Banner Health featuring new way to treat chronic joint pain

Banner Health has started offering a newer, unique way to treat chronic joint pain called joint denervation.

In essence, surgeons remove the nerves that are transmitting the pain signals from the joint to one’s brain, and by doing so, the feelings of pain are significantly diminished.

This newer procedure has the potential to help many: According to a 2022 poll conducted by the University of Michigan, 70% of older adults reported experiencing joint pain.

Dr. Joshua Hustedt, Orthopedic Surgeon at Banner Health, joined “Arizona Horizon” to explain joint denervation, detail how the surgical process works and discuss the benefits it can bring to people suffering from ongoing joint pain. Dr. Hustedt also shared the types of cases this procedure can help to treat.

“So joint denervation is going after the nerves that go to the joint instead of for instance replacing the joint. So we go after the nerves and we address those nerves to interrupt the signal between the brain and the joint to treat the pain you’re feeling,” said Hustedt. 

This procedure primarily focuses on the nerves through small incisions instead of the joints. Once the nerve is relocated it turns into motor nerves which alters the response in your brain. 

“All of the work is done outside of the joint. We do so through very small incisions we isolate the nerves that are going to the joint themselves. We actually cut those nerves, we transfer them to surrounding muscle. What was once a sensory nerve grows into the muscle becomes a motor nerve and you actually have a cortically response change in your brain that makes it so you don’t feel it anymore,” said Hustedt. 

The surgery is very short and can be convenient timewise for some patients. 

“It’s only about 45 minutes. We use a camera to get inside underneath the skin. We make a little three centimeter incision on either side of the knee, you come in, outpatient surgery, you get it done, you go home the same day and you’re better within a couple of weeks,” said Hustedt.