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Cervical Facet Radio-Frequency Neurotomy

PAIN TREATMENT

Cervical Facet Radio-Frequency Neurotomy: Pain Management

Cervical facet joint pain is neck pain caused by the small joints in your becoming irritated or inflamed. Your neck may be uncomfortable, stiff and sore, significantly interfering with your daily activities and quality of life. If you’ve been struggling to find relief for your persistent neck pain and conventional treatments haven’t helped, cervical facet radiofrequency neurotomy may be the solution you need. This therapeutic procedure is minimally invasive and targets neck pain, including discomfort that radiates into the head and shoulders.

How Cervical Facet Joint Nerve Ablation Works

Cervical facet joints are tiny structures in your neck that allow flexibility and motion. When these joints, nerves, discs or ligaments in your neck become inflamed or damaged, they can irritate nearby nerves, causing neck, arm, and shoulder pain as well as headaches.[1] The radiofrequency procedure is minimally invasive and helps reduce or eliminate pain caused by damaged facet joints by interrupting the medial branch nerves carrying pain signals to the brain.[2]

During a cervical medial branch radiofrequency ablation, a pain management specialist uses radio waves that create an electric current to heat the nerve tissue.[3] Using a fluoroscopically-guided instrument to ensure precise appluication to the problem nerves, the heat disrupts the nerves ability to send pain signals to the brain.[3] The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, and most patients go home the same day.[4] You may experience immediate relief, while others may have a delay of a few weeks before their relief takes effect.[5]

Conditions Treated with Cervical Facet Radio-Frequency Neurotomy

If you’ve been dealing with persistent neck pain caused by cervical facet joint issues and have tried treatments like physical therapy, medications, or injections without lasting relief, cervical facet radiofrequency neurotomy could be an excellent next step to address your pain finally.

Cervical facet denervation is deal to treat specific neck pain causes, including:

  • Chronic (cervical) neck pain [6]
  • Cervical facet joint syndrome [7]
  • Cervicogenic headaches [6]
  • Whiplash [6]
  • Osteoarthritis [8]
  • Rheumatoid arthritis [8]
  • Degenerative disc disease (DDD)
  • Trauma or injury [7]
  • Poor posture
  • Spinal disorders like spondylosis [8]

Benefits of Facet Joint Nerve Ablation

According to the Cleveland Clinic, radiofrequency neurotomy offers patients benefits like:

  • Long-lasting pain relief
  • Improved function
  • Reduced dependency on pain medications
  • Minimally invasive treatment
  • Minimal downtime
  • No surgery
  • Minimal risks or side effects

This procedure targets the root cause of your discomfort rather than masking symptoms, offering a more effective and sustainable solution for managing chronic neck pain.

Neck Pain Relief with Cervical Facet Radio-Frequency Neurotomy

Is your neck pain interfering with your life? If you’re struggling with cervical joint issues that haven’t improved with conventional treatments, it’s time to explore options like neck facet joint ablation. Therapy at a pain management clinic means receiving targeted, comprehensive pain treatment blended with complementary therapies like acupuncture, physical therapy and lifestyle changes.

You don’t have to live with chronic neck pain or disabling headaches. Cervical facet radiofrequency neurotomy offers an effective, nonsurgical option to help you feel like yourself again. Consult a pain management specialist to determine if this therapeutic procedure is right for you.

Resources:

  1. Candan B, Güngör S. THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF RADIOFREQUENCY NEUROTOMY IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC CERVICAL FACET (ZYGAPOPHYSEAL) JOINT PAIN: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY. Journal of Turkish Spinal Surgery [Internet]. Published online August 8, 2024:92-98. doi:https://doi.org/10.4274/jtss.galenos.2024.04274 Accessed December 20, 2024. Available from: https://jtss.org/articles/the-efficacy-and-safety-of-radiofrequency-neurotomy-in-the-treatment-of-chronic-cervical-facet-zygapophyseal-joint-pain-a-retrospective-study/doi/jtss.galenos.2024.04274
  2. LCD – Facet Joint Interventions for Pain Management (L33930). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [Internet]. Published 2021. Accessed December 20, 2024. Available from: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdid=33930&ver=22&
  3. Engel A, Rappard G, King W, Kennedy DJ. The Effectiveness and Risks of Fluoroscopically-Guided Cervical Medial Branch Thermal Radiofrequency Neurotomy: A Systematic Review with Comprehensive Analysis of the Published Data. Pain Medicine [Internet]. Published online February 2, 2016:pme12928. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/pme.12928 Accessed December 20, 2024. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/painmedicine/article/17/4/658/2584096#google_vignette
  4. Nall R. What Is a Cervical Radiofrequency Ablation Used for? Healthline [Internet]. Published April 21, 2022. Accessed December 20, 2024. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/bone-health/cervical-radiofrequency-ablation
  5. Radiofrequency Ablation. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Published 2019. Accessed December 20, 2024. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17411-radiofrequency-ablation
  6. Manchikanti L, Knezevic NN, Knezevic E, et al. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effectiveness of Radiofrequency Neurotomy in Managing Chronic Neck Pain. Pain Ther [Internet]. 2023;12(1):19-66. doi:10.1007/s40122-022-00455-0 Accessed December 20, 2024. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9686245/
  7. Windsor RE. Cervical Facet Syndrome: Background, Epidemiology, Functional Anatomy. eMedicine – Medscape [Internet]. Published online November 10, 2019. Accessed December 20, 2024. Available from: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/93924-overview
  8. Lee DW, Pritzlaff S, Jung MJ, et al. Latest Evidence-Based Application for Radiofrequency Neurotomy (LEARN): Best Practice Guidelines from the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN). Journal of Pain Research [Internet]. 2021;Volume 14:2807-2831. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/jpr.s325665 Accessed December 20, 2024. Available from: https://www.dovepress.com/latest-evidence-based-application-for-radiofrequency-neurotomy-learn-b-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR
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