Radiofrequency ablation is a procedure that aims to destroys nerve fibers that carry pain signals from an area with inflammation to the brain, and it’s often recommended for patients who are experiencing chronic pain. If you have arthritis, sacroiliitis, or any other condition that causes you to experience intense pain, you can take advantage of this treatment by going to a trusted orthopedic walk-in clinic. Undergoing this treatment isn’t difficult, especially if you’ll keep the following things in mind:
You’ll have to go through a diagnostic injection
Different people have different responses to treatments, which is why your doctor will have to check first if you are a good candidate for radiofrequency ablation. They’ll do this by using a diagnostic nerve/pain receptor block, which temporarily numbs the pain in the affected nerve. If you have a positive response from this block, you’ll most likely experience positive effects from radiofrequency ablation.
You’ll have to stop taking certain medications beforehand
If you’re taking aspirin or blood-thinning medications, you’ll have to stop taking them a few days before your ablation appointment. This way, you’ll minimize your risk of bleeding and ensure that the injection site will clot and heal right away.
You’ll need to have someone to drive you to and from your appointment
Radiofrequency ablation uses low-dose sedatives to ensure that you won’t feel any pain in the injection site. However, these sedatives can impair your driving ability, which means that it won’t be safe to drive yourself to and from the clinic and that you’ll have to ask someone else to drive for you.
These are some of the things that you can expect from your radiofrequency ablation treatment. If you’d like to know more about this procedure, or if you’re ready to give it a try, reach out to 417 Sports Medicine and Orthopedics: Eric M Gifford, MD and let our experts answer your questions! You can visit our orthopedic walk-in clinic in Springfield, MO or give us a call today at (417) 771-3147.
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