Radiofrequency Rhizotomy in Italy

The diagnosis for painful nerves involves making a careful identity of which nerve is causing pain. This can usually be achieved by the use of an MRI. However, this may not always be possible especially if there is nothing that can be physically seen to cause pain.

In such a case, advanced techniques are used. One of the most common is nerve blocking. This will involve medication being injected around the nerve root. If it is the one causing pain, the patient should notice pain disappear temporarily. Once the medication wears off, the pain returns.

The diagnosis may involve a discogram. In such an instance, a fluid is injected into the spinal disc using x-ray guidance. If the area is healthy, only a bit of pain is experienced. However, if the area is excessively affected, the patient will feel pain. The diagnosis is only performed for people who have failed to respond to other noninvasive techniques such as creams.

Using x-ray, the doctor will guide a thin needle to the area identified as being the cause of pain. A contrast solution is applied to help make it clear which nerve is in need of removal. The solution highlights this nerve quite clearly. Light electrical stimulation may be applied to the nerve causing light muscle contraction.

The doctor then proceeds to apply a numbing agent on the particular nerve. After he is sure the patient cannot feel anything, he uses an electrode to burn off the base of the nerve. The operation mainly takes place in the lower back, where nerve problems mainly originate. The entire procedure will normally take about an hour and a half.