Radiofrequency neurotomy, also commonly referred to as radiofrequency ablation, is a procedure that reduces facet and/or sacroiliac joint pain. This procedure may be performed following a nerve or facet joint block. To refresh your memory, facet joint blocks are injections that determine whether or not a facet joint in the patient’s spine is causing pain. We wrote about this procedure in our blog “What Are Facet Joint Blocks?”
Many physicians, like Dr. Mark Giovanini of NeuroMicroSpine, administer radiofrequency neurotomy to provide longer-lasting pain relief. 
Facet joint blocks are intended for diagnostic use and only provide temporary pain relief. Radiofrequency neurotomy can provide pain relief that lasts anywhere from 6 months to a year, and patients typically go home following the procedure.
Depending on what kind of joint pain you’re experiencing, Dr. Giovanini may recommend either medial branch neurotomy or lateral branch neurotomy. If your pain comes from the sacroiliac joint, a joint that connects the sacrum to the pelvis on each side of the lower spine, you will likely receive a lateral branch neurotomy. If pain from nerves in the facet joint, a small joint that stabilizes vertebrae, is affected, a medial branch neurotomy will be suggested.
During the procedure, an x-ray fluoroscope directs a needle through a small incision somewhere along a patient’s spine. A small electrical current will then be passed through the needle to mimic the patient’s pain and create a muscle twitch. These targeted nerves are then numbed and radiofrequency waves are introduced to the tip of the needle. The radiofrequency waves create a heat lesion that eventually destroys the nerve’s ability to send pain signals to the brain.
The procedure can last anywhere from one to two hours, depending on the number of nerves Dr. Giovanini needs to treat. As alluded to previously, patients are likely to go home about one to three hours after the procedure. You can expect some soreness/pain around the area where the procedure was performed. This is generally a sign the targeted nerves in the joint are dying from the heat lesion(s) administered during the procedure. If you experience pain or itchiness that lasts more than 14 days, call Dr. Giovanini immediately.
Radiofrequency neurotomy is a great procedure for those suffering from facet and/or sacroiliac joint pain because pain relief can last up to a year, patients report a greater range of motion, the procedure provides longer lasting pain relief than most steroid injections, and there is a low complication rate. Call Dr. Giovanini today if you’re interested in radiofrequency neurotomy!
For more information on minimally invasive spine surgery or to make an appointment with Dr. Giovanini, please call (850) 934-7545 or visit http://www.neuromicrospine.com/request-appointment.
We hope to see you soon!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
©NeuroMicroSpine, 2014
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