If you've been living with knee pain for years, you know the routine: ice, rest, maybe a cortisone shot that helps for a bit until the pain returns.
Maybe you're not ready for a knee replacement. Or maybe you had one, but the pain never fully went away.
Either way, knee pain makes everyday activities harder than they should be.
Cooled radiofrequency ablation (CRFA) is a minimally invasive procedure that quiets the nerves that carry pain signals from the knee to the brain, helping relieve persistent pain without altering the knee itself.
CRFA can be a great option for people with persistent knee pain caused by osteoarthritis and those who haven’t found lasting relief with physical therapy, activity modification, or injections.
It may also help those who experience pain after a total knee replacement, provided their orthopedic surgeon has ruled out implant-related issues or other complications.
The genicular nerves around your knee send pain messages to your brain. They don’t control how your knee moves, but simply tell your brain when something in your knee hurts.
During the procedure, we use controlled heat to interrupt those pain signals. The nerves can no longer send as many pain messages to your brain while preserving your natural movement. With fewer pain signals, many people experience significant pain relief.
One of the biggest advantages of CRFA is that we don't simply hope it will work, we test it first.
At Gaylord's Interventional Pain Center, we perform two simple diagnostic nerve blocks to confirm that the genicular nerves are the source of your knee pain. During each outpatient visit, a small amount of local anesthetic is injected near the nerves. If you experience significant pain relief after both injections, it's a strong indication that CRFA can help.
Once the results are confirmed, we schedule the outpatient CRFA procedure. Using local anesthesia, your physician delivers targeted and controlled radiofrequency energy to the same nerves, interrupting their ability to send pain signals.
All appointments take place at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare's Interventional Pain Center in Wallingford and last about 30 to 45 minutes. You'll go home the same day, and most patients return to normal activities within a day or two. Pain relief develops gradually over several weeks as the treated nerves stop transmitting pain signals.
Many studies have found that appropriately selected patients often experience significant reductions in knee pain, improved mobility, and a better quality of life, with pain relief lasting a year or longer for many. Because the nerves can slowly regrow over time, the procedure can be repeated if the pain returns.
For a timely consultation with Gaylord's Interventional Pain Center, call (203) 284-2825 or visit www.gaylord.org/pain-center.
This content is for educational purposes only and is meant to provide general information. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns about your health. In case of a medical emergency, contact your doctor or call 911 right away.