Exclusive Article by Isaac Christiansen at EMRIndustry.com
It is estimated that more than 31 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis. That is more than 12 percent of the adult population who is plagued with pain in their knees. Many people suffering with arthritis cannot have surgery. Whether they don’t have insurance or they cannot take the time off work, many go day to day with agonizing pain. Thankfully, the FDA has approved a new treatment that may help. Other treatment options are short term in nature, and some have failed many patients. However, this new method looks promising.
The FDA Gives The Green Light on Coolief
Coolief is showing promising results to the millions that are in pain. This new procedure uses radio frequency to freeze nerve endings. It stops pain signals from reaching the brain. Once these signals are disturbed, then the person’s pain stops. While it doesn’t cure osteoarthritis, it does offer an alternative to knee surgery. The procedure’s affects last for up to a year. The current steroid injections only lasts 12 weeks. So, this new method will provide extended relief for knee pain.
Understanding Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is an unbearable condition that causes stiffness and joint pain. It can be disabling. It doesn’t develop overnight, but slowly and through many years the condition deteriorates. The cartilage, or firm rubbery material that covers the joints swells. When the condition progresses, the bone and cartilage break down and chip off in pieces. In time, it will wear away completely leaving the knee to be bone on bone. It will create grinding and popping noises that are troublesome.
As these bones rub together, it causes pain with the slightest movement. Some become so debilitated that they must use a wheelchair, cane, or walker to be able to get around. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this type of arthritis. The only help available for the long term knee treatment was surgery. Doctors can scrape away some of the arthritis when they replace the knee, but not everyone wants or can have an operation. Until now, that was the best option. Doctors don’t like to do surgery on those who are obese, have other damages, or have had previous knee operations.
Cooled Radio Frequency Ablation Brings Hope
Cooled Radio Frequency Ablation or Coolief, only takes a mere 40 minutes to complete. There are no long recovery periods, and patients can go back to work immediately. Knee replacement surgery last about two hours per knee, but the recovery time can be months. Using this new technique, radio frequency waves are sent through needles, and they freeze the nerve tissues. The doctor must locate the part of the knee that is causing the pain and work to “freeze” that specific area. The cool temperature works to deactivate the nerves, which stops the pain signals. The end result is being able to move and having no pain while doing so.
Clinical Trials Prove Promising
In clinical trials done in 2016, almost 74 percent of patients saw an instant difference in their pain levels. They were able to use their legs without restriction, and they experienced overall relief. For most patients, 74 percent, they were able to have six months of no pain. When one year had passed, about 65 percent of patients said their pain level was only about half as bad as it was previously. Six months of pain relief is better than 12 weeks, and there are no harsh side effects like there is with injections.
Pain Relieve Without Surgery
Though there have been many knee treatments on the market, none have been able to come close to matching the relief that comes with surgical intervention. However, surgery is just not a financially viable option for many people. They choose to live with the pain so that they can work and do all the things that they need to for their families. Now that the FDA has given the green light on this new procedure, the number of surgeries may decrease as the pain subsides. Again, it is not a permanent fix, but it is something that will certainly help millions of people. While it’s not clear when, even private practice Osteoarthritis clinics like Arthritis Care of Texas or Minnesota Arthritis Center will likely begin adopting this treatment option.
