Millions of people around the world experience chronic pain conditions, such as neck and back pain, cervical headaches, joint pain or arthritis, muscle pain or fibromyalgia, and many others. Most of them tend to live with chronic pain; some as long as 7 years or more. Fortunately, chronic pain conditions can now be addressed by a number of effective nerve pain treatments in Singapore. One of them is radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
RFA is considered one of the most effective treatments for managing chronic pain. If you have never heard of this pain treatment solution before, you are on the right page! Read on to learn more about the RFA treatment and how it can help you deal with chronic pain.
What Radiofrequency Ablation Is
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a procedure used to treat severe and chronic pain, especially those associated with degeneration of the bony spine. This procedure makes use of heat that is concentrated on particular nerve tissues to preclude pain signals from reaching the brain. Essentially, RFA is a minimally invasive procedure that can usually be performed in day-surgery clinics.
Here are some of the most common chronic pain conditions that can be managed by RFA:
· Neck pain
· Back pain
· Cervical headaches
· Facet joint disease
· Whiplash
· Certain kinds of neuropathy
How Radiofrequency Ablation Works
As mentioned earlier, RFA uses heat to treat chronic pain. It generates such heat by making use of electromagnetic waves. The heat energy is utilised to deactivate the nerves that are linked to chronic pain. Prior to treatment, you will undergo a proper medical consultation and examination to ensure that the treatment is suitable and applied to the most appropriate parts of the spine.
When the nerves are deactivated, the pain signals that are being sent to your brain are disrupted. This ultimately leaves you with less pain. Because RFA is a minimally invasive procedure, you can expect the entire treatment to finish in around 45 minutes. It is an outpatient treatment that usually has a short recovery period.
These nerves do grow back. The pain may or may not recur with the same intensity. This is largely also dependent on the existing pain condition and degree of degeneration.
Who Can Undergo RFA Treatment
The best way to identify whether or not you are a candidate for an RFA treatment is to have a consultation and an extensive examination from a seasoned pain specialist. Aside from a physical exam, your treatment provider will evaluate your medical history and discuss your current symptoms. Sometimes, they may also perform necessary tests to check for certain underlying conditions that might rule out RFA as a treatment option.
In general, RFA is an excellent treatment option for those patients. It is an absolutely safe procedure during which the patients are mildly sedated, hence avoiding the side effects of general anaesthsia. After you have undergone an RFA treatment, you can expect your pain to be relieved for anywhere between 6 months to a year.
Conclusion
Overall, RFA is a great alternative to pills, injections, and even surgery when it comes to managing chronic pain conditions. Aside from being safe and fast, RFA is a very effective pain treatment solution that can provide you with long-lasting results. However, keep in mind that while RFA is generally safe, there are certain conditions or circumstances that might make you unfit for this procedure. To be sure, always consult a pain specialist before going through any treatment procedure.
At Affinity Pain Clinic, we have experienced and skilled pain specialists who provide safe and comprehensive treatments for a variety of pain conditions, including nerve pain, neck and back pain, elbow pain, and more. We also offer effective and extensive sport injury treatment for common sport injuries like dislocations, strains, and sprains. If you are suffering from persistent headaches, our highly trusted specialist for headach=es in Singapore is always available to help you as well.
For more enquiries or to schedule an appointment, feel free to drop us a message at enquire@gastapp.org anytime.