Services
Radiofrequency Ablation
Quieting the small nerves that carry pain from arthritic joints — months of relief for facet, sacroiliac, and knee pain.
In short — Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses carefully controlled heat, delivered through a thin needle, to quiet the small sensory nerves that carry pain from an arthritic joint — most often the facet joints of the spine, the sacroiliac joints, or the knees. Dr. Eaddy considers RFA only after diagnostic nerve blocks confirm the pain source; relief commonly lasts six months to a year, and the procedure can be repeated.
What is radiofrequency ablation?
Radiofrequency ablation — also called radiofrequency neurotomy or rhizotomy — uses a thin, insulated needle to deliver controlled heat to a small sensory nerve, interrupting its ability to carry pain signals. The target nerves carry only pain from the joint, so treating them does not weaken muscles or numb the skin. The procedure is performed under X-ray guidance in an outpatient setting.
What conditions can RFA treat?
RFA is most established for facet-joint arthritis of the low back and neck (medial branch ablation), pain from the sacroiliac joints at the base of the spine, cervicogenic headache arising from the upper neck, and knee arthritis (genicular nerve ablation) in patients who are not ready for — or cannot have — joint replacement.
Why are diagnostic blocks done first?
Before any ablation, the same nerves are numbed with local anesthetic in one or two brief test injections (medial branch blocks). If your pain drops substantially while the numbing medicine is active, the joint and its nerves are confirmed as the pain source and ablation is likely to help. This test-first approach protects you from an unnecessary procedure and is also what most insurers require.
What happens during the procedure?
RFA is a brief outpatient procedure. After local anesthetic, thin needles are guided to the target nerves under X-ray; their position is verified, the area is numbed further, and each nerve is heated for about ninety seconds. Soreness at the needle sites for a few days afterward is common, and most patients resume normal activity within a day or two.
How long does relief last?
Relief typically lasts six months to a year — sometimes longer — because the treated nerves slowly regrow. When pain returns, the procedure can be repeated with similar results. The goal is durable windows of relief that let you stay active, sleep better, and rely less on medication.
What are the risks?
Complications are uncommon. Risks include:
- Temporary soreness at the needle sites
- Short-lived numbness or tingling over the treated area
- A temporary flare of pain (neuritis)
- Bleeding or infection (uncommon)
- Incomplete pain relief
Ready to talk about your pain?
Call the office for an appointment, or send a question online — office staff will respond by phone during business hours.
Call (904) 453-7976 Send a questionMessages only / callback line: (813) 397-3047
Reviewed by Kenneth J. Eaddy, MD · Updated July 2026