Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Chronic neck or back pain often comes from the small facet joints that connect each vertebra, and those joints are supplied by nerves called medial branch nerves. When steroid injections have provided relief but it fades quickly, or you’re looking for a longer-lasting option before considering surgery, Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) is often the next step.
How It Works
Using targeted radiofrequency energy, Dr. Nivens creates a small, controlled heat lesion, essentially a scar, around the medial branch nerves that supply the affected facet joints. That scar interrupts the nerve’s ability to send pain signals from the joint to the brain, which can significantly reduce pain for 6 to 12 months, and sometimes longer.
Who This Can Help
RFA is commonly used for patients who:
- Have chronic neck or back pain from facet joint arthritis or degeneration
- Got good relief from steroid injections, but it didn’t last
- Want to explore longer-lasting, non-surgical pain relief before considering surgery
Hear From Dr. Nivens
Watch below as Dr. Charles Nivens shares more about this treatment.
Genicular Nerve Block to the Knee
Chronic knee pain doesn’t always have a straightforward surgical fix. Some patients aren’t good candidates for knee replacement due to age, other health conditions, or the extent of joint damage. Others have already had a knee replacement and are still dealing with pain that hasn’t resolved. For both groups, a genicular nerve block offers a non-surgical option worth exploring before considering anything more invasive.
How It Works
The knee joint gets its sensation from a small group of nerves called the genicular nerves. During the procedure, Dr. Nivens uses image guidance to precisely place a local anesthetic, sometimes combined with a steroid, near these nerves. By blocking the signal these nerves send to the brain, the goal is to reduce or resolve the pain coming from the joint itself.
Who This Can Help
This procedure is commonly used for patients with:
- Chronic knee pain from arthritis who aren’t candidates for knee replacement
- Ongoing pain after a total knee replacement that hasn’t improved with other treatments
- Knee pain where conservative options, like physical therapy or anti-inflammatories, haven’t provided lasting relief
What Our Clients Are Saying
This is an amazing office I had gotten the runaround from my primary for weeks about the pain. I was in the office which was extremely busy but they somehow slipped me in and taken care of my problem. I highly recommend him.
Charles J Nivens, M.D. has helped me get my life back. I’ve suffered from debilitating back pain for years and thought the only solution was pain medication or surgery. I tried injections in the past with little success, but I’m so thankful I came to Dr. Nivens, I finally feel like myself again!