Pain After Knee Surgery

What is pain after knee surgery?

Not all knee surgeries go as planned. Pain after knee surgery can occur because of a new injury, improper healing, an ineffective procedure, or undergoing the wrong type of surgery for your condition with residual nerve pain within the structures around the knee..

Fortunately, the experts at SamWell Institute for Pain Management offer numerous solutions for pain after knee surgery.

What does pain after knee surgery feel like?

If you experience pain after knee surgery, you might notice the following signs or symptoms:

• Stiffness
• Aching pain
• Shooting or stabbing pain
• Decreased range of motion
• Pain with movement or walking, or weight-bearing
• Pain induced weakness or instability 
• Burning, numbness, tingling

Don’t live with debilitating pain or take addictive pain medicines when you don’t have to. See the SamWell Institute for Pain Management team for an evaluation and treatment.

How does my provider diagnose the cause of knee pain?

To find the root cause of your pain after you’ve had knee surgery, Dr. Shah and his team review your symptoms and medical history. He examines your knee and might recommend that you undergo blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, or other diagnostic imaging procedures to develop a customized pain-management treatment. 

What are my treatment options for pain after knee surgery?

To alleviate pain after knee surgery, the team at SamWell Institute for Pain Management might suggest one of the following solutions:

Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation

In DRG stimulation, Dr. Shah implants a device that emits low-voltage electric currents to your ganglion nerve bundles that send pain into the knee. These currents then inhibit pain signals to your brain. The procedure is minimally invasive, without pain or extensive downtime. Dr. Shah performs an external trial of the procedure first for 7 days, to accurately assess your candidacy for a long-term implant of the pain relieving device.

The procedure is performed under direct live fluoroscopic or X-ray image guidance for accuracy, precision, and safety. 

Genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation

With genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation, Dr. Shah completes a minimally invasive procedure using radiofrequency energy to deactivate the nerves associated with pain signal transmission from the knee area.  Dr. Shah will perform 1 or 2 diagnostic test injections to assess your candidacy for the genicular nerve ablation procedure. 

Peripheral nerve stimulation

During minimally invasive peripheral nerve stimulation, the highly-trained team at SamWell Institute for Pain Management implants small electrodes beneath your skin that connect to a small external battery device. The device sends electrical signals to peripheral nerves, blocks pain signals, and relieves post-surgical discomfort. The procedure is performed under direct ultrasound image guidance for accuracy, precision, and safety. 

Don’t live with debilitating pain after knee surgery when numerous pain-relieving solutions can give you a better quality of life. Schedule a consultation with highly trained specialists at SamWell Institute for Pain Management by phone or online today.