Patient’s basic information Chen XX, male, 70 years old, was admitted to the hospital on 2012-12-6 with “lumbar back pain with numbness of both lower limbs for 2 years, aggravated for 10 days” as an outpatient with “lumbar intervertebral herniation”. Symptoms: Low back pain, aggravated by exertion and cold, with pain and numbness in both lower limbs, radiating to the soles of both feet, and intermittent claudication. MRI of lumbar spine showed L3-S1 disc protrusion, spinal stenosis and severe lumbar degeneration. He was admitted to our outpatient clinic with “lumbar spinal stenosis” after the treatment with physiotherapy and acupuncture rehabilitation in other hospitals was ineffective. At the time of admission, he had pain and numbness in both lower limbs, which could be radiated to the soles of both feet, intermittent claudication, and painful suffocation in both lower limbs when walking 200 meters on flat ground. Examination and diagnosis Specialized examination: flat back, lumbar mobility: 50° anterior flexion, 10° posterior extension, 15° left and right lateral bending, 10° left and right rotation, L3-S1 paravertebral pressure and percussion pain (+), bilateral straight leg raise test 70° (-), strengthening test (-), bilateral femoral nerve pull test (+), normal muscle strength and skin sensation in both lower limbs, pathological signs were not elicited. Preoperative VAS score was 5.6, JOA score was 17, and lumbar spine MRI showed L3-S1 disc herniation, spinal stenosis, and lumbar degeneration. Treatment procedure L4/S1 lumbar radiofrequency current catheter ablation was performed on Dec. 9. The patient’s pain in both lower limbs disappeared on the first postoperative day, with a VAS score of 2 and a JOA score of 24. Comment The treatment options for lumbar disc herniation and lumbar spinal stenosis can be divided into three categories: 1. conservative treatment, 2. minimally invasive treatment, and 3. open surgical treatment. Different treatment plans are given for different conditions. In the early stage of the disease, conservative treatment should be given, including bed rest, physical therapy, and oral anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs; in the middle stage: when the symptom relief is not obvious after 3-6 months of conservative treatment and the symptoms gradually worsen, minimally invasive or surgical treatment should be considered, and in the late stage: when the patient has sensory and muscle strength changes, which suggest the appearance of nerve damage, active surgical treatment should be given to release the compression, which not only prevents further aggravation of the damaged nerve but also complete eradication of the disease. Lumbar spine radiofrequency current catheter ablation is a kind of minimally invasive treatment, which is currently internationally recognized as minimally invasive, highly efficient, painless, safe and economical green therapy; the whole treatment process is precisely positioned under 64-row CT guidance and detected under digital silhouette, with data accurate to 0.5 mm, and the whole operation is visualized, which will not injure the surrounding normal tissues and organs, ensuring safety before and after treatment, no infection and no side injury. Most patients can have their pain symptoms relieved within 24 hours after surgery and can be discharged after 3-5 days of observation.