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Thermocoagulation - targeted heat, done properly.

Radiofrequency or thermal ablation used to disable a pain-carrying nerve, seal a haemorrhoid or treat a cervical lesion - as an outpatient. A consultant specialist for the indication that matters, and honest expectations of what it does and does not fix.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private thermocoagulation costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner outpatient centres.

In short

£600–£2,500, home same day, no overnight stay.

Procedure Indicative range
Facet joint denervation (RF), single level £1,400–£2,000
Facet joint denervation (RF), multi-level £2,000–£2,800
Genicular nerve RF (knee) £1,600–£2,500
Haemorrhoid thermocoagulation (infrared or bipolar) £600–£1,400
Cervical thermocoagulation (cold coagulation) £800–£1,500
Diagnostic nerve block (pre-ablation) £450–£850
Pain medicine consultation only £220–£400

Prices vary by indication, by the number of nerve targets treated, and by whether image guidance (fluoroscopy or ultrasound) is used. Combined-level nerve ablations sit at the top of the range.

The problem

A pain map that is real, and the ablation that matches it.

Thermocoagulation only works when the target is right.

  • Is the target the right one?

    A diagnostic block first - if a numbing injection to the same nerve gives clear temporary relief, ablation is a rational next step.

  • Ablation is not a cure

    Nerves regrow. Most radiofrequency ablations give 6–18 months of relief. We are honest about that from the start.

  • The right tool for the tissue

When it helps

When thermocoagulation is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the red flag that means proper imaging or oncology review first, not a routine booking.

  • Facet-mediated axial back pain

    Chronic back pain that improves with a diagnostic medial branch block - a rational target for radiofrequency denervation.

  • Chronic knee pain in a preserved joint

    Genicular nerve pain in a knee not yet ready for replacement, or in a stiff knee after replacement.

  • Small internal haemorrhoids

    Grade I–II haemorrhoids with bleeding or discomfort - infrared or bipolar thermocoagulation as an outpatient.

  • Cervical low-grade lesion

    A colposcopy-confirmed low-grade lesion where cold coagulation is a fertility-sparing alternative to LLETZ.

  • Recurrent symptom after a previous ablation

    Nerve regrowth is expected - repeat ablation is straightforward when the initial response was good.

  • Sacroiliac joint pain

    Confirmed sacroiliac joint pain unresponsive to injection - lateral branch RF as a considered next step.

  • Occipital neuralgia

    Chronic occipital nerve pain with clear response to occipital nerve block - pulsed radiofrequency as an option.

  • Red flag: new neurological symptoms

    Weakness, numbness spreading past the target, bladder or bowel change or unexplained weight loss needs imaging first, not thermocoagulation.

Procedure options

The tool follows the target.

What each option involves - radiofrequency, infrared, laser or bipolar thermal energy - and where each one fits.

  • Radiofrequency (continuous)

    The workhorse for nerve ablation. A needle-mounted electrode heats the target nerve to 60–80°C for 60–120 seconds.

  • Pulsed radiofrequency

    Delivers electric-field pulses without full thermal ablation - used where continuous RF would risk sensory loss, such as occipital neuralgia.

  • Cooled radiofrequency

    A water-cooled electrode creates a larger lesion, useful for genicular and sacroiliac targets.

  • Infrared coagulation (IRC)

    A handheld probe delivers infrared light to a haemorrhoid pedicle - the classic outpatient tool for grade I–II piles.

  • Bipolar and laser thermocoagulation

    Alternative energy sources for haemorrhoids and small vascular lesions.

  • Cervical cold coagulation

    A misnomer - the probe heats to 100°C for 20 seconds. A fertility-sparing option for confirmed low-grade cervical disease.

  • Ultrasound or fluoroscopy guidance

    Nerve ablation is done under image guidance to place the electrode accurately and safely.

