bone on bone knee pain relief in Freehold NJ

One of the most common questions patients ask in our office is:

“What if I’m bone-on-bone? Isn’t surgery my only option?”

Many patients are told that once their knee arthritis progresses to “bone-on-bone,” nothing else will help except a total knee replacement.

But modern research and regenerative medicine tell a very different story.

At Central Jersey Spine & Wellness in Freehold, NJ, we help many patients with advanced knee arthritis find significant relief using SoftWave TRT (Tissue Regeneration Technology) and EMTT (Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy) — without drugs, injections, or surgery.

Let’s explore why these treatments can still help even if your X-ray says bone-on-bone.

First Important Fact: Cartilage Has No Nerves

This surprises many patients.

Cartilage is aneural, meaning it contains no nerve endings. Because of this, cartilage itself cannot directly produce pain.

Research published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage explains that the pain associated with osteoarthritis often originates from other structures within the joint, not the cartilage itself.

So if cartilage isn’t causing the pain… what is?

The Real Source of Pain: The Bone Underneath

In many cases of knee osteoarthritis, pain is driven by damage and inflammation in the subchondral bone, which is the bone just beneath the cartilage surface.

Advanced imaging studies have shown that patients with knee arthritis often develop:

• Bone marrow lesions
• Subchondral bone edema
• Microfractures within the bone

These bone changes strongly correlate with knee pain.

A landmark study published in Annals of Internal Medicine demonstrated that bone marrow edema seen on MRI is strongly associated with knee pain in osteoarthritis patients.

This helps explain something doctors have observed for years:

Some patients who are bone-on-bone on X-ray have very little pain, while others with only mild arthritis suffer significantly.

bone on bone knee pain relief in Freehold NJ

X-Rays Do Not Always Predict Pain

Multiple studies have confirmed that the severity of arthritis seen on X-ray does not always match how much pain a patient experiences.

A review published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases concluded that radiographic arthritis severity correlates poorly with symptoms.

This means a “bone-on-bone” diagnosis does not automatically mean severe pain forever.

And it also means that improving the health of the surrounding tissues and bone may significantly reduce symptoms.

How SoftWave TRT Helps Bone-on-Bone Knees

SoftWave Tissue Regeneration Technology (TRT) is one of the most advanced forms of extracorporeal shockwave therapy available today.

SoftWave works by delivering electrohydraulic acoustic waves into damaged tissues to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes.

Research has shown that shockwave therapy can:

• Stimulate stem cell activation
• Increase growth factor release
• Improve blood supply to damaged tissue
• Reduce inflammation in bone and joint tissues
• Stimulate cartilage repair mechanisms

Studies of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in knee osteoarthritis have shown significant improvements in pain and knee function compared to conventional treatment approaches.

Research published in Arthroscopy demonstrated that shockwave therapy can stimulate chondrocyte activity and cartilage repair mechanisms, which may help protect existing cartilage and support joint health.

While no therapy can restore a severely arthritic knee to a completely “new” state, regenerative therapies like SoftWave can create a healing environment within the joint that reduces pain and improves function.

The Added Power of EMTT

At Central Jersey Spine & Wellness, we often combine SoftWave TRT with EMTT (Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy).

Developed in Europe and now FDA cleared in the United States, EMTT uses high-energy magnetic pulses to stimulate cellular metabolism and tissue repair.

EMTT can help:

• Improve bone metabolism
• Reduce bone marrow edema
• Stimulate cellular repair mechanisms
• Enhance the regenerative effects of therapies like SoftWave

By combining these technologies, we can address both:

The soft tissues surrounding the knee and the underlying bone where much of the pain originates.

Enhancing Results with Fluoroscopic-Guided Viscosupplementation

In many cases, we further enhance the effectiveness of regenerative therapies by combining them with viscosupplementation injections.

Viscosupplementation involves injecting hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally found in healthy joint fluid, into the knee to improve lubrication, shock absorption, and joint function.

This therapy has been used safely in orthopedic medicine for over 60 years and has helped millions of patients suffering from knee arthritis.

At our office, these injections are performed under fluoroscopic guidance.

Fluoroscopy is a specialized imaging system that allows the doctor to visualize the joint in real time and ensure extremely accurate placement of the injection inside the knee joint.

Accurate placement is important because studies have shown that blind injections can sometimes miss the joint space, which may reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.

Fluoroscopic guidance allows us to:

• Improve injection accuracy
• Increase the likelihood of treatment success
• Provide faster symptom relief
• Support the regenerative effects of SoftWave TRT and EMTT

When combined with regenerative therapies, viscosupplementation can help reduce joint friction, improve mobility, and create a more favorable environment for healing inside the knee.

Do These Treatments Rebuild the Knee Back to Brand New?

No treatment can reverse decades of wear and completely restore a severely arthritic knee to its original condition.

However, regenerative therapies can:

• Protect remaining cartilage
• Reduce inflammation
• Improve joint mechanics
• Stimulate tissue repair
• Reduce pain significantly

For many patients, this can mean avoiding or delaying knee replacement surgery for years.

Why Patients Trust Dr. Gerard DeBernardis

Dr. Gerard DeBernardis, DC is one of the most experienced SoftWave TRT providers in the United States.

He has performed over 17,000 SoftWave treatments and has helped thousands of patients suffering from knee pain, joint arthritis, tendon injuries, and neuropathy find relief without drugs or surgery.

Dr. DeBernardis is ISMST Certified, meaning he is certified by the International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment (ISMST). The ISMST is the leading international scientific organization dedicated to advancing research, education, and clinical standards in extracorporeal shockwave therapy worldwide.

Certification through the ISMST reflects a physician’s commitment to evidence-based shockwave medicine and the highest level of clinical training in this technology.

Dr. DeBernardis is also a member of the American Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment (ASMST) and serves as a SoftWave Clinical Physician Trainer, teaching doctors from around the country how to successfully implement SoftWave Tissue Regeneration Technology in their own practices.

With over 30 years of clinical experience, Dr. DeBernardis continues to invest in some of the most advanced regenerative medical technologies available worldwide — including SoftWave TRT and EMTT — to give patients the best opportunity to heal naturally and avoid unnecessary drugs or surgery whenever possible.

Schedule a Consultation

If you have been told you are bone-on-bone and that surgery is your only option, you may still have alternatives.

SoftWave TRT, EMTT, and fluoroscopic-guided viscosupplementation may help reduce pain and improve function naturally.

Contact our office to schedule a consultation and find out if you are a candidate.

Central Jersey Spine & Wellness
4251 US Highway 9
Freehold, NJ

Phone: 732-683-1800

Learn more:
www.cjspine.com
www.softwavetrtnj.com