Lasting joint-pain relief — without surgery
COOLIEF cooled radiofrequency can quiet the nerves carrying pain from an arthritic joint, offering many patients months of relief and a path back to the activities they’ve been avoiding.
COOLIEF is a non-surgical, outpatient treatment that uses cooled radiofrequency energy to calm the specific sensory nerves transmitting pain from a joint — commonly the knee, hip, or shoulder. There’s no implant and no incision, and many patients feel meaningful relief that can last several months or more.
Here's how it actually works in the body
Pain from an arthritic joint travels along small sensory nerves to the brain. COOLIEF interrupts that signal at the source. A thin probe is positioned near the target nerves, and radiofrequency energy — cooled by circulating water so it can treat a larger, more precise area without overheating tissue — calms those nerves’ ability to carry pain.
It doesn’t rebuild cartilage or cure arthritis. What it does is turn down the pain signal, often enough to let you move, exercise, and rebuild strength — which is frequently what keeps a joint working and a person active. For many, that’s the difference between bracing for every step and getting back to a walk, a round of golf, or a full day on their feet.
Move comfortably again — without surgery
COOLIEF won’t rebuild a joint, but by quieting the nerves that carry the pain it often gives people enough relief to walk, exercise, and rebuild the strength that keeps a joint working — frequently enough to delay or avoid a replacement.
The path, step by step
Map
A diagnostic step confirms the joint’s sensory nerves are the pain source and that you’ll likely respond.
Treat
Cooled radiofrequency is delivered to those nerves in a single outpatient visit, no incision required.
Move
As pain settles over the following weeks, you regain the ability to move and rebuild the strength around the joint.
Who it’s a fit for
A free MRI review confirms candidacy for your specific case — this is a general guide, not a diagnosis.
- Knee, hip, or shoulder pain from osteoarthritis that limits daily life
- You want to delay or avoid joint-replacement surgery
- Injections or medication have stopped giving lasting relief
- You’re not a surgical candidate, or prefer to avoid surgery
- Chronic facet-joint or SI-joint pain in the spine
- You want an outpatient option with no implant and quick recovery
What the evidence supports
Cooled radiofrequency ablation has been studied for osteoarthritic knee pain and other joint and spine indications, with published trials reporting clinically meaningful pain reduction and functional improvement lasting months for many patients. As with any treatment, response varies, and a diagnostic step beforehand helps identify who is most likely to benefit.
It is one tool among several. For some, an injection or therapy is enough; for others with advanced joint damage, replacement is the better long-term answer. The goal is to match the treatment to where you actually are.
How the options compare
| Traditional approach | The Synergy approach | |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Joint replacement surgery | Non-surgical, no incision |
| Setting | Hospital, inpatient | Outpatient, same day |
| Recovery | Weeks to months | Days; resume activity quickly |
| Implant | Prosthetic joint | None |
| Best for | Advanced, end-stage joint damage | Pain relief and staying active now |
When something else is the better fit
COOLIEF buys relief and mobility, but it doesn’t reverse arthritis. If a joint is severely damaged and replacement is clearly the right long-term step, we’ll say so. And if a simpler measure — an injection, a course of therapy, weight and activity changes — is likely to work, that’s the place to start.
The encouraging part is how often a non-surgical option like this is enough to get someone moving again, which is frequently what protects the joint and the rest of the body over time.
Keep exploring
COOLIEF for the Knee
Cooled radiofrequency for knee osteoarthritis.
Learn more →COOLIEF for the Hip
Relief for arthritic hip pain without surgery.
Learn more →COOLIEF for the Shoulder
Calming the nerves behind shoulder pain.
Learn more →Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation
The procedure in depth.
Learn more →Knee Osteoarthritis
Causes, options, and where COOLIEF fits.
Learn more →COOLIEF Cost
All-inclusive pricing, published up front.
Learn more →
Start with a Free MRI Review
Send the MRI you already have. McMillan will tell you whether you’re a candidate — and what it would cost — before you decide anything.
Get Your Free MRI ReviewWhat patients ask
What makes Synergy’s approach to COOLIEF different?
Am I a candidate for COOLIEF?
How do I get started?
How long does relief from COOLIEF last?
Is COOLIEF painful, and how long is the procedure?
Will COOLIEF cure my arthritis?
Does insurance cover COOLIEF?
Why we look beyond epidural steroids
Cooled radiofrequency ablation is offered as an alternative to repeated epidural steroid injections. These are the FDA communications and peer-reviewed analyses informing that position.