Exploring the Potential Relief from Knee Ache through Nerve Blocks and Radiofrequency Ablation?
Gimping Around with Knee Pain? Consider These Non-Surgical Solutions
When knee osteoarthritis gets nasty, many folks turn to joint replacement surgery. But hey, not everyone's a candidate for that operation or ready to hop into the operating room just yet. That's where genicular nerve blocks come in handy! These nifty treatments can help alleviate knee ache, giving you more time to kick back and enjoy life before surgery.
A Quick Primer on Knee Pain and OA
With osteoarthritis, the cartilage covering your knee joint's bone ends wears down and thins, leading to inflammation and damage to other parts of the joint. The outcome? Pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Initially, knee OA is treated with physical therapy, exercises, weight loss (if necessary), a knee brace, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A corticosteroid injection might also offer short-term relief. However, results vary, and there's a limit to the number of these injections you can get.
When pain and dysfunction persist despite these measures and interfere with daily activities, joint replacement surgery may be considered. This procedure relieves pain by replacing the natural structures in the joint with an implant made of metal and plastic.
The Role of Nerve Blocks
For people who can't undergo surgery or delay it, genicular nerve blocks offer an alternative route to pain relief. In these blocks, an anesthetic drug is injected on the side of the knee at three specific spots, targeting nerves surrounding the knee. This stops pain signals from reaching the brain.
Unlike corticosteroid shots, anesthetic for a nerve block stays outside the joint. "We want to target nerves before they dive into the knee," says Dr. Robert Bolash, a pain management expert.
Within 15 to 30 minutes of the injection, you should notice pain relief. "We ask them to engage in activity right away to really test it out to see whether it is helpful," explains Dr. Bolash.
Nerve blocks last for a variable time, sometimes just a few hours, other times weeks, months, or even longer. It's impossible to predict exactly how long the relief will last, but if you get months or years of respite, the procedure can be repeated when the pain returns.
Stepping Up to Radiofrequency Ablation
If nerve blocks don't provide long-term relief, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may be an option. Unlike nerve blocks, RFA delivers heat that permanently disables the nerve, preventing it from sending pain signals.
Like genicular nerve blocks, RFA is an outpatient procedure. It involves inserting a needle heated to 176 degrees Fahrenheit. Using ultrasound or X-ray guidance ensures the needle is placed directly on the nerve. An insulated needle is used to prevent other tissues from burning or getting too hot.
Some people get immediate relief, while for most, pain relief sets in after five to seven days when the soreness and swelling subside. RFA often provides pain relief for six months to one year. After that, pain can return as the disabled nerves heal and regrow, at which point you can repeat the procedure.
Understanding the Risks
Any time a needle is inserted into the body, there are risks. For both nerve blocks and RFA, the potential complications are minimal: bleeding, infection, and damage to nearby structures. These risks are rare, thanks to the use of small needles, sterile settings, and imaging guidance.
The Ultimate Goal: Improved Function
"The goal is to allow people to be more active and engaged," says Dr. Bolash. "If we get someone to less pain, that's a good job, and if we get someone to have more function, that's a great job."
In short, genicular nerve blocks and RFA are effective non-surgical options for managing knee osteoarthritis pain. These treatments can reduce pain and improve function, potentially deferring or avoiding knee replacement surgery. For those who aren't surgery candidates or want to postpone it, these procedures can be an attractive alternative.
- Alongside managing chronic-kidney-disease and cancer, maintaining cardiovascular-health, fitness-and-exercise, and proper nutrition are essential aspects of health-and-wellness, especially in managing chronic-diseases and various medical-conditions.
- The development of new scientific-research, coupled with better understanding of the human body and medical-conditions, has led to advancements in therapies-and-treatments for chronic-diseases, such as chronic-kidney-disease and osteoarthritis.
- While exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy diet are vital for overall health, alternatives like genicular nerve blocks can provide immediate pain relief for individuals suffering from chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis, allowing them to continue their health-and-wellness routines.
- Management of chronic knee-pain due to osteoarthritis can also involve the consideration of various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which, while providing temporary relief, could potentially impact cardiovascular-health over an extended period.
- Nutritional adjustments, such as weight loss, are often recommended for individuals with osteoarthritis, as it may alleviate pressure on the knee joint, reducing pain and potentially delaying the need for advanced therapies-and-treatments, like joint replacement surgery.
