Knee Pain
Knee pain can be a significant cause of disability at any age because it limits mobility. It can be classified as traumatic or non-traumatic and is determined by the anterior, medial, lateral and posterior location of the pain. The most common causes of knee pain vary depending on age group and severity of pain. Pain from other places, such as the spine and spinal cord, can also indicate knee pain. Increasing BMI over age 50 is a significant risk factor for osteoarthritis.
Common minimally invasive non-surgical interventions I offer in the pain clinic for knee pain include
This procedure is done for chronic knee pain that may be secondary to a variety of causes, including osteoarthritis, joint disease, and persistent pain after knee replacement. It provides a safe, effective surgical alternative to knee replacement for patients who are unwilling, unfit, or have persistent pain after knee replacement. Radiofrequency ablation is performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia and does not require hospitalization or a long stay. .
The knees are supplied by branches of many nerves, including the geniculate nerve. The initial diagnostic procedure involves a local injection near the nerve supplying the knee. If the diagnostic procedure causes severe pain, a special type of radiation is applied to these nerves (radiofrequency ablation), which can cause long-term pain. The pain relief method stops pain signals from being transmitted to the brain by creating heat around the nerve. These nerves are routinely accessed under X-ray and ultrasound without the need for surgery.
Radiofrequency ablation is the treatment method preferred by patients with chronic knee pain, who do not want surgery, or who continue to have pain after knee surgery. It is a minimally invasive treatment performed under local anesthesia in outpatient surgery. The aim of the treatment is to block the nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals from the knee. This involves placing needles near these tissues under X-ray or ultrasound guidance and then heating the nerve to reduce the pain signals transmitted. It differs from traditional radiofrequency because there is fluid around the device and it can work in a wider treatment area and increase the chance of success. Normal activities can be resumed quickly after the next procedure. Less pain can lead to less activity and less medication.
The saphenous nerve is a nerve that supplies the middle (inside) part of the knee and leg. These muscles can become tight or injured in the upper thigh, affecting the thigh and inner thigh, or they can move downward, affecting the knee and calf. Trauma and surgery are common causes of injury, especially to the infrapatellar tendon.
Most patients present with pain and increased sensation in the affected knee, but pain involving more than one knee is rare. Nerve block can easily be performed under ultrasound guidance as a diagnostic test, followed by radiofrequency therapy to provide long-term pain relief.
Knee ultrasound can help diagnose knee disease and help guide the needle to the desired location. The medications injected vary depending on the pathology being treated. Options include local anesthetics, steroids, hyaluronic acid, or platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the cartilage and synovial fluid surrounding the joint. . For people with osteoarthritis, artificial hyaluronic acid injections can help reduce pain and increase mobility.
Platelet is a component of blood. They help with wear and tear and contain growth factors that support the healing process. PRP is blood plasma with platelet concentration. PRP treatment is an attempt to take advantage of the body's natural self-healing ability. Growth factors released from platelet affect and accelerate the healing of muscles or ligaments. The procedure involves taking a blood sample from the patient and placing it in a rotating machine to separate the different blood types. The platelet component is separated and then injected under ultrasound guidance. Most people need 1 injections in 20-30Days.