  • Diagnostic block first

    For chronic pain indications, a numbing injection is done first - only a clear positive response leads to ablation.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Thermocoagulation is an outpatient procedure with a good safety record. The things worth planning are the diagnostic block, realistic expectations of duration of benefit, and the aftercare specific to your indication.

  • Local anaesthetic, light sedation optional

    Nearly all thermocoagulation is done awake with local anaesthetic. Sedation is available for anxious patients - you go home the same day.

  • Bleeding and infection under 1 percent

    Minor bleeding is common at the needle site or after haemorrhoid coagulation and settles within days. Infection is rare.

  • Transient numbness or motor weakness

    A short-lived numbness at the target is expected. True motor weakness is rare and image guidance minimises it.

  • Duration of benefit

    Facet and genicular RF typically give 6–18 months of relief. Repeat treatment is straightforward when the first worked.

  • Post-procedure soreness

    A day or two of soreness at the target is common. Paracetamol and gentle activity are usually enough.

  • Neuritis after ablation

    A small proportion of patients get a short spike in nerve pain in the first 1–2 weeks. It settles - a short course of a nerve-pain medication can bridge it.

  • Cervical or haemorrhoid recovery

    A watery discharge or minor spotting for 1–2 weeks after cervical thermocoagulation. Avoid tampons and intercourse for four weeks.

  • Red flags after the procedure

    Fever, spreading redness, new limb weakness, heavy bleeding or difficulty passing urine needs same-day review, not a routine call.

Reading your operation note

Your procedure note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever indication and energy source were used, the note the specialist sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant reviewing a patient’s thermocoagulation procedure notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the procedure note and the follow-up plan before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication, target and technique

    Why the procedure was done, the exact target treated, and the energy source used (RF, IRC, cold coagulation).

  2. 02 Technique

    Guidance, needle placement and dose

    Whether ultrasound or fluoroscopy was used, the position confirmed and the temperature and time delivered.

  3. 03 Findings

    Immediate response and complications

    What happened during the procedure - pain response, any transient neurological change, bleeding.

  4. 04 Impression

    Aftercare, expected benefit and follow-up

    Read this first: expected duration of relief, when to repeat, and the follow-up plan.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Thermocoagulation is usually covered when medically indicated, though facet joint denervation may need pre-authorisation.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about thermocoagulation.

Quick answers on duration of benefit, indications, cost and recovery.

  • How long does thermocoagulation last?

    For nerve ablations such as facet or genicular RF, most people get 6–18 months of relief. For haemorrhoid coagulation, most small piles settle for years, though the underlying tendency remains. For cervical cold coagulation, the treated area heals fully within 6–8 weeks with high cure rates for low-grade disease.

  • Is it a cure?

    Nerve ablations are not a cure - nerves regrow. Repeat treatment is straightforward and often gives a similar duration of benefit. For haemorrhoids and cervical low-grade lesions, thermocoagulation can be curative in the majority of cases.

  • Do I need a diagnostic block first?

    For chronic pain indications such as facet, genicular or sacroiliac ablation - yes. A numbing block to the same target must give clear temporary relief before we ablate. No positive block, no ablation. For haemorrhoid or cervical thermocoagulation the diagnosis is made at proctoscopy or colposcopy instead.

  • How much does thermocoagulation cost in the UK privately?

    Roughly £600–£1,400 for haemorrhoid infrared or bipolar thermocoagulation, £800–£1,500 for cervical cold coagulation, £1,400–£2,000 for a single-level facet RF, and £2,000–£2,800 for multi-level nerve ablation.

  • How soon can I go back to work?

    Most people return to office work the next day. Manual work in the first week is best avoided after nerve ablation because a transient neuritis can flare. After haemorrhoid or cervical thermocoagulation, next-day return to work is usual.

  • What if the first ablation does not help?

    If a well-chosen diagnostic block worked but the ablation did not, the electrode position may not have covered the target - a repeat with adjusted technique is a reasonable next step. If the diagnostic block itself was equivocal, we look again at the pain source rather than repeat the burn.

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