Knee pain can come from arthritis within the joint, chronic inflammation, irritation of the genicular nerves, or persistent pain after knee replacement. Because different structures can produce similar symptoms, the right treatment begins with a careful evaluation.
Our pain management team helps identify the likely source of your symptoms and recommend treatment options based on your condition, medical history, and goals.
We commonly help patients experiencing:
Treatment options may include:
A knee joint steroid injection may be used when inflammation within the joint is contributing to pain. PRP may be considered when appropriate based on the patient’s condition, prior treatment, and goals.
When pain signals from the genicular nerves appear to be contributing to chronic knee symptoms, a genicular nerve block may help determine whether a nerve-targeted treatment approach is appropriate.
Treatment options may include:
A genicular nerve block may be used to evaluate whether the nerves surrounding the knee are contributing to the ongoing pain. When the response is meaningful, genicular radiofrequency ablation may be considered.
Peripheral nerve stimulation may also be evaluated for patients with persistent pain that has not improved adequately with other treatments. In selected cases, spinal cord stimulation or dorsal root ganglion stimulation may be considered as part of a more advanced pain treatment plan.
The genicular nerves are sensory targets around the knee that carry pain signals from the joint and surrounding structures. They are procedural targets rather than, in most cases, the underlying knee diagnosis.
For selected patients with chronic knee pain, knee arthritis, or persistent pain after knee surgery or replacement, evaluation may determine whether a genicular nerve procedure is appropriate.
Treatment options may include:
A diagnostic genicular nerve block may help determine whether nerve-targeted treatment is appropriate. Longer-lasting procedures are considered only after the underlying knee condition and treatment history have been evaluated.
Treatment may include:
Joint injections target structures within the knee, while genicular nerve procedures focus on the nerves carrying pain signals from the area.
A focused evaluation can help determine which approach may be most appropriate for the patient’s symptoms and treatment goals.
Peripheral nerve stimulation may be considered in selected cases of persistent knee pain, knee pain involving genicular nerve targets, or ongoing symptoms after knee replacement.
Potential candidates may include patients with:
Whether peripheral nerve stimulation is appropriate depends on the patient’s diagnosis, prior treatment response, medical history, and overall pain pattern.
Your evaluation may include a physical exam, a review of your symptoms and medical history, and a discussion of whether imaging, prior records, or additional diagnostic steps are needed to better understand your condition and recommend appropriate next steps.
Not all knee pain comes from the same source. Arthritis inside the joint, knee pain involving genicular nerve targets, or persistent symptoms after knee replacement may require different treatment strategies.
Our approach focuses on:
You do not have to keep guessing whether your pain is coming from arthritis, the knee joint, nearby nerves, or changes following knee replacement. A focused evaluation can help clarify the cause and guide your next step.
