At South Florida Interventional Orthopedics and Spine, experienced physician Seth Kaufman, DO, provides advanced, leading-edge back pain treatments alongside conservative approaches in two offices in Davenport and Miami, Florida.
Drawing upon years of experience and high-level training, including double board certification and specialized fellowship training, Dr. Kaufman is an expert at treating stubborn pain. If you need a treatment that gets to the root of the issue, Dr. Kaufman may suggest rhizotomy, more commonly known as radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
Here are some of the top reasons to consider this innovative, effective pain treatment.
Because RFA targets the specific nerves that shoot pain signals to the brain, it takes a very precise approach. It’s very different from other treatments that use a blanket approach. For example, oral medications can reduce inflammation and pain, but they affect the entire body.
With RFA, Dr. Kaufman uses live X-rays (fluoroscopy) to pinpoint the exact nerve roots to target, then uses an ultrathin radiofrequency generator to deliver heat to that area. This destroys that specific section of nerve tissue and renders it unable to send pain signals.
This highly targeted method is very helpful for problems such as chronic facet joint pain, where the pain comes from a clear, well-defined nerve pathway.
When it comes to nonsurgical treatments, many patients want an effective therapy that lasts as long as possible. You might be tired of daily medication or frustrated with how fast results of other nonsurgical treatments wear off.
RFA often offers longer-lasting relief, although the exact period of pain relief depends on the treatment area, technique, cause of pain, and other individual factors. In general, most patients experience pain relief for 6-12 months, and in certain cases as long as 24 months.
Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that doesn’t require long incisions or general anesthesia. Dr. Kaufman administers local anesthesia and a light sedative to keep you comfortable during the RFA procedure.
Most patients resume work and other activities the next day with no prolonged recovery required.
If you’ve tried other treatments without experiencing significant relief, RFA could be a great option. In general, Dr. Kaufman recommends facet joint injections first. These injections can target the same nerve roots that RFA will treat.
If those injections provide significant relief, it’s a strong indicator that RFA could work well for you. Even if nothing else has worked for you, deactivating the nerves involved in your pain could be highly effective.
RFA isn’t a permanent solution because nerves can naturally regenerate over time. But, that can take a long time and gives you many months of pain relief in the meantime.
If your pain comes back, you can schedule another RFA procedure. Patients may need the procedure once or twice a year, yielding consistent pain relief over time.
At South Florida Interventional Orthopedics and Spine we understand how frustrating and demoralizing chronic pain is, and it’s our goal to find solutions for every patient, even when nothing else has worked. To find out if RFA could be your chronic pain solution, call our Miami or Davenport office or book an appointment online today.
