At The Pain Relief Center, board-certified anesthesiologist Ajay Aggarwal, MD, uses radiofrequency procedures to treat certain pain conditions. Dr. Aggarwal has successfully reduced pain, symptoms and improved overall condition in thousands of patients. Perhaps he can help you, too.

Radiofrequency is a type of electrical energy that has been used in medical procedures for decades. Basically, this electrical energy creates heat in a specific location, at a specific temperature, for a specific period of time. Ultimately, it causes the death of unwanted tissue.

During radiofrequency ablation, a probe is placed directly into the target tissue. Several small curved electrodes are deployed from the end of the probe. The generator is turned on and the radiofrequency energy flows through the electrodes, causing heat friction in the nearby tissue. Once sufficient temperatures have been reached, the heat kills the target tissue within a few minutes.

Radiofrequency lesioning is another radiofrequency procedure using a specialized computer-controlled machine to interrupt nerve conduction on a semipermanent basis. The involved nerves are usually blocked for several months (as few as three months or as many as 18 months). Lesioning disrupts nerve conduction (such as pain signals), and it may in turn reduce pain and other related symptoms.

The majority of patients get a good block of the intended nerve. This helps relieve at least the part of the pain that the blocked nerve controls. Sometimes after a nerve is blocked, it becomes clear that there is pain from other areas, as well. Radiofrequency procedures are often effective for:

• Sacroiliac joint denervation (hip pain)
• Facet denervation (headaches, neck pain & upper or lower back pain)
• Sympathetic blocks (upper or lower extremity pain)
• Dorsal root ganglion lesions (spinal pain)
• RF disc (headaches, neck pain & upper or lower back pain)

For more information about how Dr. Aggarwal can help you, contact The Pain Relief Center closest to you.  Please call our Bay City office at 979-245-2777 or Lake Jackson office at 979-285-9995.