Radiofrequency Ablation and Facet Joint Injections
Request Consultation
Disclaimer: This form is intended for general inquiries only. Please do not submit personal health information, medical questions, or sensitive data through this form.
Managing Chronic Pain with Interventional Pain Procedures
Living with chronic pain can affect every part of your life, from work and daily activities to sleep, mobility, and overall well-being. When conservative treatments such as medications, physical therapy, or lifestyle changes do not provide enough relief, interventional pain procedures may offer another path forward.
At Carolinas Pain Institute, our team provides advanced, minimally invasive treatments designed to identify and address specific sources of pain. Procedures such as facet joint injections, medial branch nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation can help patients better understand the cause of their pain and, in many cases, achieve meaningful relief without surgery.
Whether your pain is related to arthritis, injury, joint irritation, or nerve-related pain, our specialists create personalized treatment plans focused on your condition, symptoms, and long-term goals.
What Are Interventional Pain Procedures?
Interventional pain procedures are minimally invasive treatments used to diagnose or manage chronic pain. These procedures are often performed with image guidance, allowing the physician to precisely target joints, nerves, or other pain-generating structures.
At Carolinas Pain Institute, commonly used interventional pain procedures include facet joint injections, medial branch nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation. While these treatments may be part of the same overall pain management plan, they serve different purposes.
Facet joint injections and medial branch nerve blocks are often used to evaluate and treat pain that may be coming from the small joints of the spine. Radiofrequency ablation, on the other hand, is a longer-lasting treatment that can be used for several types of nerve-related pain in the spine and other areas of the body.
Facet Joint Injections and Medial Branch Nerve Blocks
Facet joints are small joints located along the spine. Like other joints in the body, they can become irritated, inflamed, or arthritic, leading to chronic neck, mid-back, or low-back pain.
Facet joint injections involve placing medication directly into or near the affected facet joint. These injections may include a local anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication to help reduce pain and inflammation. They can also help determine whether the facet joint is contributing to a patient’s symptoms.
Medial branch nerve blocks are similar but target the small medial branch nerves that carry pain signals from the facet joints. These blocks are commonly used as a diagnostic procedure. If a patient experiences significant temporary pain relief after a medial branch block, it may indicate that the facet joint nerves are a major source of the pain.
Because facet joint injections and medial branch nerve blocks are closely related, they are often used together as part of a step-by-step approach to diagnosing and managing spine-related pain.
The Value of Personalized Pain Management
No two patients experience pain in exactly the same way. That is why successful pain management begins with a careful evaluation of your symptoms, medical history, prior treatments, and personal goals.
At Carolinas Pain Institute, each treatment plan is tailored to the individual patient. For some, a diagnostic injection may be the first step in identifying the source of pain. For others, radiofrequency ablation may be considered after diagnostic blocks confirm which nerves are contributing to the pain.
Personalized care means more than offering a procedure. It means helping patients understand their options, setting realistic expectations, and adjusting treatment plans as their needs change.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation, also known as RFA, is a minimally invasive procedure that uses controlled heat energy to interrupt pain signals from targeted nerves. Unlike facet joint injections or medial branch nerve blocks, which may provide temporary relief or diagnostic information, RFA is often used to provide longer-lasting pain relief.
Although RFA is commonly used for facet-related spine pain, it is not limited to the facet joints. At Carolinas Pain Institute, radiofrequency ablation may also be used to target other pain-generating nerves, including:
- Medial branch nerves for facet-related neck or back pain
- Genicular nerves for chronic knee pain
- Articular branch nerves around the hip
- Peripheral nerves involved in conditions such as shoulder pain, intercostal neuralgia, or certain peripheral neuropathies
By targeting the nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals, RFA may help reduce pain and improve function for months at a time. The goal is not to cure the underlying condition, but to reduce the intensity of pain so patients can move more comfortably and participate more fully in daily life.
What to Expect During Treatment
Facet joint injections, medial branch nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation are typically performed on an outpatient basis, meaning patients go home the same day.
For a facet joint injection, the physician uses image guidance to carefully place the medication near the affected joint. The procedure usually takes a short time, and patients are monitored briefly afterward before returning home.
For a medial branch nerve block, the physician places a small amount of local anesthetic near the medial branch nerves that supply the facet joints. Relief from this type of block is usually temporary, but the response can provide important diagnostic information.
For radiofrequency ablation, the physician first identifies the target nerves. A specialized needle or probe is then used to deliver controlled heat energy to the nerve tissue, helping disrupt pain signals. Patients may experience mild soreness after the procedure, but many are able to return to normal light activities soon afterward.
Your provider will explain what to expect before, during, and after your procedure based on the specific treatment being performed.
Conditions These Treatments May Help
Facet joint injections, medial branch nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation may be recommended for patients with certain chronic pain conditions when conservative care has not provided enough relief.
These procedures may help with conditions such as:
Take the Next Step Toward Relief
Chronic pain does not have to control your life. Interventional pain procedures such as facet joint injections, medial branch nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation may help identify the source of your pain and provide meaningful relief.
If you are ready to explore whether these treatments are right for you, the team at Carolinas Pain Institute is here to help. Schedule a consultation today to learn more about your options and take the next step toward improved comfort, mobility, and quality of life.