Pulsed Radiofrequency

At Welbeck, PRF is performed as a day procedure using local anaesthetic, and is therefore not usually a painful procedure. In fact, you may not feel very much sensation during the minutes when the actual treatment takes place. Here’s what to expect:

1. Your consultant will prepare you for your procedure by asking questions about medications and allergies, talking you through the procedure, and asking you to sign a consent form. They will also check your blood pressure and heart rate.

2. Once you’re settled on the treatment couch, you’ll have a sticky pad placed on your body, away from the target area. This will create the electrical circuit your treatment needs.

3. Your consultant will clean the skin in the target area and apply a local anaesthetic. The anaesthetic might sting a bit before it kicks in.

4. You will be asked to keep as still as you can during the procedure.

5. When your skin has gone numb, your consultant will insert a fine, hollow needle with a wire inside very slowly and carefully. They will use an ultrasound or X-ray to identify the target area to be treated.

6. When the needle is in place next to the target nerve, the nerve will be stimulated.

7. This gentle stimulus is designed to cause tingling in the affected nerve.

8. The settings are then changed to cause small contractions in the muscles. This may feel odd, but not painful.

9. Next, the needle has an electrical current passed through it. This current causes an electromagnetic field around the point of the needle and the nerve root next to it. The electromagnetic field is maintained for a few minutes and then stopped. This is repeated. Some people may experience discomfort during this part of the process.

10.  At the end of the procedure, a small amount of steroid and local anaesthetic will be injected around the nerve.

11.  The needle will then be removed. A small plaster will be placed over the needle site.

12.  You may then get dressed again and be asked to sit in the waiting area for a short period to make sure you’re ready to go home.

PRF injections are considered a very safe treatment, and the electrical field doesn’t damage the nerve or other tissues around it. Sometimes a small injection of local anaesthetic or steroid is also given around the nerve to help with pain and inflammation. Serious side effects or complications are rare.

Common side effects include:

• bruising or tenderness at the injection site

• a prickling or sunburn sensation that eases over time

• feeling an increase in pain – if this happens, it usually only lasts a few days

Rare risks include:

• more serious bleeding or infection

• an increase in pain that doesn’t go away

• temporary or permanent nerve injury

• an allergic reaction, or temporary leg or arm weakness from the local anaesthetic

Your consultant will talk you through any specific needs for your case, but it can help to prepare for your procedure in the following ways: 

• tell your consultant as soon as possible if there’s any chance you may be pregnant, if you have a pacemaker or other electrical implants, you have an infection, or you’ve had a vaccination in the previous 2 weeks, or are due to have one in the following 2 weeks

• don’t eat for 6 hours before the procedure. If your procedure is under local anaesthetic only, you may be able to eat and drink normally - your consultant will advise you

• you can drink water and diluted squash up until 2 hours before, but avoid fruit juice, tea, coffee or milk

•  if you have diabetes, discuss fasting, drinking and your medication with your consultant

• take all your regular medications except blood thinners such as clopidogrel, warfarin, dipyridamole, rivaroxaban – talk to your consultant about this

• be prepared for basic checks like blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen saturation

• be prepared to answer questions about medications and allergies – bring a list of your regular medications or your repeat prescription with you 

• be prepared to put on a medical gown, which requires you to take off your clothes apart from your underwear

• you’ll usually be at Welbeck for between 2 to 4 hours – the procedure itself usually takes around 10 to 20 minutes

• make sure you bring glasses for reading any consent forms, and other things you need, such as hearing or mobility aids

Straight after the procedure, you’ll be taken to a recovery room where the Welbeck team will check your blood pressure and pulse. After that, there are a few things to note for your journey home and self-care:

•  organise for someone to take you home afterwards and stay with you overnight if possible. At the very least, make sure you have someone you can call if you need to

• take off any dressings or plaster before you go to bed

• for the first 24 hours, do not drink alcohol, drive, operate machinery, give childcare on your own, or sign legal documents

• take your regular medications as usual, including blood thinners

• you may need painkillers for a day or two – talk to your consultant if you already usually take some

• keep moving gently and build up slowly to your usual level of activity over the next 2 weeks

• go back to any physiotherapy as soon as you feel able

As everyone is different, the Welbeck Pain Medicine centre consultants will always want to have a follow-up appointment for your personalised care. This is to:

• check how the treatment has worked for you

• answer any questions you have about ongoing pain management, such as reducing or changing medications based on how well the PRF works for you

• talk through any concerns you may have about side effects and how to manage them – although these are rare

• discuss access to the multi-disciplinary teams at Welbeck, who offer additional pain management support, such as physiotherapy

Please contact our Pain Medicine centre for pricing information.

At Welbeck, our Pain Medicine consultants are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

To book a private pulsed radiofrequency treatment, you must be referred by either your GP or a specialist who manages your pain condition, following a consultation with them. Self-referrals are not accepted for this treatment.

If you would like to schedule a consultation with a Pain Medicine centre consultant, please get in touch to make an appointment. Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.