Are radiofrequency ablations painful?
What are the side effects and risks of radiofrequency ablation (RFA)? During the procedure, you may experience some pain or burning sensation at the site, similar to what you experienced before the procedure. The pain may last for a week or two after the procedure.
How long does it take to recover from a radiofrequency ablation?
Patients are often up and around and back to work 24 to 72 hours after the procedure. Pain relief is typically experienced within 10 days, although relief may be immediate for some patients and take up to three weeks for others.
How long is the hospital stay after an ablation?
Thanks to advances in technology and expertise, ablations today generally last between 2 and 3 hours. Ninety percent of ablation patients go home the next day. “Longer hospital stays in years past were attributed to the amount of liquid that patients received over the course of those longer procedures,” Dr.
What are the risks of radiofrequency ablation?
Radiofrequency ablation procedure-related risks. A few examples of risks associated with the RFA procedure are: Hyperesthesia—an excessive, abnormal sensitivity over the skin of the injection site Superficial skin infections over the injection site
How do you perform a cervical radiofrequency ablation?
According to the New York School of Regional Anesthesia, doctors can perform cervical radiofrequency ablations using either local anesthetic (numbing medication) or sedation, which is when you receive medications to relax you during a procedure. The approach used will depend upon your and your doctor’s preference as well as your overall health.
What is lumbar RFA (RFA)?
In lumbar RFA, a heat lesion is created on the medial branch nerves of the lumbar facet joints. RFA may or may not be performed under mild sedation. If sedation is used, the patient is usually kept awake and conscious to an extent to be able to describe what they feel during the stimulation and lesioning of the nerve.