Exploring Treatment for Arthritis Knee Pain

If you have developed arthritis in the knee, you may be seeking treatment for arthritis knee pain. But what is arthritis, why does it cause pain and what are your treatment options? Keep reading to find out.

What is arthritis of the knee?

Arthritis is a term that describes swelling and tenderness in one or more of your joints. If you have arthritis of the knee, joints in one or both knees may be affected, leading to additional symptoms such as pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of the disease to impact your knee joints. And, while the disease is progressive and has no cure, there are treatments available to help relieve your pain.

Treatment for Arthritis Knee Pain

When you have arthritis in one or both knees, it’s important to seek early intervention. With prompt treatment, you can maintain mobility, manage pain and delay or prevent disease progression.

For some people, pain can be relieved with heating pads and over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. Physical therapy and regular exercise can help preserve your mobility. But, when those treatments fail to fully offer relief, and you aren’t ready for surgery, aren’t a surgical candidate, or simply wish to delay this invasive treatment option, it’s time to explore genicular artery embolization (GAE), an alternative to surgical treatment for arthritis knee pain.

What is GAE?

GAE is a non-surgical procedure that slows osteoarthritis progression in your knee. Because it is minimally invasive, and lasts just about two hours, this treatment won’t require hospitalization or general anesthesia.

During the procedure, we’ll administer an anesthetic through a small puncture in your groin. Then, we’ll use that access point to insert a thin catheter into your femoral artery, guiding it to your knee’s genicular artery with the help of X-ray imaging. 

Once the genicular arteries are in sight, we release small embolic materials into your vessels, limiting blood flow to the lining of your knee and reducing pain, inflammation and other symptoms of knee arthritis. Finally, we extract your catheter, cover your puncture site with a sanitized bandage, and send you home a few hours later, when you’re able to walk. The day after choosing this treatment for arthritis knee pain, you’ll be able to resume your normal activities. And, within weeks, you should experience noticeable arthritis symptom relief.

Choosing GAE for Treatment of Arthritis Knee Pain in Texas

Ready to see if you’re a candidate for GAE in Houston or Dallas? This may be your ideal treatment if you

• Have a formal knee osteoarthritis diagnosis
• Are living with moderate to severe knee pain and stiffness
• Haven’t found relief through medications or conservative treatment options
• Are between the ages of 40 and 80, in generally good health

Do you meet these criteria and are ready to find your pathway to relief? Click here to request an appointmentClick here to request an appointmentClick here to request an appointment with our experts at the Texas Knee Institute.