Radiofrequency ablation is a safe and clinically-proven method for treating chronic pain symptoms by interrupting pain signals from the spine, neck, lower back or the knee. An electric current delivers heat to the nerves to cut off the communication route of pain signals originating from the specific area. Local anesthetic blocks are first administered to examine whether the correct source of the pain has been properly identified. Patient candidates for radiofrequency ablations must be responsive to these local anesthetic blocks first. The RFA procedure itself
takes about 30-40 minutes. There is minimal to no recovery time and pain relief can last six to eighteen months.