Radiofrequency Ablation New Jersey

Long Lasting Relief for Chronic Pain

If you’ve been getting temporary relief from injections but your pain keeps coming back, radiofrequency ablation may provide a longer lasting solution.

Radiofrequency ablation, often called RFA, is a minimally invasive procedure that interrupts the small nerves responsible for sending pain signals from arthritic joints to the brain. Rather than treating pain with medication every day or repeating injections every few months, RFA can provide significant pain relief that often lasts 9 to 18 months.

For nearly 30 years, Dr. Todd Koppel has performed radiofrequency ablation for patients throughout New Jersey experiencing chronic neck pain, low back pain, sacroiliac joint pain, and arthritis related joint pain. Every procedure is performed using advanced image guidance to maximize precision, safety, and effectiveness.

What Is Radiofrequency Ablation?

Radiofrequency ablation is an outpatient procedure used to treat chronic pain caused by irritated joints and the small nerves that supply them.

During the procedure, a specialized needle delivers controlled heat to a targeted nerve. This temporarily interrupts the nerve’s ability to send pain signals to the brain while leaving surrounding tissues unaffected.

The treated nerve gradually regenerates over time, which is why many patients enjoy relief for several months before symptoms slowly return. If needed, the procedure can often be repeated successfully.

Conditions RFA Treats

Radiofrequency ablation is commonly recommended after diagnostic testing confirms the source of your pain.

Dr. Koppel frequently uses RFA to treat:

Facet Joint Pain

Facet joint arthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic neck and lower back pain.

Before recommending RFA, Dr. Koppel performs a medial branch block to confirm that the facet joints are actually responsible for your symptoms.

Once confirmed, radiofrequency ablation can provide long lasting relief by interrupting the nerves carrying pain signals from those joints.

SI Joint Pain

Patients with sacroiliac joint pain often experience temporary improvement after SI joint injections.

When injections provide meaningful but short lived relief, radiofrequency ablation of the sacral lateral branch nerves may provide significantly longer lasting results.

Chronic Neck Pain

Patients whose neck pain is caused by arthritic facet joints often experience excellent results with cervical radiofrequency ablation after diagnostic testing confirms the diagnosis.

Chronic Low Back Pain

When lower back pain is caused by lumbar facet arthritis, radiofrequency ablation may provide months of relief while improving mobility and reducing dependence on medication.

Knee Arthritis

For patients with chronic knee pain caused by arthritis, genicular nerve ablation targets the nerves supplying the knee joint and may provide meaningful pain relief while helping delay or avoid knee replacement surgery.

Am I a Candidate for RFA?

You may be a good candidate if:

• You’ve experienced temporary relief from injections
• Your pain has been present for several months
• Diagnostic nerve blocks confirmed the source of your pain
• Arthritis is contributing to your symptoms
• You want to reduce your dependence on pain medication
• You hope to avoid or delay surgery

During your consultation, Dr. Todd Koppel will determine whether radiofrequency ablation is appropriate based on your diagnosis and previous response to treatment.

What to Expect With Your Procedure

Before Your Procedure

Depending on the area being treated, you may first undergo a diagnostic nerve block to confirm the source of your pain.

You will receive detailed instructions regarding eating, medications, and transportation before your appointment.

During Your Procedure

The skin is numbed with local anesthetic before Dr. Koppel carefully guides the treatment needle into position using fluoroscopic imaging.

A small stimulation test confirms the correct nerve before radiofrequency energy is delivered.

The procedure typically takes 30 to 45 minutes, and sedation may be available when appropriate.

After Your Procedure

Most patients return home the same day.

You may experience mild soreness for several days, but normal activities can usually be resumed within a few days.

Pain relief generally develops gradually over the following two to four weeks as the treated nerve stops transmitting pain signals.

How Long Does RFA Last?

Although results vary from patient to patient, many people experience significant pain relief lasting 9 to 18 months.

Because the treated nerve slowly regenerates over time, symptoms may eventually return.

When appropriate, radiofrequency ablation can often be safely repeated with similar success.

Why Choose Dr. Todd Koppel?

Successful radiofrequency ablation depends on one important factor.

Treating the correct nerve.

Dr. Todd Koppel has specialized in diagnosing the source of chronic pain before recommending treatment.

Patients choose Dr. Koppel because he offers:

• Nearly 30 years of experience performing interventional pain management procedures
• Fellowship training at the Hospital for Special Surgery
• Advanced fluoroscopic image guidance for greater precision
• Careful diagnostic testing before recommending RFA
• Personalized treatment plans based on your condition and goals
• A conservative approach focused on relieving pain while helping patients remain active

At Garden State Pain Management, every treatment plan begins with an accurate diagnosis because successful outcomes depend on treating the right source of pain.