Pulsed Radio Frequency ablation treatment?

[rc009]

Hello-Has anyone had PRF for chronic pain from groin hernia surgery? Results? Unlike standard RF ablation it does not heat the nerves. Supposed to modify pain signals . Can be used at nerves or as a spinal at nerve roots.
Thanks.

[InPain]

Pulsed Radio Frequency ablation treatment?

I have severe pain after hernia mesh repair, and was going to try PRF, but two pain specialist i’ve talked to told me not to try it. That it would most likely make my pain worse when the nerve “wake up again”. They told me the same thing about cryoneurolysis, even though these are two of few treatments that studies have shown can give great pain relief for a long time for patients with our problem.

If the doctors here or other people have any experience with prf or cryo, please give us a respond.

[rc009]

Pulsed Radio Frequency ablation treatment?

The nerves are all ready woke up sending pain signals non- stop.
Makes no sense. I will be seeing specialists and report then.

[fromindia25]

Pulsed Radio Frequency ablation treatment?

I am also suffering from nerve injuries after so called simple hernia repair. You should first try nerve block to see which nerves are injured and it will help determine if PRF will work or not. If nerve block help, you can go for PRF. PRF might not provide permanent relief but if it works for few months you can go for repeated PRF. Nerve block are very useful for diagnosing purpose if performed ultrasound guided.

[Chaunce123]

Pulsed Radio Frequency ablation treatment?

I have an interest in this as well, and I also get mixed opinions or advice.

I often dig through medical studies to get a better idea of these things, but there does not appear to be a widespread study on PRF and thus no wide consensus on efficacy. You will find that some of the smaller studies suggest it offers short-term relief of a year or so but then repeat PRF is necessary again.

http://pubs.rsna.org/doi/full/10.1148/radiol.11110727

http://www.goldjournal.net/article/S0090-4295(02)02423-8/abstract

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2914602/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4045265/

NIH has many articles on PRF in general

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=Pulsed+radiofrequency

Perhaps Dr Towfigh has experience with this procedure?

[drtowfigh]

Pulsed Radio Frequency ablation treatment?

The nerves anteriorly in the groin are hard to pinpoint percutaneously. That is, they are hard to find with precision and to therefore ablate. Though some patients have improvement, I am told by Pain Management specialists that ablation (cryo or RF) can partially treat a nerve and so it is likely that more than one procedure is necessary. Also, partial treatment of a nerve problem can possibly cause pain, as it is basically an injury. Lastly, as with neurectomy (surgically cutting the nerve), the ablation can cause paradoxical nerve pain stimulation and make the pain worse. It is a risk with any of these operations or procedures.

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