Our Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated Outstanding hospital is proud to offer radiofrequency denervation treatment, also known as facet denervation, facet rhizolysis, radiofrequency ablation or radiofrequency neurotomy. This procedure is used to relieve back pain that originates in your facet joints.
Radiofrequency denervation is a specialised form of treatment which uses heat to destroy the two small innovating nerves within the facet joints - small pairs of joints linking your vertebrae together. By damaging the sensory nerves - the nerves that transmit pain sensations from the joints- they will stop sending pain signals to your brain. Please note that your GP or Consultant will only suggest this treatment if other alternative treatments have not helped.
Dr Mo Faris our Consultant Interventional Radiologist at Benenden Hospital, tells us more: “The rationale is that if you have no sensory nerves then you’ll have no pain. These nerves can take 6-18 months to grow back. Hopefully, you’ll have a sustained pain free period, allowing you to improve your core strength and your core pelvic stabilisers.
“Radiofrequency denervation is the gold standard for chronic back pain related to facet joints. However, we do offer physiotherapy as an alternative treatment. This strengthens your core pelvic stabilisers to reduce the risk of muscle spasms. If you have a lot of pain, then physio is unlikely to be recommended for you.”
The patient journey is at the heart of everything we do at Benenden Hospital and we ensure that your experience is as caring and efficient as possible. The first step is to see a spinal consultant who will assess you and may request an MRI scan or an X-ray to better diagnose the problem. Next, a steroid or long acting anaesthetic injection will be required. If you get pain relief from this, then radiofrequency denervation could be offered to you.
To prepare for your procedure you mustn’t eat or drink during the four hours prior to your appointment; you can take your tablets (except blood thinning medication) as normal and bring a list of your medication, a dressing gown and sensible footwear to your appointment.
There are very minimal side effects for patients who receive this treatment. Some pain, irritation or inflammation may be felt for a few weeks as the nerve endings die off. Additionally, transient weakness in your legs can occur for some patients but should only last for a few hours. Overall, this radiofrequency denervation is a safe and quick treatment.
At Benenden Hospital, we offer a variety of additional back pain treatments for self-pay patients. From a slipped disc to sciatica, our expert spinal consultants have years of experience to diagnose, treat and care for you on your road to recovery.
Put your health in our hands and we’ll help to ease your back pain.
How can I access facet denervation as a self-pay patient?
Find out more about facet denervation, or our other treatments for back pain offered to self-pay patients at our hospital.
Today, many people self-pay for their treatment to help them get back on track to better health and wellbeing as quickly as possible. It removes the need to wait in an NHS queue for treatment.
If you’re thinking of funding your own treatment, ask us for a quotation by completing our online form or by contacting our Private Patient Team via Livechat or on 01580 363158.
Published on 08 November 2021