“After the third treatment on my left hip I no longer needed a wheelchair,” Howard says.
CyberKnife Low Dose Radiation Therapy: A New Treatment For Osteoarthritis Pain Is Gentle Noninvasive With No Downtime
For many patients managing the pain of osteoarthritis it gets more difficult over time. That’s why the CyberKnife Center of Miami is now offering Low-Dose Radiation Therapy (LDRT) which has a high success rate of easing and even eliminating the pain.
This gentle, non-invasive treatment delivers a low amount of radiation directly to the affected joint. It helps calm inflammation and reduce chronic pain.
If you’re living with joint pain from osteoarthritis and haven’t found lasting relief through standard treatment including medications, physical therapy, or injections, and want to put off, don’t want or aren’t a candidate for joint replacement surgery, consider LDRT.
Years of scientific research shows it can improve mobility and lessen pain for about 70-to-95% of the patients who are treated, some almost immediately.
It worked for 91 year old Howard Pomper, “Prior to treatment I had a great deal of pain in both my hips. It was difficult to walk. I had to use a stroller, and often a wheelchair, but after the third treatment on my left hip, I was pushing the wheelchair not sitting in it,” (He laughs). Now I want my right hip treated.”
Howard had six low dose radiation treatments on his left hip, and by the third treatment he says, “I literally noticed the difference right away. Now I can walk again without pain in that hip. Before it was so bad I was mostly confined to walking in my home, and nothing I tried helped. My family can attest to that.”
In fact, Howard’s son does attest to that and it’s why he recommended and treated his dad with LDRT.
Dr. Mark Pomper is a board certified radiation oncologist and medical director at CyberKnife Miami.
Dr. Pomper says, “We’re a family of walkers and my dad could barely walk anymore. It was hard seeing my once active father suffer and become sedentary, so I recommended he try low dose radiation therapy and it worked almost immediately. The whole team at CyberKnife Miami is so pleased with the results that we decided to offer it as a new treatment.”
Dr. Pomper says, “LDRT has an anti-inflammatory effect with a high response rate and no side effects. The radiation dose given is so low there is no risk of damaging the bones or surrounding tissue and nearby organs.”
Low dose radiation therapy for osteoarthritis is not new, and there’s a lot of research to back up it’s safety and effectiveness, however it hasn’t been commonly used, but that’s changing as doctors and patients realize the benefits of it, most importantly eliminating pain without medication or surgery.
Dr. Pomper says,“Europe led the way, and in Germany one third of patients are treated with LDRT for osteoarthritis. It’s a great alternative to non-steroidal injections that in the long run hurt the bones, or taking anti-inflammatory medication forever, which also has side effects and can be hard on the stomach and kidneys. And of course any time you can avoid joint replacement surgery, and all the risks and downtime that come with it, that’s a good thing to consider.”
All areas affected by osteoarthritis can be treated with LDRT. Hands, fingers, arms, knees, ankles, hips, spine, all major joints.
Dr. Pomper says, “The pain may not always go away totally but it’s much improved along with mobility. If the pain comes back, the area can be re-treated. On average it requires six, ten-minute treatment sessions, one every other day and then patients are re-evaluated. About half go for a second round of treatments.”
LDRT is cost effective for many people seeking relief from osteoarthritis pain. Medicare and most major commercial insurance plans approve and cover it. However coverage can vary depending on your specific insurer and plan, so it’s essential to verify your benefits directly.
Dr. Pomper says, “LDRT is a good option for people who have difficulty with daily living activities, those that don’t respond well or can’t use standard therapies any more, are not good candidates for invasive joint replacement surgery, don’t want it, or want to delay it.”
Dr. Pomper says, “Dad’s pain got so bad he decided to take my advice and within one-to-two treatments he was feeling better, and by the time he had his third treatment he was singing. He goes to the gym everyday and he’s very active on the bicycle. Before he was very limited to where he could go. He only would walk in the house. We’re all so happy he did it. The response in my father was literally like a miracle, and when I saw it I wanted to help others get the same pain relief.”
If you are in a similar situation as Howard, are no longer responding to or tolerating standard treatments and wish to avoid surgery, you may want to consider Low-dose Radiation Therapy for osteoarthritis.
LDRT may be a good option if you:
Are over 40 and experiencing persistent joint pain
Can’t tolerate medications like NSAIDs
Aren’t ready for surgery or want to delay joint replacement
Want a safe, outpatient option with no recovery time
Treatment typically involves just a few quick sessions, about 10 minutes each over a couple of weeks, and most patients report feeling relief within a month.
Howard says, “I no longer worry that I will need hip surgery, and it’s great to be living pain free again.”
If you think Low-Dose Radiation Therapy might be right for you or a loved one, call our experienced team at CyberKnife Miami for a consultation at 305-279-2900.
Our board-certified doctors, radiation therapists, physicists, and support staff work together to create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.