Radiofrequency denervation

Radiofrequency denervation
Ross Hauser, M.D.

Radiofrequency denervation of nerves for low back pain is becoming more and more of an accepted treatment. In my experience very few people receive long term relief with this therapy. In addition, this therapy makes absolutely no sense to me. Let's see if it makes sense to you.

You have low back pain and to help rid it, the doctor burns the nerve that is sending the signal that there is a problem in your back. So you don't feel the pain anymore. The catch to this treatment though is that typically, you still have some pain after this, albeit, just not as much. But let's say you are one of the lucky ones that is helps decrease your pain what is going to happen to you long term?

Let's see, doctors used to and sometimes still give cortisone shots. What was the purpose of this? To get rid of the pain. But did the cortisone shot correct the reason for the pain? I think not. So what happened? Your pain was gone but the underlying damaged joint or low back tissue, continued. So you continued to play racquet ball, run, do aerobics and all the other activities of your active life. Because you couldn't feel the pain, the body didn't cry out for pain until the day came when the joint was so degenerated even the powerful steroid injections couldn't handle it any more. Long term effects of anti-inflammatory and steroid injections were accelerated arthritis.

What is the long term consequence of knocking out nerves that were put there to signal pain in a damaged joint? It physiologically has to be the same. Imagine the fire alarm going off in your office as smoke is coming through the vents and your boss takes out the battery of the smoke detector? He tells everyone, don't worry everything is o.k.? You would say, "You're nuts, I'm out of here!" He might stay but that would lead to his death by smoke inhalation. The reason is the fire continued even though the alarm was dismantled. Do you want the alarm system in your low back or neck dismantled? I didn't think so.

If you have low back pain and the doctor thinks it is your discs, he or she will tell you that you have discogenic low back pain. "I'm sorry your discs are degenerated," they may say. "I recommend radiofrequency denervation." The patient may respond, "To make sure I understand, you believe my discs are degenerated and they are causing my pain. But the only I know this is happening is that I have this pain, you are going to fry my nerves with some special probe? This will cost me and my insurance company thousands and thousands of dollars. It will do nothing to correct the reason my discs are degenerated will it doctor?" Martha that is correct. If I was Martha I would next add "Doctor why don't you denervate your own nerves then let me know how it goes a few years down the line. I'm going to get Prolotherapy and I'll let you know how I'm doing in. Let me see I have free three years from next Friday, should we call it lunch?"

Caring Medical and Rehabilitation Services
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Ross Hauser, M.D.
Dr. Hauser received his M.D. from the University of Illinois, Chicago; completed his residency at Loyola-Hines VA-Marianjoy Hospitals in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Hauser is the Medical Director and co-founder of the physician-run, comprehensive natural medicine clinic, Caring Medical & Rehabilitation Services in Oak Park, Illinois. Dr. Hauser is one of the leading experts in the treatment of chronic pain and sports injuries with Prolotherapy. He, along with his wife Marion, have written seven books on the topic of Prolotherapy, a comprehensive book on the natural medicine approach to cancer, as well as a myriad of articles and newsletters for the general public. Read more
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