833-377-7325

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Peak Spine & Sports Medicine offers radiofrequency ablation for chronic back, neck, and joint pain in Marlton and Collingswood, NJ. Call (833) 377-7325.

Radiofrequency Ablation in Marlton and Collingswood, NJ

When chronic spine or joint pain has been properly diagnosed, patients may be ready for a longer-lasting treatment option. Radiofrequency ablation, also called RFA, may help reduce pain signals from targeted nerves so patients can sit, stand, walk, work, travel, golf, sleep, exercise, stay active with family, and return to the routines that make life feel normal.

Radiofrequency ablation is a targeted, image-guided procedure that uses heat energy to quiet pain signals from specific nerves. It is often considered after diagnostic injections, such as medial branch blocks or nerve blocks, suggest that a particular nerve or group of nerves is adding to a patient’s pain. At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, RFA may be recommended when pain has been carefully evaluated and a longer-lasting interventional option may be appropriate.

Our strategy centers on opioid-free, interventional pain care with a strong focus on education, outcomes, and restored quality of life. Patients are cared for by Dr. Milind Patel, Dr. Jill Kalariya, and our interventional pain management team through a concierge, white-glove model designed to restore quality of life without opioids. Relief should not feel like another complicated medical process. Our team works to reduce delays, simplify ensuing steps, and help patients move toward a clear plan for less pain and better function.

To find out whether radiofrequency ablation may help reduce chronic back, neck, SI joint, or joint-related pain, call Peak Spine & Sports Medicine at (833) 377-7325 or conveniently request an appointment online today. Telehealth consults are available for convenience when appropriate. We proudly serve patients in Marlton, Haddonfield, Collingswood, Cherry Hill, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Philadelphia, and surrounding communities.

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What Is Radiofrequency Ablation?

RFA is a minimally invasive pain management procedure that uses controlled heat energy to treat targeted nerves that are carrying pain signals.

In many cases, RFA is used to treat pain from joints in the spine, especially the facet joints. These small joints help the spine bend, twist, and remain stable. When they become irritated, arthritic, inflamed, or painful, nearby nerves may carry pain signals from the joint to the brain.

Radiofrequency ablation may also be used for other carefully selected pain patterns, including SI joint-related pain or certain nerve-related joint pain, depending on the patient’s diagnosis and response to previous testing.

During RFA, a physician uses imaging guidance to place a specialized needle near the targeted nerve. A small area of the nerve is heated using radiofrequency energy. This reduces the nerve’s ability to send pain signals from that area.

This allows radiofrequency ablation to help:

  • Reduce pain signals from targeted nerves
  • Support a broader non-opioid treatment plan
  • Provide longer-lasting relief than many diagnostic injections
  • Improve comfort with movement and daily activity
  • Help patients return to work, travel, exercise, sleep, golf, or family activities

Radiofrequency ablation does not treat every type of pain. It is most useful when the source of pain has been narrowed down, and the targeted nerves are likely contributing to the patient’s symptoms.

Medial branch radiofrequency ablation is a type of RFA that disrupts the small medial branch nerves carrying pain signals from the facet joints in the spine. It provides longer-term relief for chronic neck or back pain caused by facet joint arthritis when other treatments have not been enough.

If the pain pattern suggests another source, such as a disc issue, irritated spinal nerve root, muscle problem, or peripheral joint concern, our physician may discuss other options such as epidural steroid injections, selective nerve root blocks, facet joint injections, medial branch blocks, SI joint injections, trigger point injections, joint injections, or another interventional treatment.

Radiofrequency ablation is most often used for chronic pain that has been traced to specific nerves through careful evaluation and diagnostic procedures.

Patients may benefit from an evaluation for radiofrequency ablation if they have:

  • Chronic low back pain
  • Chronic neck pain
  • Facet joint pain
  • Arthritis-related spine pain
  • Pain that worsens with bending, twisting, standing, or extension
  • Pain that has responded well to medial branch blocks
  • Knee pain related to genicular nerves in carefully selected cases
  • Pain that returns after temporary relief from diagnostic blocks
  • SI joint-related pain in carefully selected cases
  • Pain that has not improved enough with therapy, rest, activity changes, medication, or injections

RFA is not usually the first step in treatment. For many patients, the process begins with a consultation, a physical exam, and, when appropriate, an imaging review, followed by diagnostic injections to help confirm the suspected pain source.

