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Knee Pain (caused by osteoarthritis)

Patients with osteoarthritis (OA) can experience severe inflammation within the knee, causing debilitating pain. Many patients cannot have, or do not wish to have total knee replacement surgery. Others may be resistant to conservative treatment or lifelong medication regimens.

Knee cartilage is a tough, rubbery tissue on the ends of the bones within the knee that allows the joint to bend and move. Over time, this cartilage can wear out or become damaged.  As it does, the bones in the knee joint rub together, causing friction that results in inflammation and subsequent knee pain, stiffness and swelling. It can even change the shape of your knee over time.

Those with mild osteoarthritis symptoms may be effectively treated with medication, supplements and/or lifestyle changes. For some, physical therapy might be prescribed, or support braces. For those with more severe symptoms, total knee replacement surgery is often recommended.

For those who do not wish to or cannot have surgery, gel pain injections may be recommended. These can last for up to six months, with results taking effect between 4-5 weeks after treatment.

Knee Pain

GAE: A novel approach to treating osteoarthritis of the knee

Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is a minimally invasive procedure to treat osteoarthritis. The procedure reduces the flow of blood to the synovium—the lining of the knee—which in turn reduces inflammation and the associated pain.

GAE is performed by an interventional radiologist who inserts a tiny catheter into an artery in your upper thigh or wrist and then uses imaging to guide it through the body’s blood vessels to the arteries that supply blood to the synovium, where inflammation occurs. Tiny particles are injected through the catheter into these arteries, which gather in the smaller blood vessels and reduce the flow of blood. The effect is a significant reduction in the inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and a reduction in pain.

A clinical study performed in 2021 demonstrated that the average pain scores decreased from 8 out of 10 to 3 out of 10 within the first week of the procedure.1

If knee osteoarthritis is keeping you from living your best life, visit our contact page or call us at 947-228-5500 to schedule a consultation. We’ll work with all members of your care team to find the treatment that is right for you.

  1. Non-surgical treatment quickly reduces arthritis knee pain and improves function. Society of Interventional Radiology – SIR 2021 knee pain. (2021, March 16). Retrieved February 17, 2023, from https://www.sirweb.org/media-and-pubs/media/news-release-archive/sir-2021-knee-pain-031621/
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