Genicular Nerve Block for Chronic Knee Pain

Has your knee pain brought you to your knees?

The knee is the largest joint in your body that supports the entire weight of the body above it. A lifetime of standing, lifting, and walking causes considerable knee pain for one in every four adults over 50. Any problem including a chronic pain in your knees will inevitably hinder your ability to pursue the lifestyle you desire. Early intervention prevents your knee pain from accompanying you for life. State of the art technique of blocking the nerves of your knee is the solution to your problem.

What is chronic knee pain?

The knee joint is a joint of the ginglymus type (hinge joint) that acts as an intersection where four bones of your leg meet each other: thigh bone, shin bone, fibula, and kneecap. The components of the knee structure can suffer from repetitive strain, damage or disease that if left untreated, may become “chronic” and bother you for life. Therefore, you may join those 20 million US citizens who are suffering from knee pains.

Causes of chronic knee pain

Awareness of the causes of knee pain leads to a more precise diagnosis. There are several factors that can cause knee pain:

• Sprain
• Tear of meniscus
• Muscle strain
• Hemarthrosis
• Osteoarthritis
• Bursitis: Housemaid’s knee, clergyman’s knee
• Tendinitis: Jumper’s knee, hamstring tendinitis
• Synovitis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Deformities, fractures, and dislocations
• Referred knee pain

Treatment of chronic knee pain

Apart from home cares, there are various treatment approaches for your knee pain including:

• Acupuncture
• Medications

• Injections: Steroid
• Physical therapy
• kinesiology taping
• Surgery

• Genicular nerve block

What is genicular nerve block?

The nerve block is a term used for a procedure where the pain doctor injects anesthetics close to the nerve to block pain signals. A nerve block can both help to diagnose the specific origin of the pain and provide therapeutic relief. The knee joint receives nerves from articular branches of various nerves. Those nerve branches around the knee joint, also known as genicular nerves, can be easily approached through the skin under fluoroscopic guidance. Genicular nerve block is a non-surgical approach that prevents the nerves of the knee from sending pain signals to the brain. It is indicated in cases with chronic knee pain secondary to osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, failed knee replacement, and unfit for knee replacement. This safe and minimally invasive therapeutic procedure for chronic knee pain is usually conducted in two phases:

• Diagnostic genicular nerve blocks
• Radiofrequency neurotomy

The technique of genicular nerve block

Firstly, the pain doctor injects a small amount of local anesthetics around your genicular nerves. If the injection reduces the pain by 50% within 24 hours, then the pain doctor has hit the bull’s-eye. It’s now time for the next phase when your doctor applies cooled or conventional radiofrequency (a sophisticated type of radio wave) neurotomy to the nerves of your knee. In this procedure, a heat lesion is created around the nerves. Therefore, they are not able to carry the pain signals to the brain and you won’t feel pain for months. There may be a need for repeated injections. During the pain relief period, you can participate in physical therapy and improve your whole activity level.

No more knee pain! Now it’s time for jogging!

Today, you can benefit the expert help to get rid of your knee pain. Dr. Kevin Li, MD, is a specialist in interventional pain management in L.A. With the state-of-the-art   therapies offered in his clinic, he is confident of providing an all-inclusive one-on-one treatment plan for your knee pain. Just call his clinic in Los Angeles at (626) 538-8950 to schedule an appointment. And remember, nothing can deprive you of your favorite activities