Scientists at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital have found a new way to treat knee pain without surgery. This new method is especially helpful for people aged 50 and older, offering them a chance to feel better and enjoy daily activities again.
In the study, researchers looked at 36 patients who had knee pain, mostly from osteoarthritis. They wanted to see how well the new treatment worked and if factors like age, gender, body weight, previous surgeries, or conditions like fibromyalgia made a difference.
After the treatment, every single patient reported much less pain. In fact, the older patients, those aged 50 and above, had the biggest improvements in both pain relief and their ability to move around.
The treatment is called genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation. It is a minimally invasive procedure, which means it doesn’t involve big cuts or major surgery. Special doctors called interventional radiologists use imaging machines to guide small probe needles next to the nerves around the knee that send pain signals to the brain.
These probes send out radio waves that create a small ball of heat. This heat dulls or destroys the nerve endings that carry pain messages. Importantly, these nerves only handle pain and do not control movement or balance, so the procedure is considered very safe.
One of the benefits of this treatment is how easy the recovery is. After the procedure, patients only need Band-Aids to cover the tiny spots where the needles went in — no stitches are needed. Past research shows that the pain relief from this treatment can last from six months up to two years, depending on the patient.
The researchers are excited about what this means for people living with chronic knee pain. Many people with osteoarthritis struggle daily to walk, climb stairs, or even just stand up from a chair. By reducing their pain, this treatment can help them return to normal activities and greatly improve their quality of life.
The research team, led by Kaitlin Carrato, is now doing longer-term studies to find out what other factors might predict how well the treatment will work for different people. They are also exploring the use of this treatment on other joints, like the shoulder, hips, and the sacroiliac joints, which are where the spine connects to the pelvis.
If you are interested in ways to manage pain, other studies show that about one in three people with chronic pain turn to medical marijuana for relief.
Research also suggests that certain vitamins may help lower the risk of bone fractures, and that krill oil could improve muscle health. In addition, powerlifting, a form of weightlifting, has been found to be an effective exercise for people with chronic low back pain.
The study about the new knee treatment was presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting, a place where doctors and scientists share the latest advances in medical care.
With discoveries like this, there is real hope that people suffering from chronic joint pain can find new ways to feel better and live more active, fulfilling lives.
If you care about pain, please read studies about vitamin K deficiency linked to hip fractures in old people, and these vitamins could help reduce bone fracture risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that Krill oil could improve muscle health in older people, and eating yogurt linked to lower frailty in older people.
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