Genicular Nerve Block

The Genicular nerves transmit pain signals from the knee that are caused by  Osteoarthritis.  By injecting a mixture of anesthetic and steroid around the nerves,  we can “calm down” the nerves so they don’t transmit as many pain signals.  People  will often have 2-4 months of improvement in their pain and level of function,  although occasionally some people have no improvement.  These nerve blocks are  associated with minimal side effects and can be repeated as needed.   

The goal of these procedures is to control your pain so that you can have improved  mobility/ability to exercise.  This is extremely important for the long-term  management of your pain and quality of life.   

It is important to understand that optimal management of chronic knee pain  involves multiple modalities, including: 

• Exercise (refer to exercise plan hand out) 
• Physical Therapy (Physio, massage etc.) 
• Weight Loss (Canada’s Food Guide)
• Knee Brace 
• Medications (oral and topical) 
• Supplements (uncertain benefits)  
• Mental wellness
• Spirituality