IOVERA for Knee Pain

Hi, @leilaninurse, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Sorry to hear about your vice like feeling and burning pain following your total knee replacement. I'd like to invite @coffeecupp, @jmos, @josephinecarrion and @kathi65 to this discussion as they have all discussed having this procedure done in the past.

@leilaninurse, while we wait for others to share their experience, would you mind sharing what other things you have tried that may or may not have worked for you?

Good morning All!! I’ve tried Acupuncture treatments, Reiki, CBD creams and meditation. All to no avail. The vice gripping pain in deep around the joint. Miserable! Welcome input and suggestions especially on Iovera treatments.
Thank you!

I had right total knee replacement in January 2023.
After the first 1-2 months of significant pain, I had persistent moderate pain along the lateral knee. My PT told me it was IT band, and is finally getting better after PT and now just time and lots of walking.
I am taking no pain meds except rare Tylenol now.
I hope your procedure works well. Everything I just read about it says it has positive outcomes. Best wishes and keep us posted.

I'm having knee replacement in February, 2024 and have opted to have IOVERA therapy two weeks prior. Has anyone had this therapy and had any long term effects from it?

<p>I just saw a commercial on TV about Iovera, an injection for knee pain. I looked it up on the internet and it is reported to last up to 90 days. It may be covered by Medicare.<br />Both my knees have had issues for decades but in the last 2 months the left knee pain is limiting my activates.<br />I would be grateful for any first hand information on this injection.</p>

Hello @gardeningjunkie. I moved your discussion and combined it with an existing discussion, "IOVERA for Knee Pain" - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/iovera/ to meet @bamma9, @ladybug4joints, @leilaninurse, @coffeecupp, @jmos, @josephinecarrion and @kathi65 who have all talked about Iovera as well.

@gardeningjunkie, what sort of therapies have you tried for your knee pain already?

I had Iovera injection 2 weeks before my total knee replacement January 3 , 2023. My surgery and recovery was smooth. I never had any severe pain during my recovery. So i would assume the Iovera injection helped with my recovery and level of pain. My knee was numb from kneecap to mid thigh for over 6 months. It gradually wore off..
Now, February 6, 2024 my sister in law had TKR by same doctor. Insurance no longer paid for the Iovera injection so doctor discontinued using it. My Sister in law had severe pain 2 weeks after her surgery. It’s been 7 weeks for her now her severe pain is getting better. She’s staying with me during recovery so I can help her out when needed. So, i am right here to observe her pain level.
So did the Iovera injection work? From her experience i would say Yes. But, i was asked “did injection work” How would i know if my pain would have been worse? It was my 1st TKR. I had nothing to compare it to. But, when i have left knee done without it i will have a comparison.
Insurance overage is always changing. If they can opp out of paying for something they will.
It’s been 7 weeks now and sister in law doing much better.

I just had the injection too. Surgery next week and I am in so much pain and it’s been two hours and still in extreme pain from injection. I have a high pain tolerance level would rather give birth to twins than have this pain

I do appreciate your follow up information and am so sorry for your misery. I thought relief from the Iovera was supposed to be immediate since the nerves were being frozen. Perhaps relief takes longer; I hope it kicks in soon for you by the time you read this. Are you scheduled for knee replacements?
I've had the Synvisc knee injections for over a decade. Rarely are they comfortable, even if given a knee numbing injection and this causes me to tense up which evidently makes it harder to give the shot. About 20 % of the time they are screaming painful because they hit a nerve. Only a few% times was I crippled up for about 3-4 days. As I have mentioned in other blogs I couldn't tell Synvisc ever helped, it's just that I was grasping at straws.
Is there any pain relieving medicine they are prescribing you?
I haven't found any otc pain medicine that help much with pain. Advil helps my knees a little bit. Tylenol does nothing. Aleve helps me with muscle aches, amazing acutally, but does nothing for my knee pain.

I had TRK on February 6, 2024 and had IOVERA therapy 2 weeks prior. My insurance did pay for it. Now my incision is healed and I have to believe the treatment did spare me a lot of pain. My knee is still slightly numb on the right side of the right knee cap, but that was expected at this point.