Is Radiofrequency Ablation a Good Option for Persistent Sciatica?

Low back pain, leg pain, numbness, and tingling are all symptoms of sciatica. This nerve problem affects many people worldwide.

Sciatica may be hard to treat, especially if it's chronic and continues after conservative treatments like physical therapy and spinal injections.

If your pain continues despite trying other therapies, Dr. Shachi Patel and the team at Delmarva Pain and Spine Center may recommend radiofrequency ablation as the next step in treatment.

Dr. Patel is a pain management specialist and an anesthesiologist who has extensive experience with conditions like sciatica with cutting-edge treatments like RFA.

Signs of persistent sciatica

Sciatica is a painful nerve condition that occurs when something compresses one or more nerves that branch out of the spine.

Although an actual injury to the sciatic nerve is infrequent, any spine condition that causes nerve-related symptoms may be called sciatica.

Sciatic pain often only affects one side of the body, although in some cases, it affects both sides simultaneously. Other symptoms vary depending on the severity of the problem and how many nerves are involved.

Everyone experiences sciatica differently, although there are several common signs and symptoms, which include the following:

• Tingling in the back or leg
• Numbness down the leg
• Stabbing or burning pain
• Aching or dull pain
• Severe pain that prohibits movement

These symptoms may come and go or be relatively constant. We can quickly treat some cases of sciatica, while in other cases it is harder to find a therapy that works long-term.

Understanding radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation, or RFA, is a treatment that uses radio waves to destroy nerve tissue. The radio waves produce a current that heats the affected nerves, stopping them from sending pain signals to the brain.

RFA is a procedure that Dr. Patel uses for chronic pain resistant to other treatment forms. She uses RFA for several reasons, which include the following:

• Stop or reduce pain
• Decrease the use of pain medications
• Improve mobility and function
• Delay or prevent spine surgery

During the procedure, we provide sedation to you, and Dr. Patel injects the treatment area with an anesthetic to prevent further discomfort.

When you're comfortable, she inserts a hollow needle into the skin at the site of the problematic nerve. Once in place, she inserts an electrode that emits radio waves that emit heat on the affected nerve.

The heat damages the nerve, inhibiting its ability to cause pain and send pain information to the brain to process.

It's a minimally invasive procedure, meaning you can go home the same day with minimal restrictions.

Is radiofrequency the next step in sciatica treatment?

RFA is a procedure, meaning it carries more risks than less invasive treatments. However, if you've tried other therapies without relief, RFA is usually the next step in treatment.

To determine if you're a good candidate for RFA with sciatica, Dr. Patel evaluates your symptoms and reviews any pertinent past medical history.

She also reviews what treatments you've tried and how much relief you got from each.

Dr. Patel usually performs a procedure known as a nerve block to find out if you get relief when specific nerves are temporarily blocked from sending signals.

If you get pain relief after a nerve block, Dr. Patel moves forward with the RFA procedure. You may experience pain relief within a few days to weeks after the procedure.

Most people get anywhere from six to twelve months of relief after RFA, depending on the severity of the symptoms and what nerves were involved.

However, nerves can grow back, meaning you might need to repeat RFA procedures. However, some people experience years of relief at a time.

Call our office in Newark, Delaware, today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Patel for sciatica or radiofrequency ablation, or book an appointment on the website.