This procedure is the destruction of a nerve by heating the nerve with an electrode placed near to it. This is typically used to ablate dorsal medial nerve branches innervating painful facets. With the assistance of fluoroscopy, a needle with an inner electrode is put into place and attached to a radio frequency generator. Stimulation is accomplished to confirm that the needle electrode is close enough to kill the nerve and far away from any motor nerves. Once sensory and motor testing has been done to ensure that a safe and effective location has been identified, the physician will proceed to heat the electrode. This, in turn, denatures the protein in the nerve which results in the interruption of the nerve supply from the facet to the spinal cord.