Genicular Nerve Radio-Frequency Ablation
Genicular Nerve Radio-Frequency Ablation : Procedure and Recovey : Chronic knee pain is common, particularly among sportsmen, obese, and aged people. Chronic knee pain could be a result of osteoarthritis, arthritis, tendonitis, injuries, or conditions affecting the knee.
Chronic knee pain is often challenging to treat and most people still continue to feel pain even after conservative treatments such as medications, physical therapy, weight loss program or anti-inflammatory injections.
Genicular nerve radio-frequency ablation is a more intensive treatment method for chronic knee pain that provides immediate and long-lasting pain relief.
The genicular nerves are the nerves that control and send pain signals around the knee region to the brain. Blocking these nerves before they deliver pain signals to the brain can help prevent you from feeling the pain.
Genicular nerve radio-frequency ablation involves creating a heated environment around the genicular nerves to disrupt or stop pain signals from reaching the brain.
Before a genicular nerve radio-frequency ablation is conducted, a Genicular Knee Block is first conducted to ascertain if the patient is a right candidate for genicular nerve radio-frequency ablation.
If you experience pain relief from a genicular nerve block, then your doctor will schedule you for a genicular nerve radio-frequency ablation for a more long-lasting pain relief.
What is Genicular Nerve Block?
Genicular Nerve Block involves blocking the genicular nerves from transmitting pain signals from the knee area to the brain with the use of local anesthetics. The nerve block is done to targeted nerves at different angles. More than one injection shot is usually required.
Genicular nerve block is a prerequisite for genicular nerve radio-frequency ablation. Genicular nerve block provides temporary pain relief that could last for a few months while genicular nerve radio-frequency ablation provides a more permanent pain relief that can last for many months to few years.
After undergoing a genicular nerve block, if you don’t experience any pain relief, your doctor may not go ahead with a genicular nerve radio-frequency ablation. The reason is because if a genicular nerve block does not reduce your pain, a genicular nerve radio-frequency ablation will also not reduce. However, if you experience pain relief up to 50%, your doctor will most certainly schedule you for a genicular nerve radio-frequency ablation. Genicular nerve radio-frequency ablation is a complementing procedure to a genicular knee block that provides longer-lasting pain relief.
Genicular Nerve Ablation: A systemic review of the procedure
Genicular nerve radio-frequency ablation is done using an X-ray guidance called Fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy guidance is used to find the right nerve or nerves that are transmitting the pain signals.
When the nerves are found, the physician will then administer a mild amount of anesthetic around the nerves. A heated radiofrequency needle will then be used to interrupt the nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.
Most patients that have had genicular nerve ablation have testified that it reduces their pain better than other kinds of steroid injections. Genicular nerve ablation can last for a couple of months to years before the procedure is repeated.
During a Genicular Nerve Block
A Genicular Nerve Block must first be conducted before a genicular nerve radio-frequency ablation will be conducted.
Below are the steps for a genicular nerve block:
- You will be made to lie down on your back on an operating bed. You may also be allowed to sit with your legs straightened on a flat surface.
- You may be given a mild sedative to help you relax and reduce discomfort.
- Using X-ray guidance, your doctor will inject a spinal insulated needle into the genicular nerve region.
- Medication containing a local anesthetic and corticosteroids will be injected into the genicular nerve region.
- After the medication is injected, the needle will be removed. A cleaning solution will be used to clean the injection site to avoid swelling, infection or bleeding.
- You will be allowed to rest for less than an hour. Your doctor will ask you whether you feel any pain relief to affirm if the procedure was successful or not. If you feel pain relief for as much as 50%, then the procedure is successful.
- If the genicular nerve block was successful, then your doctor will conduct a genicular nerve radio-frequency ablation.
- Still with x-ray guidance, your doctor will then use a heated radiofrequency needle to interrupt the nerves from sending pain signals to the brain. Only the targeted nerves will be interrupted.
- The needle will be removed and the injection site bandaged.
Genicular nerve ablation recovery
After genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation you will be taken to a recovery room until you feel better to go home.
You might notice some soreness in the skin area where the needles were injected. The soreness usually goes away in a day or two. To reduce discomfort or soreness, you can place an ice pack on the injection sites for 20 minutes, three or four times a day.
Avoid bathing for two days after your procedure. You may only take a warm shower a day after your procedure.
You will need to rest for several days before returning to work or activities
How long does a Genicular nerve ablation last?
Genicular nerve ablation can provide pain relief for 6 months to up to 2 years.
FAQS
What is nerve ablation of the knee?
Nerve ablation of the knee is a procedure that involves using radiofrequency heat or energy to disrupt nerves from sending pain signals from the knee area to the brain. The reason for this procedure is to reduce or relieve chronic pain from knee arthritis or other conditions affecting the knee.
Where are the Genicular nerves?
The genicular nerves are the nerves that control and send pain signals around the knee region to the brain. Blocking these nerves before they deliver pain signals to the brain can help prevent you from feeling the pain. The genicular nerves consist of the superior lateral and medial, the inferior lateral and medial, and the tidal genicular nerves.
Do they put you to sleep for nerve block?
You won’t be put to sleep during a nerve block. This is because it is not an invasive or very painful procedure. You may only be given a mild sedative to help you relax and reduce discomfort during the injection.
How painful is a nerve block injection?
During a nerve block injection, you will be administered a mild sedative and numbing agent to prevent pain during the procedure. You will typically not feel pain during the procedure.
Does a knee ablation hurt?
Following a knee ablation, you may experience soreness or discomfort at the injection site that lasts for a day or two. The soreness or discomfort will usually subside in two days.
Is a nerve block the same as ablation?
A nerve block is a prerequisite for nerve ablation. During a nerve block, anesthetic along with corticosteroids is injected into the nerves to reduce inflammation and pain.
Ablation means using radiofrequency heat to disrupt nerves from sending pain signals to the brain. Ablation provides long-lasting pain relief. While nerve block provides pain relief for a few months, ablation provides pain relief for up to 2 years.
