You don’t have to live with knee pain — and you don’t necessarily need surgery to fix it. At MAPS Centers for Pain Control, our board-certified physicians specialize in advanced, non-surgical treatments like genicular nerve ablation (GNA), cryoneurolysis, and injection therapy. These techniques target the source of pain rather than masking it, helping thousands of patients across Chicago return to active, pain-free living.

→ For a personalized treatment plan, visit our Knee Pain Center page.

Knee Pain Is More Common Than You Think

Knee pain is one of the most frequent conditions treated at MAPS — second only to back pain. It affects people of every age and lifestyle, from marathon runners to office workers, and it can quickly change how you move, sleep, and even think.

While traditional orthopedic medicine often jumps straight to surgery, modern pain medicine takes a different approach. At MAPS, we use a series of targeted, minimally invasive procedures that calm inflammation, stimulate healing, and retrain the nerves responsible for pain signals — often with no downtime.

If you live in the Chicagoland area and have been told that knee replacement is your only option, it’s worth getting a second opinion. There are now more ways than ever to manage — and even reverse — chronic knee pain without surgery.

Living Pain-Free in Chicago: A Modern Approach to Knee Care

Every day, patients across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs turn to MAPS Centers for Pain Control when traditional care has failed them. Whether your pain started from years of running along Lakefront Trail, working long shifts on your feet, or recovering from an old sports injury, our specialists understand that every knee tells a different story. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, we focus on precision diagnostics, image-guided procedures, and the latest interventional therapies to restore comfort and mobility.

Unlike conventional pain clinics that rely solely on medication, MAPS Centers for Pain Control emphasizes functional recovery — helping patients move, work, and live without dependency or downtime. Our goal is to get you back to doing what you love, whether that’s walking the city, biking the lakefront, or chasing your grandkids at the park.

Patients often describe MAPS as the “missing link” between physical therapy and orthopedic surgery — a place where advanced medicine meets personalized care. With multiple locations throughout Chicagoland, same-week appointments, and compassionate specialists led by Thomas Pontinen, MD, LCP-C, MAPS delivers a new standard for non-surgical pain relief that’s both effective and accessible.

Why Your Knees Hurt: Understanding the Root Causes

The knee is a complex hinge joint where bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments work together to support your weight and absorb impact. Over time or through injury, that system can break down.

1. Osteoarthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease)

Cartilage that cushions your knee joints naturally wears down with age. Once that tissue thins, bones begin to rub, creating inflammation, stiffness, and “bone-on-bone” pain.
Osteoarthritis accounts for nearly 1 in 2 cases of chronic knee pain in older adults (CDC, 2024).

2. Sports or Traumatic Injuries

Torn ligaments (ACL, MCL), meniscus damage, or overuse injuries are common in athletes and active individuals. These can cause sudden swelling, instability, or lingering weakness even after initial healing.

3. Overuse & Mechanical Stress

Repetitive impact from running, cycling, or physically demanding jobs can inflame soft tissues or shift the knee’s alignment, leading to pain on one side of the joint.

4. Post-Surgical or Replacement Pain

Some patients experience persistent pain after knee replacement surgery — a frustrating problem since injections can’t be used on artificial joints. Fortunately, newer nerve-based therapies like genicular nerve ablation can help.

5. Weight & Inflammation

Extra body weight places increased stress on the knee joint, accelerating degeneration. Systemic inflammation (from diet, arthritis, or metabolic conditions) compounds the damage.

“Knee pain is rarely caused by one thing. We often see a combination of mechanical wear, inflammation, and nerve sensitization — all of which require different treatments.”
— Thomas Pontinen, MD, LCP-C, Co-Founder, MAPS Centers for Pain Control

Getting the Right Diagnosis

At MAPS, treatment begins with precision. Every new patient undergoes a comprehensive consultation to pinpoint exactly what’s driving their pain.

What We Evaluate

Pain location (front, inside, outside, or behind the knee)
Range of motion and joint stability
Prior injuries or surgeries
Imaging (X-ray, MRI, or ultrasound)
Diagnostic nerve blocks, if nerve pain is suspected

By isolating the true source of pain — joint vs. nerve vs. soft tissue — we’re able to match each patient with the right non-surgical treatment plan.

The MAPS Difference: A Non-Surgical Approach

MAPS Centers for Pain Control specializes in interventional pain management — a field that blends precision medicine with advanced technology to relieve pain without invasive surgery.

Our double board-certified physicians in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine focus on procedures that:

Target nerves transmitting pain signals
Reduce inflammation within the joint
Support natural tissue repair
Improve strength, stability, and motion

Below are the primary treatment options offered for knee pain relief at MAPS.

1. Genicular Nerve Ablation (GNA)

For many people, chronic knee pain feels like a constant alarm going off — a signal that never shuts off even after you’ve tried rest, therapy, or medication. Genicular Nerve Ablation, or GNA, is designed to quiet that alarm.

This breakthrough treatment targets the tiny nerves around your knee that send pain messages to your brain. By gently applying controlled heat to these nerves, our physicians can “turn down” the pain signal without affecting movement, balance, or strength.

At MAPS Centers for Pain Control, GNA is one of our most trusted and effective options for patients with arthritis, degenerative knee pain, or lingering pain after knee replacement. The entire treatment takes about 15 minutes, involves no incisions, and requires little to no recovery time. Most patients walk out the same day and begin noticing improvements within a few days.

Relief can last six months to a year, and for many, it means being able to walk, climb stairs, and move freely again without relying on daily pain medication.

“We often see people who thought surgery was their only option — and GNA gives them their life back without ever entering an operating room.”
— Thomas Pontinen, MD, LCP-C, Co-Founder, MAPS Centers for Pain Control

If your knee pain has persisted despite therapy or injections, GNA may be the next step toward lasting relief.
→ Learn more: Genicular Nerve Ablation at MAPS.

