Knee Joint Osteoarthritis (OA)
Get Relief From Knee Pain
Are your knees causing you bother?
You may be experiencing:
- Pain and Discomfort – particularly on movement (sore knee joints)
- Tender, stiff and swollen knee – especially in the morning after resting
- Less able to move the knee
- Creaking or grinding of the knee
Managing Osteoarthritis of the Knees
Effective ways of dealing with knee osteoarthritis (also known as patellofemoral OA or knee osteo) include:
- Exercises to strengthen the muscles around the sore knee joint
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Using a walking stick and good shoes
- Medication and injections
- Radiotherapy
- Surgery including a knee joint replacement
Low-dose radiotherapy treatment can relieve all the symptoms of knee arthritis and get you back to your normal activities.
Radiotherapy (also known as the external beam radiation therapy) is a way to reduce inflammation and pain in the arthritic knee. This leads to improved function in the knee joints so that you can do the things that you need to do – moving them properly and walking with less stiffness and pain.
What is Low Dose Radiotherapy Treatment?
Unlike the stronger radiotherapy used in cancer treatment, much lower doses of radiotherapy treatment are used to treat knee osteoarthritis (OA). The use of low radiation levels ensures that the treatment is very safe.
This is a non-invasive treatment that does not involve any injections or surgery. It is exclusively focused towards the affected area of the knee joint and does not affect the rest of the body.
It’s given as an outpatient, so that you can keep on doing your normal activities without needing a break during treatment. Since it is very low dose, it tends to have only very mild (if any) side effects.
A typical course of radiation therapy involves 6 treatments given over 2 to 3 weeks. Each treatment, delivered as an outpatient, takes less than 10 min. About 70% of patients may need a 2nd course of radiotherapy to maximise the benefits.
When should I Consider Radiotherapy Treatment for Knee OA?
Persistent knee pain and inflammation
If you still have knee pain despite using self-help treatments (like exercises and weight loss) and medicines.
Medications aren't enough
Where simple pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs aren’t working well enough or are causing side-effects .
Symptoms are getting worse
If you notice increased pain, swelling and discomfort in the arthritic knees.
You do not want surgery
If you are not suitable, for instance due to personal choice or other health conditions.
How Can Radiotherapy Help Knee Osteoarthritis?
- Pain Reduction
Recent research shows that low-dose radiotherapy reduces pain from knee arthritis / OA in around 7 out of 10 people.
- Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Scientific evidence shows that radiotherapy reduces inflammation, leading to reduced swelling in the affected knee joints. This reduction helps reduce pain and improves joint function.
- Improved Mobility
People having radiotherapy for knee OA may report substantial improvements in overall joint performance, which can include increased ease of movement, allowing for greater ability to walk.
- Addresses Multiple symptoms
Radiotherapy treatment can help with various symptoms such as swelling, stiffness, and discomfort in the knee joints. This can improve overall quality of life for those dealing with knee joint problems.
- Sustained and Long-lasting Benefits
Some studies suggest that the benefits of radiotherapy treatment, especially in knee pain reduction, may last over a considerable period, resulting in long-lasting relief.
Is Radiotherapy Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis Safe?
Low-Dose Radiotherapy is a very safe treatment for knee arthritis. This is due to various factors:
Low-Dose Radiotherapy
This ensures effective OA knee treatment with very few side effects.
Precise Treatment
Radiotherapy is focused towards only the specific areas of the knee causing trouble. This way, the surrounding areas are not affected by the treatment.
Mild Side Effects
Low-dose radiotherapy typically causes only very mild redness or perhaps some dry skin in the treatment area of the knee.
Non-Surgical
Radiotherapy treatment is a non-surgical way to treat osteoarthritis in the knee joints. This allows you to avoid the risks involved in invasive surgery.
What are the Side Effects of Radiotherapy Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)?
Before starting radiation therapy on your arthritic knee, we’ll thoroughly discuss any potential side effects with you. We will provide comprehensive information about the risks and benefits of the knee treatment, so that you can make the best decisions possible.
The side effects of low dose radiotherapy for knee arthritis / OA tend to be very mild. These can include:
- Skin Reactions
You may get a bit of redness, dryness, or irritation in the treated area of the knee. Typically, these effects disappear a couple of weeks after finishing the treatment.
- Tiredness
Sometimes people feel a bit tired during or after the treatment. However, this tends to settle down once the treatment has finished and energy levels usually improve quickly after that.
Do You Have Any Questions?
Explore detailed answers to common queries on our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
Taking the First Step towards Easing Your Knee Pain
Expect a quick response within one working day. If you would like to set up an appointment, we will do our best to accommodate your preferences.
Initial consultations for the treatment of arthritic knees are available in Nottingham, London, or Guildford for your convenience. And for follow-up treatments, we have centres across the UK in places like Nottingham, Birmingham, London, Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Elstree, Chelmsford, Bristol, Windsor, Guildford, Maidstone, Southampton, and Portsmouth.