This matters because radiofrequency ablation works best when the correct nerves are targeted. If a patient’s pain is coming from a herniated disc, irritated nerve root, muscle spasm, hip joint, or another structure, RFA may not be the right treatment. Peak Spine & Sports Medicine begins with a thorough evaluation rather than a one-size-fits-all recommendation.

Radiofrequency ablation uses heat to reduce pain signaling from targeted nerves.

In facet-related spine pain, the targeted nerves are often the medial branches. These small nerves carry pain signals from the facet joints. When diagnostic procedures suggest that the facet joints are contributing to a patient’s pain, RFA may be used to heat the targeted medial branch nerves and interrupt the pain signal for a longer period.

The nerve is not removed from the body. Instead, a small area is treated so the nerve is less able to transmit pain signals from the painful joint. Over time, nerves can regenerate, which is why relief from RFA is not always permanent. However, many patients experience months of improvement when the correct pain source has been identified and treated.

During the procedure, the physician uses live X-ray guidance to position the needle near the targeted nerve. The physician may perform testing to confirm placement before delivering radiofrequency energy. Once the proper position is confirmed, heat is applied in a controlled way to treat the targeted nerve.

At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, this process is not treated as a routine checkbox. The team evaluates the full pain pattern, reviews prior diagnostic injection response, considers the patient’s anatomy, and customizes the treatment plan based on symptoms, goals, and the suspected pain generator.

Radiofrequency ablation is usually an outpatient procedure, but at Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, the experience begins well before the procedure itself. Our team confirms the treatment area, reviews the purpose of RFA, and explains what the procedure is designed to treat.

Prior to treatment, our physicians will ask about a patient’s usual pain level, where they feel it, and which movements, positions, or activities tend to bring it on. This helps establish a clear starting point, so the response after RFA can be measured in a meaningful way. For some patients, that may mean sitting longer, walking farther, standing more comfortably, traveling with less pain, sleeping better, or moving through a workday with fewer interruptions.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine performs radiofrequency ablation using careful, image-guided techniques. Following appropriate guidelines helps ensure the correct nerves are targeted, the previous diagnostic response is considered, and the procedure is planned based on reliable information rather than guesswork.

During the procedure, the team keeps the process calm, precise, and organized:

  • The area is numbed with local anesthetic.
  • The skin is cleaned using sterile technique.
  • Patients are positioned carefully, so the treatment area can be accessed safely.
  • Patients are monitored before going home with clear aftercare instructions.
  • A live X-ray machine is used to guide needle placement.
  • Placement may be tested to help confirm the correct target.
  • Radiofrequency energy is delivered to heat the targeted nerve area.
  • Our physician places a specialized RFA needle near the targeted nerve.

This is where Peak Spine & Sports Medicine’s interventional approach matters. RFA requires more than knowing the general area of pain. The physician needs to identify the correct target, account for the patient’s anatomy, and use appropriate equipment and technique for that specific case.

Recovery after radiofrequency ablation is usually manageable, but it may differ from recovery after a standard injection. Many patients return to light activity within a short period of time, depending on their physician’s instructions and how they feel.

Some soreness, aching, bruising, temporary numbness, or irritation near the treatment area can happen after RFA. In some cases, pain may feel temporarily worse before it improves. This does not always mean the procedure failed. The treated area can be irritated for a short time as the body responds.

Pain relief is not always immediate. Some patients notice improvement within a few days, while others may need several weeks before the benefit becomes clear. The team will explain what to expect and what symptoms should be reported.

What makes recovery at Peak Spine & Sports Medicine important is the level of attention given to function, not just pain scores. Patients may be asked to track how their pain changes, how long relief lasts, and whether they are able to do specific activities that normally aggravate their symptoms.

The team may ask:

  • How long did it take for relief to develop?
  • How much relief did the patient feel?
  • Did the patient’s usual back, neck, SI joint, or joint-related pain improve?
  • Were they able to sit, stand, walk, travel, golf, work, exercise, sleep, or move more comfortably?
  • Did the procedure help one side or region more than another?
  • Did the pain return in the same pattern or in a different way?

These details help our physician determine whether the targeted nerves were likely contributing to the pain and whether the broader treatment plan should include continued conservative care, therapy referral, follow-up evaluation, or another interventional option.

At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, RFA is one part of a broader plan. The team uses patient response to refine the next step, adjust the strategy, and keep treatment focused on helping patients move better and return to the parts of life they have been missing.

