Key Takeaways:

• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and steroid injections are used for different types of pain.
• Steroid injections can help reduce inflammation around irritated nerves/joints.
• Radiofrequency ablation targets specific nerves that send pain signals.
• RFA may provide longer-lasting relief, but the best treatment depends on what’s causing your specific pain.
• A CPI pain management specialist can help you figure out which option makes the most sense for your situation.

If you’ve been dealing with ongoing back or neck pain for months, you may be pretty skeptical that there are treatment options that could actually help you. Both steroid injections and radiofrequency ablation in Texas can help manage your pain without having to go through a major surgery— yes, you read that right! But it’s important to be aware that these treatments do very different things inside your body, which means the length of relief can also be different. So, let’s go over how each treatment works and when one may be a better fit than the other.

 

How Do Steroid Injections Work?

Steroid injections are commonly used when inflammation is contributing to pain. The medication is delivered directly to the area that’s causing the problems, which helps the inflammation go down. For example, epidural steroid injections may be recommended when an irritated spinal nerve is causing pain that travels into your arm or leg. Injections may help with pain that is related to:

• Herniated or bulging discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Sciatica
• Inflamed joints
• Certain types of neck or back pain

The goal is to decrease inflammation, so the irritated area has a chance to heal. Relief is generally temporary, but that temporary improvement is still better than none at all. It has the potential to make it easier to move, sleep, participate in physical therapy, or just get through your day with less discomfort in general.

 

How Does Radiofrequency Ablation Work?

Radiofrequency ablation, commonly called RFA, takes a completely different approach. Instead of injecting medication to decrease inflammation, RFA uses radiofrequency energy to target specific nerves that are transmitting pain signals to the brain. The targeted nerve is heated, which disrupts its ability to continue sending those signals. At the Comprehensive Pain Institute, we perform the procedure using imaging guidance to carefully locate the nerve responsible for the pain. Chronic pain caused by conditions considered for RFA includes:

• Facet Joint Arthritis: Inflammation and degeneration of facet joints that causes persistent neck pain.
• Cervical Spondylosis: Age-related wear and tear on spinal discs in the neck that leads to pain and stiffness, leading to persistent neck discomfort.
• Whiplash Injuries: Trauma caused by sudden neck movements from car accidents can result in chronic neck pain.
• Failed Neck Surgery: Pain that continues despite other treatments being tried does not improve.

Because RFA interrupts the pain signal itself, it can potentially provide longer-lasting relief than an injection for appropriately selected patients.

 

So, Which One Lasts Longer?

Steroid injections for back pain are generally intended to provide temporary relief by reducing inflammation. How long that relief lasts varies from person to person and depends on the exact condition that is being treated.

Radiofrequency ablation is designed to provide longer-term pain relief. Many patients report experiencing significant relief for six to two years, and repeat treatments may provide ongoing comfort.

That doesn’t automatically mean RFA is the better treatment, though. If inflammation around a spinal nerve is causing your symptoms, a steroid injection may make much more sense. If specific nerves connected to painful joints have been identified as the source of your chronic pain, then RFA may be the right option for you.

 

Am I a Candidate for Radiofrequency Ablation?

Not everyone with back or neck pain needs RFA. Before recommending the procedure, one of our pain management specialists will work with you to find out exactly where your pain is coming from. RFA may be considered if:

• Your pain has become chronic
• Conservative treatments haven’t provided enough relief
• Specific nerves are causing the pain
• Diagnostic testing confirms the suspected pain source
• Pain is interfering with your life in more ways than one

One advantage of RFA is that it is minimally invasive.

 

Is a Steroid Injection Better for Certain Types of Pain?

Yes! Longer-lasting doesn’t always mean more appropriate. Steroid injections can be especially helpful when inflammation is the main problem. If you have a herniated disc irritating a nearby nerve, for example, decreasing that inflammation may help reduce pain traveling into your leg. An injection may also provide enough relief for you to participate more comfortably in physical therapy and other treatments designed to improve strength and mobility.

 

Pain Management Bedford, Benbrook & Flower Mound TX

At the Comprehensive Pain Institute, our treatment plan starts with understanding what is causing your symptoms. Our doctors will review your health history, symptoms, imaging, previous treatments, and goals before recommending your personalized plan. The important thing isn’t choosing the treatment that lasts the longest, but finding the one that’s right for your pain. Schedule an appointment with us today to get started!

Flower Mound, TX: 4101 Kirkpatrick Ln. Flower Mound, TX. P: 972-436-7531
Bedford, TX: 1305 Airport Fwy. Suite 302B. Bedford, TX 76021. P: 817-786-8238
Benbrook, TX: 9239 Vista Way, Benbrook, TX 76126. P: 817-737-3331