Lumbar Radiofrequency Ablation in Riverside & the Inland Empire

Back pain that stays in the spine — worse when you arch, twist, stand, or stand up from a chair — is often facet pain, not a disc on a nerve. Lumbar radiofrequency ablation (RFA), also called lumbar facet rhizotomy or medial branch neurotomy, quiets those small nerves after diagnostic blocks agree. University Pain Consultants does this under fluoroscopy in Riverside, Corona, Menifee, Temecula, Hemet, and San Bernardino.

Call 951-784-7111 · Choose your location

Offices: Riverside · Corona · Menifee · Temecula · Hemet · San Bernardino

Overview of both regions: radiofrequency ablation. Neck facets: cervical radiofrequency ablation.

Who lumbar RFA is for

Axial low-back pain after therapy, activity changes, and medication have fallen short:

Ache with extension, twisting, or prolonged standing

Stiffness rising from a chair or straightening after bending

Referral to the buttock or posterior thigh, usually not past the knee

Temporary relief from lumbar medial branch blocks

Our physicians include Drs. Chen, Guiang, Hyun, and Pang. No single physician does every RFA.

Who may not be a good candidate

Sciatica — leg pain, numbness, or weakness. Start with a lumbar epidural, not facet ablation.

Buttock pain the blocks miss. Think sacroiliac joint.

Blocks that did not briefly ease your usual pain

Infection, pregnancy, or a bleeding risk not yet reviewed

Wanting a permanent cure. Relief, when it happens, lasts months

New weakness or bowel and bladder change — urgent evaluation first

What lumbar RFA is (plain language)

Medial branch nerves supply each lumbar facet. At the lowest joint the target is the L5 dorsal ramus. A needle sits beside those nerves, position is tested, and controlled heat stops them carrying joint pain for a time. Not surgery, not an implant, home the same day. Heat does not erase arthritis on an image. Levels follow the exam and the blocks.

Watch on YouTube · Dr. Gary Pang, University Pain Consultants — Lumbar Radiofrequency Ablation

Two blocks before ablation

The usual path is two medial branch blocks on different days. Local anesthetic numbs the suspected nerves. You log the next few hours. Both visits should clearly, temporarily help. One block misleads, and many plans, including common Medicare criteria, want two positive tests before authorizing RFA. Details: facet injections and medial branch blocks.

Procedure day

Office fluoroscopy, usually awake with local anesthetic, so you can say if pain shoots down the leg. You lie face-down. Live X-ray sets the needle on bone beside each nerve chosen from the blocks. Unlike an epidural, we do not confirm with contrast. Sensory testing should stay in the back. Motor testing should not move the leg. Heat is brief, and only after that. One side or both; sometimes staged. Expect about 45 to 90 minutes. Tell us before the visit if you have a pacemaker, defibrillator, or stimulator, and do not stop a blood thinner on your own.

Recovery

That day

Deep ache as the skin anesthetic fades. No heavy lifting.

First week

Standing and arching hurt most. A sunburn-like or numb skin patch often fades.

Weeks 2 to 4

If RFA will help, this is when it eases. Block relief was anesthetic, not the result in the parking lot.

Then

Walk and go back to therapy during the quieter months.

Call for fever, wound infection, new leg weakness, or bowel or bladder change.

How long relief lasts

When it helps, count months. About 6 to 12 months is commonly quoted; shorter and longer both happen. Not a promised year. The nerve can regrow. Repeat RFA is sometimes reasonable if the same pattern returns — after a new look, not automatically, and not if a disc has become the driver.

Risks

Common and temporary: soreness, bruise, a short flare, numb or sensitive skin. Less common: infection, bleeding, allergy, or a nerve irritated more than intended. Nerve-root injury is uncommon once motor testing is done, and it is still discussed because the needle is near the spine. Your history, including blood thinners, is reviewed first.

Epidural, not RFA, for leg pain

Facet RFA is not first-line treatment for a herniated disc, stenosis, or radicular pain. That conversation starts with an epidural steroid injection. If both seem possible, blocks set the order. Mid-back facets are covered on the RFA overview.

Insurance and scheduling

Insurance-based care at all six offices. Most major plans are accepted. RFA usually needs authorization from the block notes. Staff verify benefits when they can. Call 951-784-7111.

Cash-pay regenerative options are separate at upcregenmed.com (Riverside & Menifee) and are not part of this procedure.

Riverside and the other five offices

Riverside is 6900 Brockton Ave. #203, Riverside, CA 92506. Corona, Menifee, Temecula, Hemet, and San Bernardino are the same practice when the drive is shorter, including Moreno Valley, Murrieta, and the cities around those offices.

Six University Pain Consultants locations

Riverside

6900 Brockton Ave. #203, Riverside, CA 92506

Corona

2083 Compton Ave. #104, Corona, CA 92881

Menifee

27990 Sherman Road, Menifee, CA 92585

Temecula

27450 Ynez Road #202, Temecula, CA 92591

Hemet

3989 West Stetson Ave. #102, Hemet, CA 92545

San Bernardino

164 West Hospitality Lane #5, San Bernardino, CA 92408

Main: 951-784-7111 · Fax: 951-823-5000 · All locations & maps

FAQ

Does lumbar radiofrequency ablation hurt?

After numbing, expect pressure and a deep ache, plus a brief cramp with the heat. Speak up if pain shoots down the leg. IV sedation is not routine.

How long does lumbar RFA relief last?

Often months. A common quote is 6 to 12 months, not a guarantee. Nerves can regrow.

How many medial branch blocks do I need first?

Usually two, on separate days, each with clear temporary relief. Many insurers want both notes before they authorize RFA.

Is lumbar RFA covered by insurance?

Often, if the blocks meet plan rules and authorization goes through. Call 951-784-7111 to check benefits.

Can I drive myself home?

Many unsedated patients can. We confirm the morning of lumbar RFA. Sedation means a driver. Neck RFA is stricter: cervical radiofrequency ablation.

How is lumbar RFA different from cervical RFA?

Both treat medial branches after blocks. Lumbar RFA is face-down for low-back facets. Cervical RFA is for neck facets, sometimes upper-neck headache, with a different recovery. Separate visits.

Is this the same as an epidural for sciatica?

No. Epidurals target nerve roots and disc-related leg pain. Lumbar RFA heats facet nerves. See the lumbar epidural page if the leg is the main problem.

What is a facet rhizotomy, and can it be repeated?

Rhizotomy, neurotomy, and medial branch RFA are the same procedure. A later repeat is sometimes appropriate if the old pain returns. It is not automatic.

Ready to talk about lumbar radiofrequency ablation near you?

Call 951-784-7111 · Choose your location

Offices: Riverside · Corona · Menifee · Temecula · Hemet · San Bernardino

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Educational information only — not personal medical advice. Individual results and risks vary. Ask your physician whether this treatment is appropriate for you.