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Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA):

Lasting relief from pain—without surgery or drugs

RFA is a well-established, drug-free pain management solution that is clinically proven to provide safe, effective relief from pain.

How does RFA work?

RFA is a simple, minimally invasive outpatient procedure. Your pain management specialist targets pain-causing nerves and uses thermal energy to interrupt the pain signals at their source. Local anesthesia and a mild sedative may be used to reduce discomfort during the procedure.

Target the Nerve

X-ray or ultrasound imaging helps guide a special probe to the target nerve. Electrodes stimulate nerves near the area to help determine the optimal treatment locations.

Disable the Nerve

The electrodes then send a small radiofrequency current into the surrounding tissue. This heats the tissue and disables the nerve so it stops sending pain signals.

Repeat for Multiple Pain Areas

Generally, one to four nerves are targeted in one procedure to maximize pain relief.

How does RFA fit my pain?

The RFA procedure can target multiple pain areas in a single treatment. So if your pain occurs in several parts of your body, RFA can address them all simultaneously. It works well for pain in your:

  • Neck
  • Shoulder
  • Back
  • Lower back
  • Hip
  • Leg
  • Knee
  • Foot

Is it safe?

RFA treatment tends to be well tolerated and has few associated complications. After the procedure, you may experience a few days of discomfort around the procedure site(s). Over the next few weeks, your pain should subside, allowing you to return to the activities you enjoyed before the onset of your pain.

Is it effective?

Patients who respond well to RFA can expect pain relief that lasts from six to 18 months. The treated nerves will regenerate and, if the pain returns, the procedure can be repeated. Talk to your doctor to see if pain relief with Boston Scientific Radiofrequency Ablation is right for you. Your doctor can perform a simple in-office test to show if RFA may be a good option for you.

Real-world results

Studies show that more than 70% of patients treated with RFA experience relief—lasting anywhere from six to 12 months, and in some cases, years.1-3

Track your pain treatment and symptoms

For people like you living with pain, the PainScale app is a powerful tool. It’s designed specifically to help you:

  • Track key measures such as pain levels, activities, treatments, medications, symptoms, and more
  • Learn about treatment options, exercises, and other tips that may help improve your quality of life
  • Connect and share your progress with your pain management specialist to help tailor a treatment plan that’s right for you

Explore the PainScale App

Wondering if radiofrequency ablation may be right for you?

Take this quick quiz and find out. ⟶

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References: 1. MacVicar J, Borowczyk JM, MacVicar AM, Loughnan BM, Bogduk N. Cervical medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy in New Zealand. Pain Med. 2012;13(5):647-654. 2. Dreyfuss P, Halbrook B, Pauza K, Joshi A, McLarty J, Bogduk N. Efficacy and validity of radiofrequency neurotomy for chronic lumbar zygapophysial joint pain. Spine. 2000;25(10):1270-1277. 3. Govind J, King W, Bailey B, Bogduk N. Radiofrequency neurotomy for the treatment of third occipital headache. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2003;74(1):88-93.

Results from clinical studies are not predictive of results in other studies. Results in other studies may vary.

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Indications for Use: The Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator Systems are indicated as an aid in the management of chronic intractable pain of the trunk and/or limbs including unilateral or bilateral pain associated with the following: failed back surgery syndrome, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Types I and II, intractable low back pain and leg pain. Associated conditions and etiologies may be: radicular pain syndrome, radiculopathies resulting in pain secondary to failed back syndrome or herniated disc, epidural fibrosis, degenerative disc disease (herniated disc pain refractory to conservative and surgical interventions), arachnoiditis, multiple back surgeries.

Contraindications. The Spinal Cord Stimulator systems are not for patients who are unable to operate the system, have failed trial stimulation by failing to receive effective pain relief, are poor surgical candidates, or are pregnant.

