Lumbar and Cervical Rhizolysis – Radiofrequency Ablation for Back Pain

What are the advantages of rhizolysis?

With rhizolysis, the surgeon can actually see the nerves causing the problem and treat them precisely.

Many patients treated with lumbar, cervical or facet radiofrequency experience more long-term relief than with other pain treatment options.

Rhizolysis is not recommended for patients with infections, pregnant women or patients with bleeding disorders.

Who benefits from lumbar or cervical rhizolysis?

Rhizolysis can relieve pain if you have inflamed facet joints.

The facet joints are the bony protrusions at the ends of the vertebral discs that join the vertebrae together so that you can bend, flex and rotate the spine.

• If you injure a facet joint in an accident, fall or collision, the soft tissue of the joint becomes inflamed and swollen, which irritates the nerves.
• If you have arthritis in the facet joints, the friction of bone on bone can also pinch and irritate the nerves.

Prior to undergoing rhizotomy, your spine traumatologist may recommend a medial branch block to reduce inflammation and pain.

The process of finding the nerves to be injected for the block also allows the physician to know which nerves should be treated during rhizolysis.

If medial branch block, facet joint injections or other therapies do not sufficiently reduce your back pain, your specialist may recommend rhizotomy.

Before lumbar rhizolysis

Most patients receive intravenous sedation. In this case, you will be instructed not to eat or drink for a period of time before treatment.

You will also need a family member or friend to drive you home. Make sure your doctor knows all the medications you take and ask him or her which medications you should and should not take before the procedure.

Patients taking anticoagulants or aspirin may need to temporarily discontinue these medications.

How is radiofrequency ablation performed?

A rhizolysis lasts between 30 minutes and one hour.

You will be awake during the procedure so you can report to the doctor, but if you have been given a mild sedative, you will be comfortable. Most patients feel pressure but do not experience pain during rhizolysis.

• We will numb the surgical area with local anesthesia.
• Using an X-ray machine or an ultrasound machine, we will introduce a tiny needle through the skin until it is correctly positioned at the tip of the nerve where the pain originates.
• We will inject you with an anesthetic and then transmit a radiofrequency current to the tip of the needle to precisely burn the nerve root.
• This procedure will be repeated at any other nerve site if there is more than one site producing pain.

Once the rhizolysis is finished, we remove the needle and place a small dressing. Stitches are not necessary.

Recovery following lumbar or cervical rhizolysis

After rhizolysis, patients can return to work and normal activities the next day, but should avoid any strenuous activity or heavy lifting for one or two days.

You may shower, but you should avoid bathing, swimming or soaking in a hot tub for the next 24 hours.

Some patients experience mild discomfort, bruising, pain or swelling after treatment.

The discomfort may last from a few days to a couple of weeks. An ice pack and an over-the-counter pain reliever are usually sufficient.

Patients who have undergone rhizolysis can expect their previous pain levels to gradually improve after the procedure.

Full recovery and maximum pain relief may take a couple of weeks.

Risks and side effects of lumbar, cervical or facet rhizolysis.

Radiofrequency rhizolysis is a safe procedure.

Side effects and complications are rare. If you experience any of these symptoms, please contact us:

• Dizziness or weakness.
• Fever, chills, nausea or vomiting.
• Redness, swelling, bleeding or oozing at the injection site.
• Numbness lasting more than 2 or 3 hours.