Lateral branch nerves transmit pain signals from the sacroiliac joint(s) between the sacrum and ilium in the pelvis to the brain. Once the needle tip is placed accurately, an active electrode is inserted through the needle and a small amount of electrical current is carefully passed next to the target nerve and a safe distance from other nerves.

While these symptoms are less common in the mid and low back, they may be more common at higher levels of the neck. 1 Stolzenberg D, Gordin V, Vorobeychik Y. Incidence of neuropathic pain after cooled radiofrequency ablation of sacral lateral branch nerves. Pain Med. 2014;15(11):1857–60.

The L4 and L5 nerves (along with other sacral nerves) contribute to the formation of the large sciatic nerve that runs down from the rear pelvis into the back of the leg and terminates in the foot. Symptoms and signs arising from these nerves, typically referred to as sciatica , can cause a sharp, burning pain radiating down the leg with ...

This current should briefly recreate the usual pain and cause a muscle twitch in the back.The targeted nerves will then be numbed with a local anesthetic to minimize pain. The radiofrequency waves are introduced to heat the tip of the needle and a heat lesion is created on the nerve to disrupt the nerve's ability to send pain signals to the brain.

RFA to treat low back pain or posterior pelvic pain from the sacroiliac joint is performed on the lateral branch nerves. See Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for Facet and Sacroiliac Joint Pain. Diagnostic nerve blocks are usually tried on one or two lateral or medial branch nerves to locate the target nerve.

Leg pain is worse than the back pain. Sciatica is more disabling than back pain alone because while the problem originates in the lower back, the symptoms pass through the nerves, also called radiculopathy or radicular pain, and are felt away from the source of the problem. The lower back may still become painful due to inflammation of muscles ...

Stand with your upper back against a wall, feet shoulder-width apart. Face forward, tuck your chin down, and pull your head back until it meets the wall. Try to bring your head back in a straight line without tilting it back or nodding forward. Hold the stretch for 5 …

Vertebral endplates are a common source of chronic lower back pain. Research shows up to 43% of patients with chronic lower back pain have vertebral endplate damage. 1 Tieppo Francio V, Sayed D. Basivertebral Nerve Ablation. [Updated 2023 May 22]. In: StatPearls [Internet].

Numbness or tingling in the leg, back, and/or buttocks; In most cases, these side effects resolve within 2 to 3 months. 3 Conger A, Schuster NM, Cheng DS, et al. The Effectiveness of Intraosseous Basivertebral Nerve Radiofrequency Neurotomy for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain in Patients with Modic Changes: A Systematic Review.

Back pain or other pain caused by neuropathy is typically described in the following terms: Severe, sharp, electric shock-like, shooting, lightning-like, or stabbing; Deep, burning, or cold; Persistent numbness, tingling, or weakness; Pain that travels along the nerve path into the arms, hands, legs, or feet