Relief from radiofrequency ablation varies. Some patients experience several months of improvement, while others may notice relief for a longer period of time. Because nerves can regenerate over time, pain may eventually return.

For many patients, RFA can provide longer-lasting relief than diagnostic injections or short-term blocks when the correct pain source has been identified. The response depends on the diagnosis, the nerves treated, the patient’s anatomy, the accuracy of diagnostic testing, and how the body heals after treatment.

If pain returns after a period of meaningful relief, our physician may reassess the pain pattern and determine whether repeat treatment or another option is appropriate. If RFA does not provide meaningful improvement, the team may revisit the diagnosis and consider whether another structure may be contributing to the pain.

The value of RFA is not measured only by how long relief lasts. It is also measured by what patients can do with that relief, such as walking farther, sitting longer, sleeping better, traveling more comfortably, participating in therapy, or returning to work and family activities with less limitation.

Why Choose Peak Spine & Sports Medicine for an RFA Treatment?

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine was built around a simple standard: this should be the kind of pain management practice we would want our own family members to visit.

Initial consultations at Peak Spine & Sports Medicine are designed to be thorough, personal, and highly focused. The team takes time to understand where the pain is coming from, how it affects daily life, what has already been tried, and what activities the patient needs to return to.

For one patient, the priority may be sitting through a workday without constant back pain. For another, it may be walking through an airport, getting through a golf trip, sleeping through the night, exercising, driving comfortably, or playing with children or grandchildren. Those details matter because RFA is not only about treating an image or a diagnosis. It is about helping patients move better in the parts of life that matter most.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine offers:

  • Concierge, white-glove pain management care
  • A non-opioid approach to pain care
  • Ivy League-trained professionals
  • Double board-certified pain management physicians
  • Cutting-edge interventional techniques and technology
  • Live X-ray guidance for precision and safety
  • Customized radiofrequency ablation technique
  • Guideline-based diagnostic workup before ablation
  • Telehealth consults when appropriate
  • A helpful staff that works to reduce the burden on patients
  • Insurance access for eligible PPO/POS patients with out-of-network benefits

Care is led by Dr. Milind Patel and Dr. Jill Kalariya, double board-certified pain management physicians who perform advanced interventional procedures in the outpatient surgery center. Brian Brown, PA supports patients through conservative care, diagnostic workups, imaging coordination, therapy recommendations, and follow-up planning, helping each patient move through care with clarity.

Radiofrequency ablation is an area where technical planning matters. At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, the team customizes the approach based on the patient’s anatomy, body type, number of levels treated, pain pattern, and procedural goals. The same equipment setup is not used for every patient. The procedure is planned with intention, precision, and attention to the patient’s specific needs.

Our practice is selective with insurance because the model is built around quality, not volume. We work for the patient, not the insurance company. That gives the team more time to listen, explain, coordinate care, and work for the patient rather than designing the visit around an insurance company’s schedule.

Visit our Why Choose Us page to learn more.

How Much Does Radiofrequency Ablation Cost in Marlton and Collingswood, NJ?

The cost of radiofrequency ablation depends on the treatment plan, the area treated, the number of nerves or levels treated, the facility, and insurance benefits.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine primarily works with patients who have PPO or POS insurance plans with out-of-network benefits. The practice is out-of-network for most insurance plans, allowing the team to maintain a smaller, more personalized model with longer visits, tailored treatment plans, more education, and less pressure to rush patients through care.

Many patients are surprised to learn that out-of-network care with PPO/POS plan benefits are typically much more accessible than they expected. The Peak Spine & Sports Medicine team can help review benefits, explain the process, and determine whether the practice is a good fit.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine does not participate with EPO, HMO, Medicare, or Medicaid plans. This allows our office to see our new and existing patients quickly.

Patients visit Peak Spine & Sports Medicine in Marlton and Collingswood from Cherry Hill, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Philadelphia, and surrounding areas because they want high-level interventional pain care without an opioid-first approach.

Radiofrequency ablation is commonly performed for appropriately selected pain patients, but every procedure carries some risk. Possible side effects may include temporary soreness, bruising, bleeding, infection, temporary numbness, temporary weakness, nerve irritation, increased pain for a short period of time, or lack of meaningful pain relief.

