Genicular Nerve Block (Knee Nerve Block Injection)
If you're living with chronic knee pain that affects your daily life — but you're hesitant about long-term medication or not yet ready for surgery — a Genicular Nerve Block is an effective, minimally invasive option that can significantly reduce pain and restore your quality of life.
What Is a Genicular Nerve Block?
A Genicular Nerve Block is a medical procedure designed to relieve knee pain by injecting a local anesthetic directly onto the genicular nerves — the nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals from the knee joint to the brain. By temporarily interrupting these signals, the procedure provides rapid pain relief without the need for surgery or systemic medication.
Who Is This Procedure Suitable For?
- Have chronic knee pain caused by osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease)
- Experience persistent knee pain following total knee replacement surgery
- Suffer from knee pain but cannot undergo surgery due to other health conditions
The Procedure
The procedure is safe, quick, and takes only 5 to 10 minutes.
- The physician uses ultrasound guidance to precisely locate the genicular nerves around the knee.
- A local anesthetic is then injected at each target nerve to block pain transmission.
No general anesthesia is required. Most patients tolerate the procedure comfortably.
Expected Outcomes
- Diagnostic value: If the pain originates directly from the knee joint, patients typically experience an immediate reduction in pain following the injection. This confirms that the genicular nerves are the source of the pain and helps guide future treatment planning.
- Session duration : The anesthetic effect generally lasts approximately 1 to 3 hours. This window provides critical information about how well the patient responds and whether longer-term treatment is appropriate.
Long-Term Treatment: Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
For patients who respond well to the Genicular Nerve Block, the physician may recommend advancing to Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) — a procedure that uses targeted heat energy to deactivate the pain-transmitting nerves more permanently. RFA can provide substantially longer-lasting relief and reduce dependence on pain medication over time.
Post-Procedure Care
- You may experience mild soreness at the injection site — this is normal and temporary.
- Most patients can return to their daily routine within 24 hours.
- Avoid high-impact activities or strenuous exercise for a short period following the procedure.
Pain Management at Bangkok Interventional Clinic
At Bangkok Interventional Clinic, we focus on personalised, in-depth pain management tailored to each individual.
- All patients are evaluated and treated by a board-certified pain specialist, ensuring accuracy, safety, and effective care.
- Targeted interventional procedures for fast and effective symptom relief
- Patient education to support sustainable, long-term self-care
Our goal is to meaningfully improve the quality of life of every patient we treat. If you are living with pain that affects your daily life, the right diagnosis and the right treatment plan are where change begins.
