Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) and Direct Primary Care (DPC): Precision Pain Relief, Personalized
RFA can help if you have chronic pain from joints, nerves, or tumors that makes your life difficult. But it can be hard to plan this procedure. Direct Primary Care (DPC) changes this journey by giving you smooth, caring support so you can get your comfort back without any trouble.
Learn about RFA: Heat to Heal
RFA uses heat from radio waves to kill off abnormal tissue, like nerves or tumors. Helps with long-term pain, varicose veins, or small cancers. An outpatient procedure that takes 1 to 2 weeks to heal.
Important information for patients:
- Uses: To treat arthritis, back pain, liver tumors, or venous insufficiency.
- Safety: There is only a 1–2% chance of getting burned or infected, and soreness is common for a short time.
- Costs: Traditional clinics charge between 2,000 USD and 5,000 USD. DPC cuts costs by 20% to 30%.
Risks of care that is not coordinated:
- Treatment that takes too long and causes pain to last longer.
- Not enough attention was paid to pain after the procedure.
- Unplanned follow-ups put a strain on finances.
What DPC Changes RFA Care
Direct Primary Care (DPC) works on a membership basis, costing between 150 USD and 300 USD per month. Members can see a provider as many times as they want, and the provider handles every step of the process, from referral to recovery.
1. Full Evaluation and Coordination
- Coordinating imaging: Get MRIs or ultrasounds to find out where the pain is coming from.
- Collaboration between interventionalists: Get RFA slots with pain specialists or surgeons.
- Before surgery, make changes to blood thinners, control diabetes, or lower inflammation.
2. Clear costs and full support
- Prices that include everything: Put together the costs of pre-op labs, the procedure, and follow-up visits.
- DPC members pay between 1,600 and 4,000 USD, which is less than the usual 5,000 USD or more.
- Pain management: Use NSAIDs, nerve blocks, or mindfulness techniques.
3. Recovery with compassion and long-term relief
- Access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Tell your provider if you have swelling, fever, or new pain.
- Activity guidance: Give advice on how to slowly get back to work or exercise.
- Monitoring for recurrence: Schedule repeat RFAs or other treatments as needed.
Stories of Success in Real Life
- Case 1: Maria, 60, has facet joint arthritis in Case 1. Maria's DPC clinic set up lumbar RFA. Pain went down by 80%, which saved 10,000 USD in opioid prescriptions.
- Case 2: Tom, 45, has varicose veins. Tom's DPC provider set up RFA for him, which let him stand all day at work again.
RFA in DPC: Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: How long does the pain go away?
- A: 6 to 24 months. DPC schedules procedures to be done again as needed.
- Q: Can I drive after RFA?
- A: Yes, unless you are sedated. DPC tells you how much you can do.
- Q: Do follow-ups come with it?
- A: Yes. Talk about recovery, pain levels, or new symptoms without paying anything extra.
Why DPC is the best for interventional care
The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) puts a lot of weight on outcomes that are important to patients. DPC gets things done by:
- Cutting down on wait times: 90% of patients get RFA within 2 weeks instead of the usual 6 weeks or more.
- Reducing problems: Following protocols 95% of the time lowers the risk of infection.
- Saving money: Bundled pricing lets members save between 1,000 USD and 3,000 USD.
Final Thoughts
RFA is more than just a procedure; it's a way to live without pain. With DPC, you get a partner who makes sure you are well-prepared, watches over your recovery, and gives you ways to keep the relief going. No red tape, no surprise bills—just constant help along the way to health.
