The human knee is put through a lot of stress during everyday activities. Even though the knee is the largest and strongest joint in the body, it is still prone to osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis of the knee is the most common form of arthritis found in the knee. This disorder can cause chronic knee pain, swelling and stiffness. The physicians at OPTIMAL Pain & Regenerative Medicine® are proud to offer genicular nerve block to patients in the Arlington, Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas area.
What is Osteoarthritis of the Knee?
Osteoarthritis of the knee is a degenerative, “wear and tear” type of arthritis that typically occurs in adults 50 years of age and older. With this particular type of arthritis, the cartilage in the knee joint wears away over time. As this happens, the cartilage becomes frayed and rough, and the protective space between the bone decreases. With the protective space limited bone can begin to rub on adjacent bone, which can lead to bone spurs. Osteoarthritis of the knee can make everyday activities painful. Fortunately, the genicular nerve block procedure can help.
What is Genicular Nerve Block?
When chronic osteoarthritis of the knee cannot be managed with conventional pain management treatments, a genicular nerve block may be considered. A genicular nerve block is a minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment option that can be used when other treatments have failed. By applying radiofrequency (RF) energy to the genicular nerves, a physician can effectively relieve knee pain.
The procedure is performed in two stages:
- Diagnostic genicular nerve block- a small amount of local anesthetic is placed on the genicular nerves. If the knee pain is diminished, patients will move on to stage 2.
- Genicular nerve ablation- a RF ablation of the genicular nerves is performed.
After the treatment, patients can expect to have restored function and alleviated pain in the knee within a short amount of time. Complications are rare, and many patients can return to work within one day. If you suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee and believe a genicular nerve block may be right for you, please contact the OPTIMAL Pain & Regenerative Medicine® physicians.