Genicular Nerve Block for Knee Pain

The knee joint is surrounded by several nerve branches, known collectively as the genicular nerves. Chronic knee pain can be caused by tendinitis, injury, osteoarthritis, gout, degenerative joint disease, or after knee surgery.

A genicular nerve block is used to treat chronic knee pain by blocking pain signals that are fed into the knee through the genicular nerves. With a genicular nerve block, the physician injects an inflammation-reducing steroid mixed with local anesthetic around the nerves innervating the knee joint and may use ultrasound or fluoroscopy to maximize accuracy.

If blockade of these nerves relieves pain short-term, radiofrequency nerve ablation of the genicular nerves may be recommended for long-term pain relief.

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