If you have been diagnosed with lumbar facet joint pain (zygapophysial joint arthropathy) you may be a candidate for a lumbar radiofrequency neurotomy. Neurotomy is a procedure which results in interruption of the nerve supply to a facet joint. This interruption, known as denervation, is accomplished by a radio-frequency (RF) probe that heats the 2 small nerve branches to each facet joint. These nerves are called the medial branches.