By Paul Naour, MD, Mclean County Orthopedics
Chronic pain is a major public health concern affecting as many as 100 million Americans. Approximately, 30 percent of chronic pain is related to arthritis. Arthritis is defined as painful inflammation and stiffness of joints and is caused by aging, genes and overuse of joints. The likelihood of experiencing arthritic symptoms is significant by age 55 and almost unavoidable by age 75.
A common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is a breakdown of joint cartilage and bone. Osteoarthritis can affect many of the joints of the body, particularly the hip and knees. Chronic knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common diseases of advanced age, contributing to disability in one of five adults. The causes are complex and often relate to underlying genetics, medical problems, previous injury, diet, and lifestyle.
The knee joint is the largest joint in the body when it comes to the amount of cartilage and joint space, making the knee particularly susceptible to the effects of arthritic change. The knee is more like two separate joints: one where the femur and tibia meet, and the other where the patella and femur come in contact. This configuration, along with the arrangement of ligaments and muscle, make the knee a complex joint.
People with osteoarthritis will experience pain often described as achy, increased with activity, and improved with rest, heat, and anti-inflammatories. It is not unusual to have sleep affected by knee pain. Many patients will also describe sensations of popping or crackling with walking. As the arthritis progresses, simple activities like walking, climbing stairs, or getting in and out of a car, become difficult. The reduced use of the knee joint will cause weakening of the muscles that surround the joint making pain and disability worse.
Chronic osteoarthritic knee pain often cannot be effectively managed with conservative therapy or medications. Although surgery is generally effective for patients with advanced disease, some patients may not be appropriate surgical candidates, or may wish to put off surgery until a more ideal time for work or personal circumstances. In these cases, advanced non-surgical treatments may be more beneficial.
One effective advanced non-surgical treatment available today for relieving chronic osteoarthritic knee pain is called genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation. This procedure alleviates pain by interrupting nerve impulses from a painful knee joint.
The nerves surrounding the knee joint are called genicular nerves. These nerves can be easily approached through the skin with specialized needles under X-ray guidance. By applying a sophisticated type of radio wave to the genicular nerves, a heat lesion is created around these nerves to block their signals.
Successful treatment can result in pain relief and restored function lasting several months.
In addition to treating osteoarthritic knee pain, this treatment is also being used to treat:
- Chronic knee pain
- Degenerative joint disease
- Continued pain after a total or partial knee replacement
- Desire to avoid surgery
For more information on any type of painful condition, you may contact Dr. Naour at McLean County Orthopedics, 309-663-6461. Their office is located at 2502 E. Empire St. in Bloomington. Dr. Naour takes a comprehensive approach to pain management to determine the best course of action for each individual to eliminate pain as quickly as possible. Visit him online at paulnaourmd.com.