Genicular Nerve Ablation
Genicular Nerve Ablation
If you suffer from knee pain caused by osteoarthritis or other knee conditions that are not responding to regular treatment, including knee joint injections, your doctor may recommend a genicular nerve ablation. This minimally invasive procedure is a safe and effective method to relieve your knee pain and is one of the few treatments available to alleviate pain that may exist even after a knee joint replacement surgery.
In order to correctly diagnose the correct nerve, your doctor first performs a diagnostic nerve block where the nerves to the knee joint are anesthetized under x-ray guidance. If this procedure provides pain relief, you may move forward with a genicular nerve ablation procedure.
This procedure is performed in an outpatient setting and only requires local anesthesia. Once the area is numbed, the doctor will use an x-ray device to guide a radiofrequency needle to the affected nerves. The nerves are then stimulated to confirm that the needles are correctly positioned along the nerves of the knee joint. Once the sites are anesthetized for a period of time, the doctor will heat the ends of the needle using radiofrequency to permanently disrupt the nerve’s ability to transmit pain. After a brief observation period, you are allowed to go home, though you should arrange a ride to and from the appointment.
Complications from this procedure are rare, but include infection, bleeding, and nerve damage. While this procedure may take several weeks to provide relief, it can provide pain relief lasting 6 to 12 months or more and can be repeated if the pain returns. At Mountain View Pain Center, we are dedicated to finding the best way to relieve your pain and return you to your normal activities. Contact one of our offices today to learn more!
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