- With Mayo Clinic neurologist
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Dr. Jerry Swanson is a board-certified neurologist at Mayo Clinic and is a professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He has a special interest in headache disorders and medical education.
Dr. Swanson, a Lacon, Ill., native, was appointed to the Mayo Clinic staff in 1982 and works in the Department of Neurology with about 90 other physicians. He formerly chaired the Headache Division in the Neurology Department at Mayo Clinic and works with headache subspecialists around the world. He has published and lectured widely on headache disorders. He also serves as Assistant Dean for Assessment in Mayo Medical School.
"In a manner similar to the printing press, Internet technology enables the unprecedented ability to communicate with the global community about health information," Dr. Swanson says. "There is no doubt that the knowledgeable individual contributes greatly to his or her own health care, and now we can share information much more widely."
"There is much information already available about health care on the Internet. Unfortunately, much of it is not founded on sound principles. It is exciting to be a part of the MayoClinic.com team and contribute to the creation of a reliable and timely health resource."
Dr. Swanson is the neurology editor for "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book" and has reviewed articles for "Mayo Clinic Health Letter" and "Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource." He is also editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic on Headache" book, published in 2004. In 2008 the magazine "Women's Health" named him one of America's Top Doctors for Women.
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Question
Pulsed radiofrequency neurotomy: A cure for back pain?
What can you tell me about pulsed radiofrequency neurotomy as a treatment for back pain? Does it work?
Answer
from Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Pulsed radiofrequency neurotomy is a safe, effective treatment for back pain. It involves applying electrical current to a small area of nerve tissue to block the transmission of pain.
Pulsed radiofrequency neurotomy is done as an outpatient procedure. Your doctor inserts a needle near one or more nerves that are carrying the pain signal from your spine to your brain. A small electrode is threaded through the needle. Then, a pulsed electrical current is delivered through the tip of the electrode to the targeted nerve. This, in effect, "stuns" the nerve, which temporarily blocks its ability to transmit pain signals. The use of short bursts of electrical current — instead of a continuous flow — allows the tissue to cool between pulses, significantly reducing the risk of any tissue damage.
Pulsed radiofrequency neurotomy doesn't provide permanent pain relief, however. Eventually, the effects of pulsed radiofrequency wear off, and pain may return in as soon as three to six months. This procedure can be repeated, if necessary.
Pulsed radiofrequency neurotomy may be recommended for back pain that has not responded to more conservative treatment methods such as physical therapy and medications.
