Knee pain is one of the most common joint conditions, and it can affect people of all ages. The knee contains many nerves that send signals to the brain when they are under pressure or damaged. If you have had knee pain for three months or longer, then your condition can be classified as chronic knee pain. One possible treatment for chronic knee pain is a genicular nerve block.
A genicular nerve block is an injection of anesthetic and steroids to the knee area that numb the nerves and prevent them from sending pain signals to the brain.
This procedure can also be beneficial for a patient who is unfit for or wants to avoid knee replacement surgery.
The results of the genicular nerve block vary from patient to patient. Generally, the results of these injections are limited, and you will need to follow a course of gentle, daily exercises to help your heal while the pain is blocked off.
The effects of a genicular nerve block are not permanent and typically last anywhere between 8 to 24 hours. You will likely need to receive several injections during the week so that you can continue your knee rehabilitation. Though the effects of the block are relatively short-lived, they can help your doctor diagnose the cause of your knee pain. Combined with other treatments, the effects of the nerve block can be made to last for much longer. Patients who undergo a combination of genicular nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablation can experience pain relief for up to a year.