Radiofrequency Ablation

Chicagoland Pain Management

Interventional Pain Management Specialists located in Bolingbrook, IL & Hinsdale, IL

Chronic back and joint pain can severely affect your lifestyle, your ability to work, and your mobility, so finding an effective way to relieve pain can give you a new lease of life. The pain specialists at Chicagoland Pain Management in Bolingbrook and Hinsdale, Illinois, have a range of cutting edge technologies at the clinic for treating chronic pain, including state-of-the-art radiofrequency ablation devices. Find out how radiofrequency ablation works and how it can benefit you by calling the clinic today, or book an appointment online.

Radiofrequency Ablation Q & A

What is radiofrequency ablation?

Radiofrequency ablation is a technology that uses radiofrequency waves to disrupt pain signals in patients with chronic pain. It’s a minimally invasive procedure that’s particularly effective in treating pain originating in the facet joints and nerves that conduct pain signals to the brain.

Radiofrequency ablation provides effective pain relief in around 70% of patients who undergo the treatment, improving mobility and joint function without the need for surgical intervention.

How does radiofrequency ablation work?

Radiofrequency ablation treatment involves the insertion of a needle into the affected area to deliver an electrical current to the nerve. At Chicagoland Pain Management, the pain specialists use three different types of radiofrequency ablation to treat patients, selecting the method that offers the best chance of success in each case.

These downloadable documents provide additional information about this minimally invasive procedure:

Standard radiofrequency ablation

Standard radiofrequency ablation works by using a radiofrequency generator to create friction. This friction charges molecules and directs a low-level electrical current into the affected nerves. The electrical current creates a lesion on the nerve that effectively blocks the pain signals.

Water-cooled radiofrequency genicular ablation

Water-cooled radiofrequency genicular ablation employs the same scientific principles as standard radiofrequency ablation, but also uses water that circulates through the probe delivering the electrical current. The water facilitates both heating and cooling of the nerve, enabling a larger area to receive treatment. This method is effective in treating chronic knee pain.

Water-cooled obturator radiofrequency ablation

Water-cooled obturator radiofrequency ablation uses the same method as the genicular ablation, but targets nerves in the hip and parts of the spine, offering relief from chronic hip pain.

At Chicagoland Pain Management the expert medical team uses Coolief® water-cooled radiofrequency ablation for chronic back, hip, and knee pain, and the Simplicity™ Probe for treatment of the sacroiliac region in the back.

What happens during radiofrequency ablation treatment?

Radiofrequency ablation is minimally invasive, which means there are no surgical incisions. Your doctor uses a probe with a slender needle to deliver the electrical current into your nerves, so it feels much like having a regular injection.

You may experience a little soreness at the treatment site and some bruising, but this is usually minimal and fades within a few days.

Radiofrequency ablation has FDA approval and has proven to be a very safe form of treatment, with very little likelihood of complications.

Find out more about the benefits of radiofrequency ablation by calling Chicagoland Pain Management today, or book an appointment online.

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