Low-Dose Radiotherapy for Osteoarthritis Proven Safe and Effective

If you are suffering from Osteoarthritis, low dose radiation therapy (LDRT) could put an end to that pain, restore mobility and get you off regular use of over the counter pain medications and prescription pain meds.

The treatment has been used in Europe and Germany for decades and is often the first treatment of choice.

It is starting to catch on in the U.S. and is offered at the CyberKnife Center of Miami. Dr. Mark Pomper, board certified radiation oncologist and medical director of the center says, “It’s amazing how fast we see patients get pain relief. It only requires one-to-five treatments and it can be used on any joint causing pain. Hands, feet, hips, shoulders, knees, ankles, fingers, toes. It’s excellent for patients who don’t want or can’t have surgery, or want to delay joint surgery.”

Dr. Pomper treated his 91 year old father. Howard says, “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. Before it was so bad I was mostly confined to walking in my home, and nothing I tried helped.”

This gentle, non-invasive treatment delivers a low amount of radiation directly to the affected joint. It helps calm inflammation and reduce chronic pain.

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 decades of research to back up its safety and effectiveness. While it hasn’t been commonly used in the U.S. 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.

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.

You can reach out to our experts at CyberKnife Miami at 305-279-2900 to set up a consultation. Chances are you’ll be glad you did.

Here is the latest research on LDRT published by the National Institutes of health for your consideration.