A new study from MedStar Georgetown University Hospital has found a safe and effective way to reduce knee pain without surgery.
This treatment could be life-changing, especially for people over 50 who suffer from knee pain due to osteoarthritis.
The study looked at 36 patients who tried this new method. Researchers wanted to know if things like age, gender, body weight, past surgeries, or fibromyalgia affected how well the treatment worked.
They found that all patients felt less pain after the treatment, but those aged 50 and older showed the most improvement. These older adults had less pain and could move more easily.
The treatment is called genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation. It is a simple procedure that doesn’t require surgery. Doctors use special images to guide small needles to the nerves around the knee that send pain signals to the brain.
The needles send out radio waves that create heat, which weakens or stops the pain nerves. Since these nerves don’t control muscles or movement, the treatment is very safe. Most patients go home with only small Band-Aids and don’t need stitches.
This procedure can bring pain relief that lasts from six months to two years. That means patients may be able to walk, exercise, and enjoy life with much less discomfort. It can help them stay active and healthy without needing strong painkillers or risky surgery.
The research team is also studying whether this kind of treatment can help with pain in other joints, like the shoulder, hips, and the joints where the spine connects to the pelvis.
This promising research was led by Kaitlin Carrato and shared at the Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting. It gives hope to many older adults living with knee pain.
There are also other new ideas in pain management. For example, one in three people with long-term pain now use marijuana to feel better. Some vitamins may help prevent broken bones. In addition, krill oil might support muscle health, and powerlifting has been found helpful for people with chronic low back pain.
This study shows that new, simple treatments can make a big difference. For people with knee pain, especially those over 50, genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation may offer real relief and a better quality of life.
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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