At Evolution Pain and Spine, Dr. Thomas uses radiofrequency ablation to relieve back, neck, and joint pain. Some of the specific conditions that might respond well to radiofrequency ablation include:

  • Arthritis
  • Spondylosis
  • Sacroiliitis
  • Neuropathy

Patients respond differently to radiofrequency ablation. Some have pain relief that lasts for 6-12 months, while others are pain-free for years.

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that usually lasts 15-45 minutes. Dr. Thomas provides a local anesthetic to minimize any discomfort during your treatment.

While you lie on an X-ray table, Dr. Thomas uses fluoroscopy to guide a hollow needle to the nerve that’s causing your pain.

Then, he injects a numbing medication before sending the radiofrequency current through the needle to create a small lesion on your nerve. Dr. Thomas can treat several nerves during the same appointment.

A friend or family member should drive you home after radiofrequency ablation treatment. You can get back to work and your regular activities within 24-72 hours. You should notice a significant reduction in your pain within 10 days, although some patients report immediate relief.

Dr. Thomas provides thorough exams to assess your condition and uses nerve conduction studies to pinpoint the precise location of the nerve causing your discomfort. In some cases, he gives a nerve block as a trial. If a nerve block relieves your pain, radiofrequency ablation should provide longer-lasting pain relief.

If you have chronic back, neck, or joint pain, call Evolution Pain and Spine or make an appointment online today to find out how radiofrequency ablation can reduce or eliminate your discomfort.