Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Osteoarthritis
Nonsurgical relief from chronic joint pain
Living with osteoarthritis often feels like being stuck in a holding pattern. You've tried different treatments to manage your joint pain, but everyday activities are becoming more difficult. Joint replacement surgery may be an option to help you move more comfortably and get back to the life you enjoy, but it's a big decision.
At Reid Health, you have another treatment option: low-dose radiation for osteoarthritis. This noninvasive treatment, now available to our neighbors in East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio, treats inflammation, which often causes joint stiffness and pain.
Although radiation cannot cure osteoarthritis, it can help you reclaim your mobility, quiet your pain, and significantly improve your quality of life without the downtime that can accompany a major procedure.
How radiation helps with osteoarthritis
Low-dose radiation primarily works by treating the inflammation associated with arthritis symptoms.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the bone, tissues, cartilage, and other parts of a joint gradually break down. Medical experts don't know exactly what causes this breakdown, but they know many people with osteoarthritis also have inflammation within their joints. Inflammation can cause pain and stiffness. It can also weaken cartilage.
Low-dose radiation has an anti-inflammatory effect. It calms inflammation by destroying cells that cause it and removing proteins that promote it.
Is low-dose radiation right for you?
Currently, providers recommend radiation for people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis who still have symptoms despite trying other nonsurgical treatments, such as medication or physical therapy.
Low-dose radiation therapy can treat many joints affected by osteoarthritis, including:
The treatment is currently not recommended for people with severe osteoarthritis. By this stage, arthritis has damaged and destroyed cartilage and bone, and joint replacement surgery might be necessary for long-term relief.
What to expect during your treatment session
Radiation treatment for osteoarthritis takes place at the Reid Cancer Center, and you'll work with our experienced radiation oncology team. Even though most people associate radiation therapy with cancer treatment, this therapy uses a significantly lower dose of radiation than is used to treat cancer.
The treatment process is simple:
- You'll receive six treatments over two to three weeks
- Each session lasts about 15-20 minutes
- The radiation oncologists might treat multiple joints in a single session.
- The treatments don't require anesthesia, so you can return home after your sessions and get back to your day.
Does insurance cover radiation for osteoarthritis?
Medicare and private insurance companies often cover low-dose radiation for osteoarthritis, but not always. Check with your insurance company beforehand to determine coverage.
Radiation Therapy
Success rate of radiation therapy in arthritis
Every person is unique, but for many, low-dose radiation provides short- and long-term relief from osteoarthritis pain and improves quality of life. The treatment can offer years of positive results.
Unlike radiation therapy for cancer, the radiation treatments used for osteoarthritis rarely cause side effects. If you have side effects, they are generally mild and might include redness around the treated area.