It is usually suggested that you do no strenuous activity for 24 hours afterwards, but other than that you can go back to your normal lifestyle. If you have been sedated during the procedure, someone must drive you home. Your health care provider gives you instructions for your aftercare depending on your specific situation. Using fluoroscopy or ultrasound, the physician finds the genicular nerves and injects a combination of a steroid and anesthetic into the nerves. The doctor may tell you not to eat after midnight the day of the procedure.ĭuring the procedure, you will lie down comfortably, be attached to monitors, and have an IV needle inserted for delivery of medication, if you choose to be sedated.
The day of the procedure you should not have a fever or be taking antibiotics. The procedure usually takes between five and ten minutes.īefore the procedure, your health care provider will let you know what medications you should stop taking. Your physician injects a local anesthetic through needles into the nerves with the live guidance of fluoroscopy or an ultrasound equipment, to make sure the needles are being placed correctly. In a genicular nerve block procedure, the nerve bundles that supply the knee are blocked.
What is a Genicular Nerve Block Procedure?ĭoctors perform genicular nerve blocks to reduce chronic knee pain that may be the result of severe osteoarthritis, partial knee replacement, or for individuals who have chronic pain but cannot undergo surgery, or have degenerative joint disease. If you feel it may work for you, it is important to know what the treatment involves and if your Medicare benefits cover the cost of the procedure. A genicular nerve block is a therapeutic alternative for many candidates. Studies show that patients have a 42.6 percent reduction in their knee pain level after the treatment. In the knee joint, the peripheral nerves are named the genicular nerves.ĭoctors perform genicular nerve blocks to diagnose and treat chronic knee pain. This procedure blocks the nerve supply to affected areas. One such option is a peripheral nerve block. If you find yourself in a similar situation, but are not ready for a surgical approach, your health care provider may suggest less invasive treatment options. Surgeons perform over 600,000 total knee replacement surgeries annually in the United States. Knee pain caused by osteoarthritis is a long-term condition that many times ends in total knee replacement surgery as a means of relieving pain and stiffness and increase quality of life.
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