Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) in Palm Coast, FL

Some pain keeps arriving because a specific small nerve keeps delivering it. Radiofrequency ablation interrupts that delivery at the source — an outpatient option for joint-related pain that has responded to diagnostic blocks but keeps coming back.

What it treats

Radiofrequency ablation is used at several joints, in the spine and in the limbs:

The common thread isn’t the body part — it’s the pattern. Ablation is considered when pain has been traced to a specific joint, a diagnostic block has confirmed which nerves carry it, and the relief from that block faded.

How it works

Several joints send their pain signals through small sensory branches that serve almost no other purpose — the facet joints of the spine, the sacroiliac joint, the knee, the hip. That narrow role is what makes them a viable target.

Dr. Manuel López, a board-certified pain management and rehabilitation physician, positions a specialized needle — insulated along its shaft, active only at the tip — beside the targeted nerve under precise image guidance. Before any energy is applied, he uses stimulation testing to confirm the tip is beside the intended sensory nerve and clear of nerves that control movement. Radiofrequency current is then passed through the tip, creating a small, precisely bounded zone of heat that disrupts the nerve’s ability to transmit pain signals.

The underlying joint isn’t altered. Arthritis that was present remains present — what changes is whether it keeps reporting.

What to expect

The specifics depend on which joint is being treated — a knee and a lumbar spine call for different positioning — but the shape of the visit is consistent. It’s an outpatient procedure: the area is cleaned and numbed, you stay awake so you can respond during nerve testing, and the current is applied once the target is confirmed. You’ll go home the same day and should arrange a ride.

Soreness in the treated area is common before improvement shows up, and the benefit builds rather than switching on. Dr. López will want to hear how things change over the following weeks rather than judging the result the same afternoon.

For the lower back specifically, the detailed walkthrough lives on the radiofrequency neurotomy of the lumbar facets page; for the knee, on the genicular nerve block and ablation page. Those are the region-specific versions of this procedure.

Is it right for you?

Ablation generally makes sense when:

• A diagnostic block has already confirmed which nerves carry your pain
• That block gave you clear relief that then wore off
• Conservative care and injections haven’t produced lasting improvement
• The pain is coming from a joint rather than a compressed nerve root

It’s less suited to pain that hasn’t been localized, and it isn’t a treatment for nerve root pain like sciatica. Dr. López reviews your history and any implanted devices before scheduling, and will tell you directly whether you’re a reasonable candidate — including when the answer is that a different joint should be investigated first.

See whether ablation fits your case

If injections keep helping and keep wearing off, there may be a longer-lasting option. One consultation will tell you whether it applies to you.

Call (386) 222-7746 or request an appointment.