Over 32 million adults in the U.S. suffer from osteoarthritis (OA) and many find themselves sidelined by debilitating knee pain. Studies suggest it’s due in part to the fact that we’re living longer and unfortunately, carrying extra weight. Osteoarthritis is a major source of knee problems, causing stiffness, swelling, and pain. If effects everyday living, making it difficult to walk, climb stairs, and even sit down or get up from a chair.

In the past, treatment options for this debilitating condition have been limited to steroid injections, pain medication, and surgery.

A promising treatment called genicular artery embolization (GAE) could be the answer. While it’s a new procedure, it’s not a new technique. Artery embolization has been used throughout the body to treat conditions like tumors and enlarged prostates. This minimally invasive technique deals with the small vessels that supply blood to a specific area, in this case, the cartilage and synovium in the knee.

GAE done through a nick in the skin, changes the blood flow to the knee to reduce the growth of new blood vessels. This in turn reduces the inflammation to break the cycle of pain.

Benefits of GAE include:
● No knee replacement
● No general anesthesia
● No hospital
● No bed rest, you are able to return to normal activities quickly

The specialists at CiC encourage anyone who hasn’t gotten results from their current treatment or are not ready or able to have a knee replacement to learn more about GAE. Call for an appointment to see if GAE is right for you.