MR Conditional symbol

Boston Scientific’s ImageReady™ MRI Technology makes safe MRI head scans possible. Patients implanted with the Precision Spectra™ or Spectra WaveWriter™ Spinal Cord Stimulator Systems with ImageReady™ MRI Technology are "MR Conditional" only when exposed to the MRI environment under the specific conditions defined in the applicable ImageReady™ MRI Head Only Guidelines for Precision Spectra™ or Spectra WaveWriter™ Spinal Cord Stimulator Systems.
MR Conditional symbol

Boston Scientific’s ImageReady™ MRI Full Body Technology makes safe MRI scans possible. The Precision Montage™ MRI, WaveWriter Alpha™ and WaveWriter Alpha™ Prime SCS Systems with ImageReady™ MRI Full Body Technology are “MR Conditional” only when exposed to the MRI environment under the specific conditions defined in the applicable ImageReady™ MRI Full Body Guidelines for Precision Montage™ MRI or WaveWriter Alpha™ and WaveWriter Alpha™ Prime Spinal Cord Stimulator Systems.

Warnings. Patients implanted with Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator Systems without ImageReady™ MRI Technology should not be exposed to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Exposure to MRI may result in dislodgement of the stimulator or leads, heating of the stimulator, severe damage to the stimulator electronics and an uncomfortable or jolting sensation. As a Spinal Cord Stimulation patient, you should not have diathermy as either a treatment for a medical condition or as part of a surgical procedure. Strong electromagnetic fields, such as power generators or theft detection systems, can potentially turn the stimulator off, or cause uncomfortable jolting stimulation. The system should not be charged while sleeping. The Spinal Cord Stimulator system may interfere with the operation of implanted sensing stimulators such as pacemakers or implanted cardiac defibrillators. Advise your physician that you have a Spinal Cord Stimulator before going through with other implantable device therapies so that medical decisions can be made and appropriate safety measures taken. Patients using therapy that generates paresthesia should not operate motorized vehicles such as automobiles or potentially dangerous machinery and equipment with the stimulation on. Stimulation must be turned off first in such cases. For therapy that does not generate paresthesia (i.e. subperception therapy) it is less likely that sudden stimulation changes resulting in distraction could occur while having stimulation on when operating moving vehicles, machinery, and equipment. Your doctor may be able to provide additional information on the Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator systems. For complete indications for use, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and side effects, call 866.360.4747 or visit Pain.com.

Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

Indications for Use. The Superion™ Indirect Decompression System (IDS) is indicated to treat skeletally mature patients suffering from pain, numbness, and/or cramping in the legs (neurogenic intermittent claudication) secondary to a diagnosis of moderate degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, with or without Grade 1 spondylolisthesis, having radiographic evidence of thickened ligamentum flavum, narrowed lateral recess, and/or central canal or foraminal narrowing. The Superion™ Interspinous Spacer is indicated for those patients with impaired physical function who experience relief in flexion from symptoms of leg/buttock/groin pain, with or without back pain, who have undergone at least 6 months of non-operative treatment. The Superion Interspinous Spacer may be implanted at one or two adjacent lumbar levels in patients in whom treatment is indicated at no more than two levels, from L1 to L5.

Contraindications, warnings, precautions, side effects. The Superion Indirect Decompression System (IDS) is contraindicated for patients who: have spinal anatomy that prevent implantation of the device or cause the device to be unstable in situ (i.e., degenerative spondylolisthesis greater than grade 1), Cauda equina syndrome, or prior decompression or fusion at the index level, scoliosis or spinous process fractures, osteoporosis, infection, allergy or reaction to any metal or implant or a high Body Mass Index. Avoid strenuous activity for 6 weeks after surgery, contact your physician if there is fluid leaking from your incision, if you have pain, swelling or numbness in your legs or buttocks or if you fall. Refer to the Instructions for Use provided on www.vertiflex.com for additional Indications for Use, contraindications information and potential adverse effects, warnings, and precautions prior to using this product.

Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

Indications for Use. The Boston Scientific Radiofrequency Generators, associated Radiofrequency Lesion Probes and RF Cannula are indicated for use in procedures to create radiofrequency lesions for the treatment of pain or for lesioning nerve tissue for functional neurosurgical procedures. The Boston Scientific RF Injection Electrodes are used for percutaneous nerve blocks with local anesthetic solution for radiofrequency lesioning of peripheral nerve tissue only. The Boston Scientific LCED and Stereotactic TCD Electrodes are indicated for use in radiofrequency (RF) heat lesioning of nervous tissue including the Central Nervous System.

Warnings: The Boston Scientific RF devices may cause interference with active devices such as neurostimulators, cardiac pacemakers, and defibrillators. Interference may affect the action of these active devices or may damage them. For appropriate guidance, consult the instructions for use for these active devices.

Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.