There is no specific preparation for an RFA. However, two appointments may be needed. The first appointment is a trial block to see if the RFA will be effective. The RFA will occur at the second appointment.

If you have a pacemaker, please let staff know before the procedure, as the RFA has the potential to cause the pacemaker to malfunction.

Please wear loose clothing to your appointment, preferably a shirt and pants/skirt, so we may access the treatment site easily. In some instances, you may be given a gown to wear. You may also be asked to remove objects like watches or jewellery for your scan, so consider leaving any valuables at home.

Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment with your Medicare card and/or concession card, your referral, and any relevant previous scans. If you have a child aged 6 or under, they must be supervised by an adult other than the patient.

After you arrive, the procedure will be discussed with you by one of the team members, and you will have the chance to ask any questions of the radiologist or any of the team members before proceeding.

A team member will then prepare you for the procedure, and a local anaesthetic will be administered.

Under image guidance, a needle is carefully placed in the area of affected nerves. The needles are connected by insulated wires to grounding pads, which are attached to your back or thigh, and a generator. The current from the generator heats the tips of these needles, which then stops the nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.

There are two different types of radiofrequency ablation – continuous and pulsed. Continuous radiofrequency uses high voltage current to generate heat up to 80°C for 90-110 seconds to break down nerves, while pulsed radiofrequency ablations are conducted at a lower temperature of 42°C and help modulate the nerve function whilst preserving motor function.

Your appointment should take around 20 minutes. It usually takes 10 minutes for set-up to be complete, and a further 10 minutes for the procedure itself.

• Pain or discomfort during the procedure – It is common to feel some discomfort during any procedure involving needles, although we will try to minimize your discomfort with local anaesthetic. However, you should let us know if you are feeling pain during the procedure.
• Flare of pain, neuritis – depending on the procedure and mode used during the procedure, some patients may feel an increase in their symptoms. This will usually settle down by itself over the course of a few days, although sometimes may take longer. You may take analgesia if you experience a flare, as it will not affect the outcome of the procedure. If this is persistent, in some cases we may perform a further procedure to settle this down, or in some cases may repeat the RFA procedure.
• Failure of the procedure – in some cases the procedure may not alleviate your pain, or may only partially relieve your symptoms. The reason for this may be for a variety of reasons, but is usually related to the cause of your pain rather than anything related to the procedure itself. The fact that the procedure has not alleviated your pain is still important information for your referring doctor to know, as it will help to further guide the diagnosis and management of your pain in the future.
• Nerve damage or damage to other structures – the procedure is targeted to the nerves that supply the pain signals. However, there is a risk of damage to other nerves or soft tissues in the area. 
• General malaise –A feeling of general malaise is also sometimes reported and may also be caused by the steroid. People may also report difficulty sleeping or anxiety for a couple of days after the procedure.
• Steroid flush - People may report a flushing of the skin over their face and chest a day or two after the injection. This is related to the steroid and usually settles by itself. It does not usually require any treatment.  
• Hyperglycaemia – The corticosteroid used may temporarily elevate your blood glucose levels. This is usually only relevant to diabetic patients who are monitoring their BGL and taking insulin, and may require a temporary change to your usual insulin dosing regimen.
• Allergic reactions – serious allergic reactions are rare for this type of procedure, although may be caused due to a reaction to the skin cleaner, corticosteroid or local anaesthetic. If you suffer from an allergic reaction it will usually occur at the time of the procedure, and will be treated accordingly by the radiologist.
• Bleeding – Bleeding and bruising is usually very minimal. It may be more common in people who have an underlying bleeding disorder or who are taking blood thinners. 
• Infection – this is uncommon and usually minor, although uncommonly may require hospital admission and treatment with antibiotics or surgery.

Envision Medical Imaging offers continuous and pulsed radiofrequency ablations as an in-patient service, so you will be able to return home on the same day as the procedure. 

You will require a driver to take you home and you should not drive for 24 hours following the injection. We ask that you avoid any strenuous physical activity, including standing for more than one hour at a time, for 48 hours post procedure.

If you experience pain following the procedure, treat with a cold pack, paracetamol and anti-inflammatory medication (if applicable).

If you develop fever with joint pain, swelling, redness and warmth in the week following an injection, call Envision Medical Imaging on (08) 6382 3888 or contact your referring doctor. If you are still concerned and it is after hours, please contact your nearest Emergency Department.

Our friendly customer service team will provide you with any specific aftercare instructions at the time of your appointment.

The cost of your RFA procedure can depend on several factors. Please contact us and our friendly customer service team will be able to advise you any costs involved, including any out-of-pocket costs.