Pinkerton Pain Therapy 

General Information:  If the facet joints in the spine become painful due to arthritis, mechanical stress, or injury and facet injections have confirmed these to be the source of your pain your physician may perform radiofrequenc ablation. 

After anesthetising the skin a small wire is inserted through a needle and placed near the facet joints using x-ray guidance.  This wire is connected to a machine that generates an electrical current produced by a radio wave.  This electrical current is used to heat up a small area of the nerve tissue.  This destroys the nerve's ability to emit pain signals from that specific area.

You should experience only minimal discomfort thoughout the procedure.  Additional numbing medicine or oral or IV sedation may be ordered by your physician.

Potential Side Effects:  Very few patients report side effects from radiofrequency ablation.  The reported side effects and complications have been:

• Discomfort 
• Numbness
• Swelling and bruising
• Bleeding
• Infection

How Long Will The Pain Relief Last?

You may experience additional pain for up to two weeks after the radiofrequency as the tissues heal from the procedure.  You should use ice and any medication as prescribed by your physician during this time frame.  After this period, you should begin to feel relief from your usual pain.  This will last anywhere from 3 months to 12 months.  Some patients may see results for up to 2 years or more.  The nerves may eventually regenerate causing your pain to return.  Additional procedures may be required at that time.

Additional Information: 

• Your pain may become worse for 24-48 hours.  The medication used to treat your pain has been deposited around nerves that are already inflammed.  It is important to keep detailed notes for the first 3 days after your procedure for your physician.

• You may have soreness at the injection site for 24-48  hours.  Avoid applying heat to the area during this time as this will increase swelling.  Use ice as described in your post-procedure instructions.  If any redness or fever occurs, contact your physician immediately or go to an urgent care.

• Additional injections may be needed to get your pain under control initially.  If you still have pain one week after  you have received an injection and you do not have an appointment scheduled, contact your physician's office for instructions.

• The amount of steroid each patient may safely receive each calender year varies.  Your physician will determine what amount is appropriate for you and alert you if you are reaching the maximum dose you may receive.  If you are receiving steroid medication from other physicians it is important to notify your physician of this.

• We believe that exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and has been shown to be extremely beneficial for patients suffering from back pain.  You will be given information on what exercise is appropriate for you.