2. Cryoneurolysis (Cold Nerve Therapy)

Cryoneurolysis uses extreme cold instead of heat to interrupt pain signals. A specialized handheld device delivers short bursts of freezing energy to nerves near the knee, stopping them from transmitting pain while preserving normal sensation and function.

Why Patients Choose Cryoneurolysis

Immediate pain reduction
Works on different nerve branches than GNA (can be combined)
No cutting, stitches, or general anesthesia
Relief that typically lasts 6–9 months

Dr. Pontinen notes that some MAPS patients receive both radiofrequency and cryo treatments to target complementary nerve pathways — maximizing results.

→ Learn more: Cryoneurolysis for Knee Pain Relief.

3. Injection-Based Therapy

When inflammation drives knee pain, injection therapy can help calm the joint and and promote healing.

Types of Injections Offered at MAPS

Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Acts as a lubricant and cushion inside the joint, improving mobility.
Platelet Rich Plasma
Uses components of your own blood to encourage cell repair and reduce inflammation.
Steroidal Injections
Provides quick pain relief during acute flare-ups.

These injections are image-guided for precision and performed in-office, typically taking only a few minutes. Most patients resume normal activity immediately.

(NIH – Platelet-Rich Plasma for Osteoarthritis)

→ Explore: Injection Therapy Options at MAPS.

4. Bracing and Supportive Devices

Knee braces play a critical role in recovery — especially for patients with degenerative changes or instability.

MAPS offers custom bracing solutions that:

Offload pressure from damaged cartilage
Realign the joint to prevent worsening degeneration
Provide compression and proprioceptive feedback that decreases pain

Bracing also improves confidence when walking and helps patients stay active while other therapies take effect.

→ Read more: Knee Bracing & Stability at MAPS.

5. Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation

Once pain is under control, strengthening and stability training help ensure lasting improvement. MAPS partners with skilled physical therapists to design recovery programs tailored to your stage of healing.

Typical elements include:

Range-of-motion and flexibility exercises
Muscle strengthening (quadriceps, hamstrings, hips)
Balance and gait training
Home exercise programs for continued progress

Physical therapy helps reinforce the results of ablation or injection therapy — preventing future injury and supporting long-term joint health.

Why Non-Surgical Treatments Work

Pain is not just a symptom — it’s a signal. By targeting the origin of that signal (whether it’s inflamed tissue or overactive nerves), MAPS physicians help your body break the chronic pain cycle without major surgery or long-term narcotics.

Our approach is:

Personalized – No two knees (or patients) are the same.
Progressive – We combine therapies in sequence for best outcomes.
Evidence-based – Supported by clinical studies and years of experience.
Patient-centered – Focused on restoring function, not masking pain.

For many, this approach means walking without pain again — sometimes after years of limited mobility.

When Surgery Might Still Be Necessary

Non-surgical care can successfully manage most cases of chronic or arthritic knee pain, but some situations still warrant orthopedic evaluation, including:

Severe joint deformity
Complete ligament ruptures
End-stage bone-on-bone arthritis unresponsive to injections
Structural damage visible on imaging

MAPS physicians collaborate closely with Chicago’s top orthopedic surgeons, ensuring patients receive the right care at the right time — whether that’s advanced intervention or surgical repair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How is MAPS different from an orthopedic clinic?
Orthopedic surgeons focus on mechanical repair, while MAPS focuses on nerve-based and alternative treatments for pain management. Our goal is to restore function without surgery whenever possible.

Q: Are MAPS procedures covered by insurance?
Yes. MAPS accepts all major insurance plans and Medicare. Our team verifies coverage before any treatment.

Q: Do I need a referral?
No. You can schedule directly with MAPS for a consultation.

Q: How soon will I feel better?
Some patients notice improvement within days (after injections), while others improve gradually over 4–6 weeks as healing and nerve changes take effect.

Q: Can I repeat the treatments?
Yes. Procedures like nerve ablation and cryoneurolysis are safe to repeat every 6–12 months if pain returns.

Q: How long does a Genicular Nerve Ablation last?
Relief typically lasts 6 to 12 months, though some MAPS patients experience benefits for even longer. The treated nerves can regenerate over time, but the procedure can be safely repeated if pain returns.

Q: What’s the difference between nerve ablation and cryoneurolysis?
Both therapies target pain-signaling nerves, but they use different energy sources — radiofrequency heat (GNA) vs. controlled cold (cryo). MAPS physicians may combine them to address multiple nerve pathways and maximize relief.

Q: Can these treatments help after a failed knee replacement?
Yes. Persistent pain after total knee replacement is common and difficult to treat with standard injections. Nerve-based therapies like GNA and cryoneurolysis can help calm overactive nerves around the artificial joint and provide meaningful pain relief.

Q: Are injection-based treatments safe?
Yes. MAPS injection therapies — including corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid — are performed under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance for accuracy and safety. These treatments help reduce inflammation, restore lubrication, and relieve pain inside the joint.

Q: What can I expect during my first MAPS appointment?
Your visit starts with a comprehensive evaluation that may include medical history, a physical exam, imaging (X-ray, MRI, or ultrasound), and diagnostic nerve blocks if needed. From there, your MAPS physician builds a personalized plan that targets the root cause of your pain — not just the symptoms.

Your Path to Relief Starts Here

If you’re living with knee pain in Chicago — whether from arthritis, injury, or post-surgical complications — the experts at MAPS Centers for Pain Control are ready to help.

We specialize in non-surgical, minimally invasive treatments that have already helped thousands of patients reclaim their mobility and quality of life.