Low back pain: Pulsed radiofrequency may be the answer
A new study reveals that pulsed radiofrequency may help patients with low back pain that has not responded to conservative therapy.
Low back pain affects millions of people worldwide.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in the United States, about 80 percent of adults experience low back pain at some point.
This type of pain can range in intensity, from a constant dull ache to an abrupt sharp sensation. It may result from muscle strains or from underlying conditions, such as a herniated disk or sciatica.
For most people, the pain is acute, lasting up to a few weeks. However, in about 20 percent of people with acute low back pain, the pain becomes chronic, lasting for 12 weeks or longer.
In 2009, authors of a study that had been conducted over 14 years determined that the prevalence of chronic low back pain has risen significantly — resulting in high levels of disability and missed work days.
According to new research, an alternative technique called pulsed radiofrequency can safely and effectively relieve acute lower back pain that had not responded to conservative treatments.
The study's authors, from Sapienza University of Rome in Italy, presented their findings at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
