Radiofrequency Neurotomy for the Treatment of Pain in the Rehabilitation Patient

Many people suffer from chronic neck and/or low back pain. Spinal pain can often reliably be determined to emanate from the cervical and/or lumbar zygapophyseal (i.e., facet) joints or the sacroiliac joint(s). When the source for neck and/or low back pain is confirmed to be one or more of these joints, radiofrequency neurotomy to the joint(s) is an effective treatment option. This chapter will discuss the epidemiology of zygapophyseal and sacroiliac joint-mediated pain, typical pain syndromes that arise from these joints, how to reliably diagnose pain as coming from these joints, and evidence for radiofrequency neurotomy as a treatment for these conditions.