Table 1.

The suggested pain-reducing mechanism of pulsed radiofrequency

Long-term depression of pain signaling

Changes at the molecular level

Deactivation of microglia at the level of the spinal dorsal horn

Reduction of proinflammatory cytokines

Increment of endogenous opioid precursor messenger ribonucleic acid

Changes in neuronal activity

Enhancement of noradrenergic and serotonergic descending pain inhibitory pathway

Suppression of excitation of C-afferent fibers

Microscopic damage of nociceptive C- and A-delta fibers