Safety depends on careful patient selection, accurate diagnosis, sterile technique, image-guided needle placement, appropriate equipment, and follow-up. At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, RFA is recommended only after the team evaluates the patient’s symptoms, pain pattern, medical history, prior response to diagnostic injections, activity goals, and suspected pain source.

At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, we do not use opioids as a shortcut for pain care.

Our practice focuses on interventional procedures because many pain problems are focal. A painful facet joint, irritated SI joint, nerve issue, disc issue, muscle problem, or joint problem often requires a targeted solution. Medication taken by mouth circulates through the whole body. That can mean higher doses, more side effects, limited benefit, and no clear endpoint.

Interventional pain management is different. It is designed to identify the source of pain and treat it directly. For the right patient, radiofrequency ablation can provide longer-lasting, non-opioid relief by quieting targeted pain signals and supporting a broader path toward improved function and restored quality of life.

Schedule a Radiofrequency Ablation Consultation in Marlton or Collingswood, NJ

Chronic back, neck, SI joint, or joint-related pain should not decide how much life a patient gets to enjoy. Whether the goal is to sit through work, travel more comfortably, golf again, exercise, sleep better, play with the kids or grandkids, or simply move through the day with less pain, Peak Spine & Sports Medicine can help patients understand their options.

For radiofrequency ablation in Marlton and Collingswood, NJ, contact Peak Spine & Sports Medicine at (833) 377-7325 or schedule a consultation online today. Our team will help determine whether the pain pattern, goals, prior diagnostic response, and insurance benefits make our concierge interventional pain model the right fit. We proudly serve patients in Marlton, Haddonfield, Collingswood, Cherry Hill, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Philadelphia, and surrounding communities.

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Radiofrequency Ablation Marlton, NJ – FAQs

Most patients tolerate radiofrequency ablation well. The skin and deeper tissues are numbed before treatment, and the physician uses image guidance to keep the procedure precise. Some pressure, soreness, or brief discomfort may occur during the procedure.

Radiofrequency ablation may be used for chronic back pain, neck pain, facet joint pain, arthritis-related spine pain, SI joint-related pain in carefully selected cases, and certain nerve-related joint pain patterns. The exact treatment depends on the diagnosis and which nerves are contributing to the pain.

No. A medial branch block is usually a diagnostic injection used to help determine whether the facet joints are contributing to pain. Radiofrequency ablation is a longer-lasting treatment that uses heat energy to reduce pain signals from targeted nerves.

No. A facet joint injection places medication into or near a painful facet joint. Radiofrequency ablation treats the small nerves that carry pain signals from the facet joints. Our physician will recommend the appropriate treatment based on the patient’s symptoms, diagnostic response, imaging when appropriate, and goals.

Many patients are considered for RFA after diagnostic injections, such as medial branch blocks, suggest that targeted nerves are contributing to pain. Candidacy depends on the pain pattern, diagnosis, prior response to treatment, medical history, and the patient’s goals.

Relief is not always immediate. Some patients begin to notice improvement within several days, while others may need a few weeks before the benefit becomes clear. Temporary soreness or irritation can happen during the early recovery period.

Relief varies. Many patients experience several months of improvement, and some may have longer-lasting relief. Since nerves can regenerate over time, pain may return, and repeat treatments may be considered when appropriate.

In some cases, yes. If RFA provides meaningful relief and the pain later returns in the same pattern, our physician may evaluate whether repeat treatment is appropriate.

If RFA reduces the usual pain, our physician may use that information to guide the larger treatment plan. Patients may be encouraged to build on the improvement with appropriate activity, therapy, strengthening, mobility work, and continued follow-up.

If RFA does not provide meaningful improvement, that information is still useful. The team may reassess whether the pain may be coming from another source, such as a disc, spinal nerve root, muscle, SI joint, hip joint, or peripheral joint.

Some patients benefit from therapy after pain is better controlled. Peak Spine & Sports Medicine does not provide physical therapy in-house, but the team may refer patients to outside physical therapy when strengthening, mobility, posture, spinal support, or joint mechanics are part of the plan.

In many cases, yes. Telehealth consults may be available to help expedite evaluation, review symptoms, discuss prior injections, and determine whether an in-person exam or procedure consultation is appropriate.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine accepts insurance and primarily works with PPO and POS plans that have out-of-network benefits. The practice does not participate with EPO, HMO, Medicare, or Medicaid plans. The team can help patients determine whether their benefits may apply.