Genicular Nerve Ablation Procedure For Knee Pain

Chronic Knee Pain? The Genicular Nerve Ablation procedure can help you.

Chronic knee pain may present as a:

• • Constant ache
  • Sharp, shooting pain when in use
  • Dull burning discomfort
  • Chronic swelling and pain when the knee is touched

Chronic knee pain rarely goes away without treatment. Treatments may include:

• Physical Therapy
• Injections
• Surgery

Some patients try to avoid surgery. Some have had surgery but the knee pain continues to persist. In these cases Genicular Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) may be an option (also known as the Genicular Nerve Ablation procedure).

Genicular RFA is an innovative option for treating knee pain without surgery. It is an outpatient procedure, which blocks nerves that transmit pain from the knee, and prevents pain signals from reaching the brain. Usually it is preceded by a diagnostic block with local anesthetic agent. If adequate pain relief is confirmed patient may proceed for Radiofrequency Ablation.

The procedure is performed with either local anesthesia or under mild sedation. Specialized RF needles will be placed under sterile conditions to target the genicular nerve branches of the knee.

After confirming the placement of the needles with fluoroscopic guidance, Radiofrequency will be performed with heated needle tips. This will disrupt the nerves which transmit pain from the joint.

Pain relief from this procedure may last anywhere from 6 months to 12 months.