Pain relief from arthritis. State-of-the-art, non-opioid treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder, or hip.
Knee pain from osteoarthritis (OA) can keep you from every day activities like your favorite hobbies, spending time outside with the family, or just getting out of the house. If you’re looking for a minimally invasive approach to relieving knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, you may be a good candidate for COOLIEF*.
COOLIEF* is a non surgical, minimally invasive, non-opioid treatment that targets the nerves in the knee that send pain signals to the brain. You may start feeling better, with improved mobility, within one to two weeks after the procedure. Relief from pain can last up to 12 months.
How Coolief works
During the COOLIEF procedure, the interventional radiologist will insert a needle adjacent to three to four nerves around the knee. The needle delivers a radiofrequency current to burn the nerve. This stops the nerve from sending pain signals to the brain.
The procedure uses radiofrequency ablation, a proven treatment for many conditions. COOLIEF*, however, is slightly different because it uses water to help cool the needle. This helps the needle from becoming too hot, which in turn allows doctors to target larger areas of the knee and provide better pain relief for patients.
What to Expect
During your first appointment, your doctor will insert a numbing injection into the nerves around the knee. This diagnostic injection allows your doctor to pinpoint the nerves causing you pain and ensures you’re a good candidate for the procedure.
After the diagnostic appointment, you’ll come back for the actual procedure. You’ll receive local anesthesia to help numb the sites receiving the injection. Then, your doctor will inject the probe into three to four sites around the knee.
The procedure takes roughly 45 minutes from the time you arrive in the procedure room. You may experience mild pain at the injection sites for a few days which can be controlled with over-the-counter medication. No opioids are needed.
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You will go home the same day. Click here for more info.
Am I a good Candidate for the procedure?
An orthopedic provider or your interventional radiologist who offers COOLIEF* can help decide if it’s right for you. You may be a good candidate if:
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Knee pain caused by OA impacts your quality of life
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Conservative therapies (physical therapy, NSAIDs) aren’t relieving your pain
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You aren’t ready for surgery
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Your doctors at SCI offer COOLIEF* and can help you decide if this is the right procedure for you.