Radiofrequency Neurotomy

A radiofrequency neurotomy is a non-surgical procedure that is used to help relieve chronic back pain or pain that has lasted for more than three months and has not improved with medication or physical therapy. The procedure is minimally invasive and involves using heat to destroy the nerve responsible for the pain. Because the procedure is minimally invasive, patients are usually able to go home the same day of the procedure.

If you are struggling with persistent back pain that isn’t resolving with time, medication, or physical therapy a radiofrequency neurotomy may be a viable option for managing your pain. Contact your local NJ Spine & Orthopedic branch to determine if this procedure is right for you.

How Does a Radiofrequency Neurotomy Work?

Most commonly, the nerves located in the spine are the culprits of chronic back pain. These nerves can be located in the vertebrae, ligaments, and joints in the spine and send pain signals to the brain. However, most commonly, the pain originates from the facet and sacroiliac joints.

Your facet joints are located between the vertebrae in your spine and help provide structural support. These pairs of small joints provide the spine with flexibility and assist with movements of the back like twisting and bending. The medial branch nerves are two nerves connected to the facet joints that tell your brain when there is pain originating from these joints. Your sacroiliac joints are located at the bottom of the spine directly above your tailbone. Attached to the sacroiliac joints are lateral branch nerves that also send pain signals to the brain when there is pain in these joints.

A radiofrequency neurotomy procedure aims to treat the pain in these joints by targeting the lateral and medial branch nerves. During the procedure, heat is applied through an electrical current that travels through a needle that has been inserted into the affected nerves. This heat is only applied to the damaged nerves to ensure surrounding nerves are not damaged.