Before radiofrequency ablation, you lie down on a comfortable table. Your pain management specialist applies a local anesthetic to the treatment area to numb it. You can receive a low-dose sedative to relax you during the procedure.
Using fluoroscopic assistance, your provider inserts a needle into targeted areas to pass radiofrequency currents through nerves. Doing so heats the nerves and disrupts pain signals to your brain. Radiofrequency ablation procedures might last about 15-45 minutes, followed by a period of recovery.