Genicular Nerve Block Treatment Clinic in Adrian, MI

At Michigan Pain Specialists, our team frequently uses a genicular nerve block as a highly effective, minimally invasive procedure to treat severe, chronic knee pain. This targeted treatment is designed to interrupt the pain signals that the genicular nerves—the specific sensory nerves surrounding your knee joint—send to your brain. By carefully injecting a localized anesthetic, often combined with a corticosteroid, directly around these distinct nerve branches, we can significantly reduce inflammation and numb the area.

How it specifically helps treat your knee pain:

● Interrupts Pain Pathways: It temporarily blocks the pain signals from reaching the brain, offering rapid, targeted relief.
● Reduces Joint Inflammation: The added corticosteroid calms swelling and deep tissue inflammation around the knee.
● Improves Daily Mobility: With decreased pain, our patients find it much easier to walk, bend, and actively participate in physical therapy.
● Aids in Diagnosis: If the block successfully relieves your pain, our team can confirm the exact source of your discomfort.

When you choose our team for a genicular nerve block treatment, you can anticipate a straightforward outpatient experience squarely focused on providing rapid knee pain relief. Because every patient’s anatomy and underlying pain condition is unique, individual results can vary, but most of our patients notice significant improvements shortly after the procedure is completed.

What you can generally expect post-treatment:

● Immediate Numbing Effect: The local anesthetic provides rapid, temporary relief within minutes of the injection, lasting for several hours.
● Progressive, Sustained Relief: As the corticosteroid begins to take full effect over the next 2 to 3 days, deeper inflammation subsides, offering more sustained comfort.
● Enhanced Joint Functionality: Expect improved flexibility and a better overall ability to perform daily activities without debilitating knee pain.
● Diagnostic Clarity: Depending on your symptom reduction, our team will confidently determine if you are a candidate for longer-lasting interventional procedures.

Our dedicated pain management specialists will closely monitor your progress to ensure optimal results.

At Michigan Pain Specialists, patient safety remains our absolute highest priority. While a genicular nerve block is widely considered a very safe, minimally invasive procedure for knee pain, it is important to understand that all medical treatments inherently come with some degree of risk. Our team utilizes advanced fluoroscopic (X-ray) or ultrasound guidance to ensure highly precise needle placement, which drastically minimizes any potential complications.

Potential risks and side effects associated with this procedure may include:

● Temporary Local Soreness: Mild bruising, swelling, or localized discomfort at the injection site is relatively common and usually resolves within a few days.
● Infection or Bleeding: Though extremely rare due to our strict, sterile clinical protocols, there is always a slight risk of infection or minor bleeding.
● Allergic Reactions: Occasionally, patients may experience an allergic response to the injected anesthetic, steroid medication, or contrast dye.
● Temporary Leg Numbness: You might experience transient weakness in the treated leg, requiring extra care when walking immediately afterward.

A frequent question our board-certified doctors, Dr. Louis Bojrab, MD, FIPP, Dr. John Chatas, MD, FIPP, and Dr. Edward Washabaugh, MD, FIPP, receive is whether a genicular nerve block serves as a permanent solution for chronic knee pain. While this procedure provides excellent, rapid relief, it is not considered a permanent cure. The soothing effects of the injected anesthetic and steroid are inherently temporary. However, it serves as a highly critical stepping stone in your comprehensive pain management journey with us.

Important facts regarding the duration of your relief:

● Temporary Nature: The pain relief typically lasts anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending heavily on the severity of your joint degeneration.
● Valuable Diagnostic Tool: Its primary purpose is often diagnostic; significant relief proves the genicular nerves are actively transmitting your pain.
● Pathway to Long-Term Relief: A successful block makes you an ideal candidate for Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), a more advanced procedure offering relief lasting 6 to 12 months.
● Repeatable Treatment: The block can safely be repeated periodically.

For more information, contact us or request an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 770 Riverside Ave suite 207, Adrian, MI 49221. We serve patients from Adrian MI, Tecumseh MI, Blissfield MI, Britton MI, and surrounding areas.