Radiofrequency Ablation Specialist

What is radiofrequency ablation for chronic knee pain?

Radiofrequency ablation effectively relieves knee pain by targeting the genicular nerves. These nerves carry pain signals from your knees to your brain.

When Premier Pain Solutions uses RF energy to create a wound on the nerves, the lesion stops nerve signals from reaching your brain. Since your brain doesn’t get the pain message, RF ablation significantly reduces or eliminates your pain.

When might I benefit from radiofrequency ablation?

Premier Pain Solutions recommends RF ablation to relieve the pain caused by osteoarthritis. The procedure is quite effective for people whose osteoarthritis symptoms fail to improve with conventional therapies.

In addition to osteoarthritis, you may be a good candidate for RF ablation if your chronic knee pain is caused by rheumatoid arthritis or chondromalacia patella (damage to the cartilage under the kneecap).

RF ablation also helps ease the pain caused by a failed knee replacement and when you have persistent pain after a joint replacement or other knee surgery. You may also be able to postpone or avoid knee surgery after you have RF ablation.

What happens during radiofrequency ablation for knee pain?

You go through a two-step process that begins with a genicular nerve block to ensure your RF ablation will work. Your provider does both procedures using fluoroscopy, a specialized type of X-ray that shows video images in real time.

Before your procedure, Premier Pain Solutions applies a topical anesthetic and gives you a mild sedative if needed to help you relax.

Genicular nerve block

Your provider guides a needle to the targeted genicular nerve and places a local anesthetic on the nerve. If the anesthetic relieves your pain, then you can go forward with RF ablation.

RF ablation

For the ablation, your provider inserts a slim, hollow needle, and guides it to the same nerve. Then they activate an RF electrode located in the center of the needle, and heat from the RF energy creates a controlled wound on the nerve.

How long does RF ablation last?

Some people experience immediate pain relief; for others it takes a week or so to feel the results. Once your pain improves, you should expect the results to last 6-12 months. It takes that long for the nerves to heal. After they heal, they once again transmit signals, and your pain can return.

To learn if RF ablation can ease your chronic knee pain, call Premier Pain Solutions or book an appointment online today.