If you have chronic knee pain—especially due to arthritis—you’ve probably heard two very common treatment options:

1. Genicular nerve block
2. Knee Injection

Both can reduce pain, improve walking, and help you avoid surgery for longer. But they work in completely different ways, and choosing the right one depends on your pain type, arthritis stage, and how your body responds to treatment.

At Apollo Medical Centre, Dr. Purohithi (MBBS, MD – Anaesthesiology) provides advanced non-surgical pain relief using ultrasound and C-arm guided procedures, including knee injections and nerve-based treatments for long-lasting relief.

This blog explains the difference in a clear, patient-friendly way—so you can confidently decide which option fits you best.

A knee injection treats pain by delivering medication directly into or around the knee joint to reduce inflammation and improve lubrication. A genicular nerve block reduces pain by temporarily numbing the nerves that transmit pain signals from the knee. In many arthritis cases, injections are tried first, while nerve blocks are used for chronic pain or to test eligibility for RFA.

Because both treatments:

• reduce knee pain
• help you walk better
• are done as outpatient procedures
• can delay knee replacement
• are commonly recommended for arthritis

But the biggest difference is this:

Before choosing any treatment, it helps to know what kind of pain you’re dealing with.

• deep ache inside the knee
• swelling and stiffness
• pain worse in mornings
• pain worse after sitting
• grinding or “creaking” feeling

• sharp pain
• burning pain
• pain that doesn’t match swelling
• pain that continues even when inflammation is controlled

Many arthritis patients have both.

That’s why, at Apollo Medical Centre, treatment is often planned in steps.

A Knee Injection is a procedure where medicine is delivered directly into the knee joint (intra-articular) or around it.

It is usually recommended for:

• knee osteoarthritis
• inflammatory arthritis
• synovitis (joint inflammation)
• swelling and stiffness
• pain flare-ups

• corticosteroid injection
• hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation)
• PRP (platelet-rich plasma) in some settings
• joint lubricant injections
• supportive local anesthetic injections

A Knee Injection is one of the most common non-surgical treatments for arthritis pain worldwide.

A Knee Injection works mainly by:

• reducing inflammation
• decreasing swelling
• calming irritated joint lining
• improving movement
• reducing pain during walking and stair climbing

If your knee is inflamed, a Knee Injection can often provide quick relief.

A genicular nerve block is a targeted procedure that numbs specific nerves around the knee.

These nerves are called:

• superior medial genicular nerve
• superior lateral genicular nerve
• inferior medial genicular nerve

These nerves carry pain signals from the knee to the brain.

Instead, it reduces pain perception.

A genicular nerve block works by injecting:

• local anesthetic (temporary numbing medicine)
  Sometimes combined with:
• a small steroid dose (depending on protocol)

This is commonly used for:

• chronic arthritis pain
• patients who don’t respond well to a Knee Injection
• people being evaluated for genicular RFA
• post-surgical knee pain

• Knee Injection: inside the joint (cartilage, lining, fluid)
• Genicular nerve block: nerves around the knee

• Knee Injection: weeks to months
• Genicular nerve block: usually short-term (days to weeks), mainly diagnostic

• Knee Injection: reduce inflammation
• Nerve block: test and reduce pain transmission

A steroid-based Knee Injection may start working within:

• 24 to 72 hours
  Sometimes:
• 5 to 7 days for full effect

A genicular nerve block works:

• within minutes to hours
  But the effect is temporary.

So if you need fast pain confirmation, nerve block wins.
If you want longer relief from inflammation, injection wins.

In most patients:

• A Knee Injection can last 4–12 weeks (sometimes longer).
• A genicular nerve block often lasts only hours to a few days.

However, the nerve block is often a “step before” something longer-lasting:

RFA can last 6–12 months.

This depends on the stage and symptoms.

• swelling is present
• pain is from inflammation
• arthritis is early to moderate
• stiffness is a major complaint

• pain is severe and constant
• you already tried a Knee Injection with poor results
• pain persists despite physiotherapy
• you want to test eligibility for RFA
• you are not ready for knee replacement

Yes—many patients benefit from both, but not at the same time.

