Radiofrequency Ablation
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Chicago Pain Relief, PC
Shivani Chadha, MD
Interventional Pain Management & Anesthesiologist located in Willowbrook, IL
For many people suffering from chronic back, knee, and hip pain, effective treatments that don’t involve prescription pain medications or surgeries are a welcome alternative. Through a technique called radiofrequency ablation, Dr. Shivani Chadha -- an interventional pain management specialist at Chicago Pain Relief in Willowbrook, Illinois -- provides patients in Chicagoland with effective treatment to relieve knee, hip, and back pain. Radiofrequency ablation offers patients a safe way to get long-term relief from painful joint conditions through the use of radiofrequency energy. Call the office or schedule a consultation online to learn more about radiofrequency ablation for pain management.
Radiofrequency Ablation Q & A
What is radiofrequency ablation?
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) reduces chronic pain, usually in your knees or hips, using radiofrequency energy. The radio waves produce an electrical current that safely heats up a small area of nerve tissue in a specific part of your body.
RFA decreases the pain signals from a problem area, like your knee, hip, or lower back, so your brain receives fewer signals, and you experience less pain from that specific area. The results may last 6-12 months, or more, depending on the severity of your condition and the extent of your pain.*
How is radiofrequency ablation performed?
Before the procedure, you may receive intravenous medication to help you relax. Then, Dr. Chadha numbs the area around your knee or hip joint and inserts a thin needle into the spot where you typically feel pain.
She uses X-ray guidance for all of her RFA procedures to allow for extreme precision when delivering the RF energy to specific nerve tissue.
Next, Dr. Chadha inserts a tiny electrode through the needle. If you feel a tingling sensation, that’s most likely the area that causes your pain. The X-ray helps her see inside the affected joint so she can send the RF current through the electrode to heat up your nerve tissue.
In most cases, radiofrequency ablation is an in-office procedure, and you can go home afterward, but you’ll need someone to drive you. Most patients don’t experience discomfort during RFA treatment, although you may feel mild discomfort at the injection site.
Dr. Chadha and her team explain anything you need to know about recovery, but you can generally resume normal activities in about 24 hours.
Am I a good candidate for radiofrequency ablation?
If you have arthritis, chronic knee pain, hip pain, or back pain that hasn’t responded well to other treatment methods like medications or physical therapies, RFA may be a good option for you.
Dr. Chadha conducts a comprehensive exam of your painful joint, your overall health, and talks to you about any treatments you previously tried for pain relief. If she thinks you’re a good candidate for radiofrequency ablation, she creates a treatment plan for your specific needs.
To learn more about RFA as a long-term pain management option, call the office or schedule a consultation using online booking.
*Individual results may vary.
