What is radiofrequency ablation ( RFA ) ? The technique of Radiofrequency consists of applying a physical agent through waves creating a heat , the tip of an special needle covered by teflon is located very close to the affected nerve . The most difficult part is to locate a nerve of about 0.5 mm and we use throug the same needle an subtle electrical current to identify the proper nerve .

Why do the Doctor use the RFA  techniques instead of a nerve block ? Once several nerve block were sucess for a reasonable period of time , the Specialist will consider to "ablate ",  in other words to "disconect " this bad circuit .  With the RFA we accomplish a long period of time without pain  ( about 8 to 13 months ) and avoid continuos nerve blocks . There no medication , cortisone or steroids involved in the procedure.

How the Doctor use the RFA , there any pain involved in this procedure ? There two types of  RFA's , all depends of the type of nerve that we will like to " disconect " and the affected region.The firs type is THERMIC , called TRFA , exellent to treat  large areas of pain like in the lower back , thoracic ( pain between shoulder blades ) with the use of  high temperature to ablate the nerve , about 80 degrees. The twin RFA  is called PULSED or PRFA  of great use in small areas of pain in very sensitives structures to the heat like the head and neck , the temperature only raise about 42 degrees. .   whether the nerve is in the spine, the nerves around the body (peripheral calls) or a damaged structure as a disk on the vertebrae.

How  I know if I am a candidate for PRFA or TRFA ? In general there a  large number of painfull conditions that can be treated with one or the other RFA . Low Back Pain is one of the most popular problems that respond to the TRFA , peripheral nerve pain or superficial areas of pain in the knee, shoulder or any joint respond well to the technique .
One area that respond spectacular are the migraines, headaches , occipital pains and face pain included  a terrible condition call trigeminal neuralgia. Only a Certified Specialist in pain or a neurosurgeon are capable to evaluate you as a candidate. Our experience wiht RFA is extense and we had help hundred of patients to achive their goal of live free of pain .

How is the disk repaired with radiofrequency? In the cases of herniated or ruptured disc in the cervical or lumbar area, a very painfull and debilitating conditions , the alternatives of treatments without surgery are slim .     The alternative is to use a modified type of RFA called Intradiscal Electrothermal Annuloplasty or IDET      


   disc, the procedure of radiofrequency receives the name of IDET or Intradiscal Electrothermy by means of a catheter or cable arrives at the area of the rupture or break of fibers of the disc and by means of the process increases the temperature, repairs and reforms the achieving collagen "to seal" the break and to shrink or to reduce the size of the rupture.

How do I know if I am a candidate for radiofrequency? You potentially would be able to benefit from radiofrequency if: you suffer from pains in the neck, waist or back and have not achieved with conventional treatment of medicine, therapy and exercises to control the pain. If you have tried blockades fruitlessly, if you have had operations and continue having pain. If you suffer of a peripheral pain (in a place of its extremities) or have a specific nerve damaged for example a neuron in the foot (neuron of Morton). If the blockades only improve for a few days or weeks then this is something that the doctor would evaluate. In the case that the ruptured disc does not need surgery, the IDET (Intradiscal Electrothermy) would be an intelligent option and viable with effective minimum collaterals.