A new study from MedStar Georgetown University Hospital has found a promising way to reduce knee pain without surgery.
This treatment is especially helpful for people aged 50 and older who often suffer from knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.
The study included 36 patients. The researchers wanted to know if things like age, gender, body weight, past surgeries, or fibromyalgia affected how well the treatment worked. All the patients reported much less pain after the treatment, but older adults—especially those 50 and above—saw the biggest improvements in movement and pain relief.
The treatment is called genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation. It is a simple, low-risk procedure done by doctors known as interventional radiologists.
They use medical imaging to help them guide small needle-like tools near the nerves in the knee that send pain signals to the brain. The tools then release radio waves that create heat, which weakens or blocks the pain-causing nerves.
These nerves do not control muscle movements or balance, so treating them does not affect walking or coordination. The procedure is very quick, and patients can leave the clinic with just small Band-Aids—no stitches or long recovery needed.
Previous research has shown that this treatment can reduce knee pain for as long as six months to two years. That means people can enjoy daily activities with less pain and better quality of life for a long time after the procedure.
Right now, the researchers are doing longer-term studies to better understand how and why the treatment works for certain people. They are also looking into whether similar treatments could help with pain in other joints like the hips, shoulders, and the sacroiliac joints that connect the spine and pelvis.
For people who are looking for pain relief, this is exciting news. Other recent studies show that one in three people with chronic pain use marijuana to help. Some vitamins may also lower the risk of broken bones. In addition, krill oil might improve muscle health, and strength training like powerlifting has shown good results for easing chronic low back pain.
This knee pain study was led by Kaitlin Carrato and her team. It was presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting. Their findings show that genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation could be a great option for older adults who want relief from knee pain without surgery.
If you care about arthritis, please read studies about extra virgin olive oil for arthritis, and pomegranate: A natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
For more information about arthritis, please see recent studies about how to live pain-free with arthritis, and results showing medical cannabis may help reduce arthritis pain, back pain.
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