Why Your Migraines Keep Coming Back — and How to Break the Cycle
If you’re dealing with chronic migraines, it’s time to take action. You can get lasting relief with the right combination of lifestyle changes and medication.
The Minimally Invasive Answer to Chronic Pain: Radiofrequency Ablation
Even as medical science advances, chronic pain remains a frustration. Sometimes, that pain comes from unknown sources. Other times, the person has a clear diagnosis, but their pain doesn’t respond to treatment.
If that sounds familiar, you might have considered going under the knife or turning to pain medication. We’d like to present an alternative.
At Hawai’i Pain & Spine, Dr. Jonathan Carlson offers radiofrequency ablation. This minimally invasive treatment lets him target your pain at the source: the nerve sending the pain signal.
To explore this potential solution for your chronic pain, visit Dr. Carlson and our team on the Windward side of O’ahu in Kailua, Hawai’i.
How radiofrequency ablation works to disrupt pain signaling
Radiofrequency is a type of electromagnetic energy. When applied to tissue, it generates heat. Applying enough heat can ablate (destroy) it while protecting surrounding tissue. That makes this treatment particularly effective for chronic pain that hasn’t responded to other options.
Dr. Carlson uses radiofrequency energy to damage or destroy the nerve behind your pain, meaning the nerve can’t send pain signals to your brain. Ideally, this stops you from feeling the painful sensation.
Dr. Carlson starts by giving you a sedative and numbing the area. Then, he uses X-ray technology to guide a hollow needle to the nerve tissue most likely causing your pain. He asks if you feel any tingling. That helps him determine if he’s treating the right spot.
He then passes a microelectrode through the needle. That tiny electrode precisely transmits the radiofrequency energy to the nerve.
You can usually go home as soon as your sedative wears off. You can get back to your normal activities within a few days. You should feel pain relief in about a week.
Deciding if radiofrequency ablation is right for you
If you live with chronic pain, see Dr. Carlson. He discusses your symptoms and any other treatments you’ve tried. He then uses diagnostic tools to identify the root of your pain. That helps him determine if you’re a good candidate for radiofrequency ablation.
This minimally invasive treatment could be right for you if you have:
- Facet joint-related spinal pain (i.e., back or neck pain)
- Neuropathy, including diabetic neuropathy
- Postherpetic neuralgia
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Spondylosis
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain
Radiofrequency ablation results aren’t permanent. Over time, the nerve tissue regenerates. Many people get relief for 6-12 months after treatment. Some folks get a year or more. If your pain returns, Dr. Carlson can safely perform radiofrequency ablation again.
If you’re looking for minimally invasive, medication-free relief from your chronic pain, radiofrequency ablation could be the solution. To find out if this treatment could work for you, call our office today to schedule an appointment.
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