Radio frequency ablation, where heat energy destroys or stuns the nerves of a painful joint, is a developing therapy for chronic arthritis-related back pain. In the right situation, this approach may be welcome — though usually not permanent — relief. In an outpatient procedure, doctors apply radio frequency energy either continuously for one to two minutes to destroy the pain-causing nerve tissue; or in pulses to stun the nerves.
 
Pulsed radio frequency may be as effective in pain relief as the continuous method, but the relief generally does not last as long. In theory, since the tissue is stunned and not destroyed, the pulsed treatment is safer and not expected to offer diminishing returns when repeated.

Definitive research has not accurately quantified success rates. But for patients with arthritis-related back pain that hasn't responded to other treatments, radio frequency ablation is an option.