Freeze vs. burn: new study tests safer pain relief for back pain sufferers

This study compares two treatments for chronic low back pain caused by facet joints: standard radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which burns pain-signaling nerves, and a newer therapy called iovera°, which freezes those nerves temporarily without causing permanent damage. The goal is to see if the freezing method is a good alternative for pain relief. About 30 adults with long-term low back pain will be randomly assigned to one of the two procedures and followed for a year through surveys and phone calls.