3 Conditions Radiofrequency Surgery Can Treat

Many people associate radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with back or neck pain, but it's more than that. RFA is a successful treatment for many types of nerve-related pain, including conditions in the heels and feet.

If you've ever lived with heel pain or plantar fasciitis, you know how severe the discomfort is. It's challenging to treat with conservative measures, but nobody wants invasive surgery.

RFA is an excellent alternative, one that Dr. Mark Sharobeem and the team at Manhattan Podiatry Group offer in New York City. Dr. Sharobeem is an experienced podiatrist who provides radiofrequency surgery and other treatments for common foot conditions.

What is radiofrequency surgery?

Radiofrequency surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a probe to deliver high-energy radiofrequency waves to painful nerves. The procedure requires only a tiny incision, where Dr. Sharobeem inserts the probe into your skin.

RFA produces heat on the affected nerve, damaging it. The nerve is no longer able to send pain signals to the brain, which relieves your discomfort.

You may be a candidate for RFA if you have nerve pain that other conservative treatments have failed to tame, and you can't enjoy everyday activities. Although it's considered surgery, it's minimally invasive, and you don't require anesthesia.

During the in-office procedure, Dr. Sharobeem injects a local anesthetic into the foot. Once the foot is numb, he makes a tiny incision and inserts the probe. He uses a nerve stimulator to ensure he's in the right area.

When he finds the correct nerve, Dr. Sharobeem turns on the radiofrequency energy to slowly heat it. The procedure is quick and typically painless, and you can go home afterward.

Three treatable conditions with RFA

RFA is an excellent treatment for various nerve-related conditions, including in the feet. If you have any of the following three conditions, Dr. Sharobeem may recommend radiofrequency ablation surgery:

Neuroma

Pain in the ball of the foot could be caused by Morton's neuroma, a condition in which the tissue around a nerve thickens, entrapping the nerve and causing pain.

If you're living with a neuroma, you may feel like you always have a pebble under your foot, which makes it very uncomfortable to walk. Dr. Sharobeem uses RFA to heat and damage the nerve. You get long-term pain relief from the neuroma.

Plantar fasciitis

Your feet have a long band of tissue that runs from the toes to the heel, known as the plantar fascia. This thick, durable fibrous piece of tissue can become inflamed and painful, usually from overuse.

Plantar fasciitis may cause pain in the heel or arch of the foot and stiffness in the Achilles tendon. Nerves in the feet may also become inflamed, leading to more discomfort.

RFA is a great option when other measures have failed to relieve heel or foot pain caused by plantar fasciitis or neuritis.

Nerve pain

It's not uncommon to have surgery on the feet because they bear the weight of our bodies daily. However, sometimes surgery leaves behind a souvenir in the form of nerve entrapment.

After surgery, scar tissue forms around the surgical area. In most cases, this doesn't cause any problems. Sometimes, the scar tissue grows around nerves, entrapping them and causing pain. RFA gently heats and damages the nerve, reducing your pain afterward.

Recovery after RFA is relatively quick, and you can typically return to normal activities within a few days. You should notice some relief immediately, with optimal relief after a few days to weeks as the nerve dies off.

Call the Manhattan Podiatry Group today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Sharobeem for radiofrequency surgery, or visit our website. We have New York City offices in Gramercy Park and Staten Island, and one in Newark, New Jersey.