Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. It’s caused by the breakdown of protective cartilage in the joints. This condition gradually worsens over time, causing more pain and difficulty performing everyday tasks. However, a reemerging treatment offers relief for patients with advanced arthritis: low-dose radiation therapy.
Although traditionally used for cancer treatment, the amount of radiation used for arthritis is much lower and has shown effectiveness in reducing pain and inflammation.
Many patients report a decrease in arthritis pain that lasts about two years with this therapy.
There are several types of arthritis, including:
Radiation therapy is only prescribed at this time to help patients with advanced osteoarthritis. This degenerative joint condition is caused when cartilage, which cushions the joints, breaks down, causing pain and inflammation. The people most likely to develop osteoarthritis are older women who have a higher body mass index (BMI). A family history of arthritis or a previous joint injury will also increase your risk. However, even with no risk factors, you can still develop osteoarthritis.
The condition can impact any joint but most commonly affects the hands, knees, hips, and spine. It usually starts gradually with inflammation, some discomfort, and a more limited range of motion in the joint. As osteoarthritis progresses, you are likely to feel more pain and inflammation. You might even feel a grating sensation when moving the joint, accompanied by popping or cracking sounds. Even light pressure on the joint can be painful.
Low-dose radiation therapy for osteoarthritis is not new. It was developed decades ago and is still widely used in Germany and other countries. Its use in the United States declined in the 1980s due to the availability of more pharmaceutical options for arthritis. However, low-dose radiation therapy is now gaining popularity again in the US for those with advanced arthritis.
The treatment reduces joint inflammation, providing long-lasting pain relief for many patients. Research is ongoing to understand precisely how low-dose radiation therapy relieves pain, but recent studies suggest that it modulates inflammatory pathways. This treatment is shown to offer longer-lasting pain relief compared to traditional methods for osteoarthritis. Studies indicate that more than 70% of patients experience pain improvement after initial low-dose radiation treatments, and the relief continues for up to two years. If pain recurs or worsens, low-dose radiation therapy can be repeated periodically for arthritis treatment.
For patients who have been suffering from arthritis pain for a long time, medications and cortisone shots may no longer be effective, or there are unwanted side effects. In these cases, joint replacement surgery is often the next step.
Prior to moving to joint replacement surgery, low-dose radiation therapy can be an option, especially if the patient is over 40 years of age. Because radiation therapy for osteoarthritis involves only low doses of x-ray radiation, there are few or no side effects. There is a very low risk of developing secondary cancers such as thyroid, colon, soft tissue, or leukemia. It’s important to discuss any concerns with a radiation oncologist who will work with your physician to determine if this is right for you.
When receiving treatments, a device called a linear accelerator, also used for cancer radiation therapy, delivers low doses of radiation to the affected joint (or joints). This painless and noninvasive therapy precisely targets the affected joints with high-energy beams without damaging nearby tissue.
The radiation therapist will position you on the treatment table and then administer radiation to the affected area. You may hear clicking or buzzing, and the machine may move to change the angle at which it delivers radiation. The entire treatment session takes only 10 minutes once you’re in position.
You will only need about six treatments in total, each one a few days apart over a few weeks. During this period, you should be able to continue with your normal daily activities.
If you suffer from osteoarthritis, you may benefit from low-dose radiation therapy. Insurance often covers the cost of the treatment. It’s a good idea to check with your plan.
Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia provides advanced arthritis patients in the Atlanta area with low-dose radiation therapy for osteoarthritis. We offer the latest radiation therapy technologies and have clinics in Blairsville, Conyers, Covington, Decatur, and Snellville, Georgia. Request an appointment at the location nearest you for an initial consultation. Your primary care physician, rheumatologist, orthopedic doctor, and/or pain specialist can also refer you to one of our clinics to see if radiation therapy is an option for you.