MCH Foundation Funds Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation Equipment

The Madelia Community Hospital Foundation has funded a new pain management service at the Madelia Community Hospital & Clinic (MCHC). Through donations from community members, the Foundation provided $35,000 in funding to purchase the Coolief Radiofrequency Pain Management System. The system uses cooled radiofrequency ablation (Cooled RF), to reduce or stop the transmission of nerve pain.

“Patients can have a Cooled RF procedure in Madelia without having to travel to the Twin Cities, Rochester or Sioux Falls,” said Bruce Taylor, Foundation Executive Director. “The Foundation is thankful that donations from our community members could be used to bring this new technology and service to Madelia.”

Cooled RF is the first thermal radiofrequency system using water-cooled technology. After an injection of local anesthesia, a thin needle is used to deliver radiofrequency energy through water-cooled electrodes. The electrodes then create large-volume, spherically-shaped lesions that block the transmission of pain signals from the affected nerve to the brain. Use of this technology avoids scars and other risks that are associated with traditional open surgeries. Cooled RF can be used on extremely sick or older patients, who cannot bear the stress of an open surgery.

With Cooled RF there is less pain and scarring, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery, so patients can get back to their normal lives more quickly. Patients undergoing these minimally invasive procedures do not typically require high doses of painkillers.

Which Conditions Are Treated With Cooled RF? Cooled RF can be used to help patients with chronic lower back and neck pain, and pain related to the degeneration of joints from arthritis in the knees, hips, and shoulders.

How Long Does Pain Relief from RFA last? The degree of pain relief varies, depending on the cause and location of the pain. Cooled RF can provide up to 24 months of pain relief, improved functionality and reduced drug utilization.

“Persistent nerve pain can have a profound effect on a person’s ability to perform day-to-day tasks,” said Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Tim Klassen. “By using Cooled RF we can decrease nerve pain without using opioids or more invasive procedures.”

If you are a chronic pain sufferer, talk to your primary care provider about a referral to Tim Klassen for pain management procedures.