I Need a Total Knee Replacement and Don’t Want to Be in Pain. What Are My Options?

Knee Replacement Pain

On average, there are more than 600,000 knee replacements performed annually in the United States. Advances in technology have helped improve patient outcomes and have resulted in quicker, less painful recoveries. More recently, a new technology called iovera has showed promising outcomes by decreasing pain levels experienced post operatively for patients undergoing knee replacement.   

The iovera° treatment is an innovative approach to blocking pain, as part of total knee replacement standard of care. This treatment uses the body’s natural response to cold to immediately relieve pain without the use of drugs or other systemic therapies. The treatment is performed prior to total knee replacement and reduces pain in the critical weeks following surgery.

This treatment is based upon the well-established science of cryotherapy. Using the power of cold, the system precisely cools peripheral nerve tissue to immediately block the nerve from sending pain signals. It is specifically designed to create a temporary, reversible nerve block through a process called Wallerian degeneration that is followed by predictable reinnervation or re-growth.  

We will continue to see treatments such as iovera paving the way for improving total knee replacements.   

Anthony T. Carter, MD, F.A.A.O.S.: Dr. Anthony Carter, a native of Peabody, Massachusetts, attended Boston University graduating Summa Cum Laude with distinction. He was recognized as a Commonwealth Scholar and became an inductee of Phi Beta Kappa. He gained early acceptance into Boston University School of Medicine, graduating with honors and as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha. After graduating, Dr. Carter began his orthopaedic career at NYU, serving as chief resident before beginning his service at Langley Air Force Base in 1992. While at Langley, he served as a staff orthopaedic surgeon which included a tour of duty overseas as part of Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. Dr. Carter joined Hampton Roads Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in 1995. A pioneer in his field, he introduced many firsts in the Hampton Roads area, including the direct anterior approach to total hip replacement (Jiffy Hip) as well as robotic knee surgery (Makoplasty), both of which he has performed more cases than any other surgeon in the area. He is constantly seeking new and innovative techniques including improved pain management and accelerated recovery protocols and comprehensive blood management programs to the area. His expertise is widely recognized, lecturing both nationally and internationally and serving as a peer reviewer for journal articles. In addition, Dr. Carter most recently completed his first book chapter on total hip replacement. He is also recognized by his peers as “Top Doc” of Hampton Roads. Dr. Carter is also a member of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS). His leadership skills honed during his military service at Langley Air Force Base prepared him well in his roles as Chief of Surgery and Chief of Orthopaedics at Mary Immaculate Hospital.