If you're struggling with chronic knee pain, especially from osteoarthritis or continued pain after knee surgery, you may have heard of a procedure called genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation (RFA). It’s a minimally invasive option designed to help reduce or eliminate knee pain without surgery or opioids. Here’s what you need to know.
The word “genicular” refers to the nerves that carry pain signals from your knee to your brain. In people with chronic pain, these nerves can become overactive or hypersensitive.
Radiofrequency ablation uses heat generated by radio waves to "turn off" those overactive nerves, reducing the pain signal.
This treatment may be a great option if you:
Have knee arthritis but aren’t ready for (or can’t have) knee replacement
Still experience pain after knee surgery
Want to avoid long-term medication use
Have failed other conservative treatments (like physical therapy or injections)
Before doing the actual ablation, we will first perform a diagnostic test to make sure the procedure is right for you. Here’s how it works:
This is a simple injection of local anesthetic under ultrasound guidance to temporarily numb the genicular nerves.
If the block provides significant short-term pain relief, it's a good sign you're a candidate for ablation.
The effect typically wears off in a few hours, but the results help guide next steps.
If the diagnostic block is successful, the next step is the ablation itself.
The same nerves are targeted, but this time a special probe delivers controlled heat to disrupt the nerve’s ability to transmit pain.
The procedure is done under local anesthesia with ultrasound guidance.
Pain relief can last 6 to 12 months, depending on your condition. The nerves may eventually grow back, but the procedure can typically be repeated if needed.
Yes! Genicular RFA is considered low-risk. Side effects are rare, and there's no cutting or stitches involved.