A typical evidence-based plan looks like:

1. physiotherapy + weight management
2. Knee Injection for inflammation
3. if pain persists → genicular nerve block test
4. if nerve block works → RFA for long-term relief

At Apollo Medical Centre, this step-by-step approach is used to avoid unnecessary procedures.

Both are generally safe when done correctly.

But safety depends on:

• sterile technique
• correct patient selection
• imaging guidance
• specialist experience

• temporary pain flare
• infection (rare)
• bleeding
• steroid-related issues (sugar rise, water retention)

• temporary soreness
• bruising
• numbness around injection area
• infection (rare)

At Apollo Medical Centre, Dr. Purohithi uses ultrasound or C-arm guidance to increase precision and reduce risk.

This is a common fear.

A properly spaced Knee Injection does not automatically damage cartilage.

However:

• repeated steroid injections too frequently are not recommended
• the dose and frequency matter
• patient condition matters

That’s why specialist guidance is important, especially for chronic arthritis patients.

Usually, no.

Genicular nerves are mainly sensory nerves (pain nerves).
They do not control major muscle movement.

So a nerve block typically does not cause leg weakness like spinal anesthesia would.

A Knee Injection feels like:

• mild needle prick
• pressure in the joint
• sometimes a “fullness” sensation

If the knee has fluid, aspiration may be done before injecting.

A nerve block feels like:

• mild prick
• pressure near the knee bones
• sometimes warmth or mild soreness later

Both are usually done as outpatient procedures.

After a Knee Injection, you may experience:

• mild soreness for 1–2 days
• temporary increase in pain (steroid flare)
• gradual improvement over 3–7 days
• reduced swelling and stiffness

You may be advised to avoid heavy activity for 24–48 hours.

After nerve block, you may notice:

• pain relief within hours
• easier stair climbing temporarily
• return of pain once anesthetic wears off

This temporary relief is useful because it confirms nerve-based pain transmission.

If your goal is to delay knee replacement:

• Start with a Knee Injection if inflammation is high
• Consider genicular nerve block + RFA if pain is chronic and severe

In 2026, genicular RFA is one of the strongest options for non-surgical arthritis pain relief.

Stair pain is usually linked to:

• patellofemoral arthritis
• cartilage wear
• joint inflammation
• mechanical stress

A Knee Injection often helps if swelling/inflammation is present.

But if stair pain is constant and severe, and injections give short relief, nerve-based treatment can be a better next step.

Ask yourself:

1. Is my knee swollen often?
2. Do I feel stiffness in the morning?
3. Did physiotherapy help?
4. Did I already try a Knee Injection?
5. Is pain constant even when swelling is low?
6. Am I avoiding surgery?
7. Do I want long-term relief (6–12 months)?

If you answered “yes” to 4–7, nerve block evaluation may be the right next step.

At Apollo Medical Centre, treatment is planned with:

• accurate diagnosis
• imaging-guided precision
• safe sterile procedure setup
• patient education and rehab planning
• interventional pain expertise

Dr. Purohithi is trained in ultrasound and C-arm guided pain procedures and focuses on achieving long-term relief without unnecessary surgery.

No. A knee injection goes into the joint, while a genicular nerve block targets pain nerves around the knee.

A Knee Injection is usually better for inflammation and swelling. A nerve block is better for chronic pain and for evaluating RFA.

It varies, but commonly weeks to a few months depending on arthritis stage and injection type.

Yes. Most patients walk immediately after both procedures.

If the nerve block provides significant temporary relief, doctors may recommend genicular nerve RFA for longer relief.

Both treatments are useful, but they are not interchangeable.

Choose a Knee Injection if your pain is mainly inflammatory with stiffness and swelling.
Choose a genicular nerve block if your pain is chronic, severe, and persistent—or if you want to test for RFA eligibility.

For a personalized plan for arthritis-related knee pain, Apollo Medical Centre offers advanced non-surgical pain management under Dr. Purohithi using safe, image-guided techniques.