Relieve Knee Pain with Cryoneurolysis Before Replacement Surgery
Living with severe knee osteoarthritis can feel like being trapped in a shrinking box. As pain increases, movement becomes more difficult, and each year brings new limitations. Eventually, many patients face a tough decision: continue living with chronic pain or undergo total knee replacement surgery.
If you’ve spoken to someone who’s had a knee replacement, you’ve likely heard how life-changing it can be. But you’ve also heard about the painful recovery. Understandably, many patients hesitate. After all, if you’re already in pain, the idea of more—even temporary—pain can be overwhelming.
But what if knee replacement didn’t have to be so painful?
Thanks to a breakthrough technique called cryoneurolysis and it’s available at Rush Memorial Hospital, patients can now experience significantly less pain during and after knee replacement surgery.
Cryoneurolysis is a minimally invasive pain management procedure that uses extreme cold to temporarily block pain signals from the knee to the brain. The term breaks down like this:
- Cryo = cold
- Neuro = nerves
- Lysis = breakdown
A small probe is placed near the affected nerve, and a controlled burst of cold creates an ice ball that disrupts the nerve’s ability to send pain messages to the brain. By applying cold to specific nerves a few days before surgery, cryoneurolysis reduces pain during recovery. These nerves regenerate slowly, meaning patients often complete most of their rehab before the pain signals return. The entire experience is usually much less painful than it would have been without this procedure.
For more in-depth information, check out the research: Cryoneurolysis before Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With Severe Osteoarthritis for Reduction of Postoperative Pain and Opioid Use in a Single-Center Randomized Controlled Trial – PubMed (nih.gov)
Benefits of Cryoneurolysis for Knee Replacement Patients
- Less post-surgical pain
- Faster recovery and rehab
- Drug-free pain relief
- Improved mobility and comfort during healing
According to research, patients who receive cryoneurolysis before knee replacement surgery report shorter hospital stays, fewer pain medications, and better physical therapy outcomes. (Source)
Listen to Dr. Ginther talk about cryoneurolysis
At Rush Memorial Hospital, cryoneurolysis is available as part of our advanced orthopedic care. Dr. Jeffrey Ginther, a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon, helped pioneer this technique in Indiana. He combines cryoneurolysis with tourniquet-less knee replacement and computer-assisted surgery to deliver exceptional outcomes for patients.
Is Cryoneurolysis Right for You?
If you’re living with chronic knee pain and considering knee replacement, cryoneurolysis may be the solution that makes surgery—and recovery—more manageable. It’s especially helpful for patients who want to avoid or minimize opioid use during recovery.
Learn More and Take the Next Step
To explore whether cryoneurolysis is right for you, schedule a consultation with RMH Orthopedics today. Our team will walk you through your options and help you find the best path to relief.
RMH Orthopedics
Call (765) 932-7684 to schedule your appointment.