Summer is the time to be out and about. You might want to walk on the beach, work in the garden, travel with family, play golf, or enjoy longer days outdoors. But when knee pain flares up, those plans can feel out of reach.
Knee osteoarthritis is the leading cause of later-life disability, a situation that’s likely to worsen with an aging population. Genicular artery embolization (GAE) may be the solution if arthritis causes your knee pain and conservative treatments haven’t helped enough.
GAE is a minimally invasive treatment that targets inflammation in the knee. It doesn’t replace every knee pain treatment, and it isn’t right for everyone. However, it reduces pain and improves daily movement without major surgery for many people with knee osteoarthritis.
At Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC, we’ve been using GAE for years to help patients with knee osteoarthritis. Here’s our guide to how it could help you stay active this summer.
Knee osteoarthritis develops when the protective cartilage inside the joint wears down over time. As the joint changes, the knee becomes inflamed, triggering pain, stiffness, swelling, and tenderness.
During the summer, people often move more than they do in the colder months. More walking, climbing stairs, yard work, and travel place extra stress on an already irritated knee.
Many people try to push through knee pain so they don’t miss out, but pain often makes you move differently, which can strain your hips, back, or other joints. It can also make you less active over time, which weakens muscles and adds to joint stiffness.
In osteoarthritis, the body sometimes forms extra tiny blood vessels (angiogenesis) near the irritated joint lining. These vessels support ongoing inflammation and pain signals. GAE focuses on the small blood vessels that feed areas of inflammation around the knee.
During GAE, our vascular specialists guide a thin catheter through a small blood vessel, usually in the groin or calf. We use imaging to direct the catheter toward the genicular arteries around the knee. Then we place tiny particles into selected vessels to reduce abnormal blood flow linked to inflammation.
The goal isn’t to block all blood flow to the knee. Instead, GAE targets specific vessels that contribute to painful inflammation. By calming that inflammatory process, the treatment reduces pain and helps you move more comfortably.
Many people with chronic knee arthritis want pain relief, but they don’t feel ready for joint replacement surgery. Others may not qualify for surgery because of health concerns. GAE gives these patients another option.
It doesn’t involve replacing the joint or require large incisions. It doesn’t remove bone or cartilage. Most people go home the same day, and recovery is faster and less painful than after major surgery.
While GAE doesn’t reverse arthritis or rebuild cartilage, it does reduce inflammation and pain, which helps you return to more of your normal activities. We always review your symptoms, imaging, and health history before we recommend it.
GAE helps adults with knee osteoarthritis who still have pain after trying conservative treatments such as:
Good candidates usually have knee pain related to arthritis rather than pain from a major ligament tear, fracture, infection, or other problem.
If you have severe joint damage, knee replacement could still offer the best long-term solution. But if you want to delay surgery or explore a less invasive approach, GAE is well worth considering.
After GAE, you need some time to rest, but most people return to light activity fairly quickly. You may have mild soreness or bruising where the catheter enters the blood vessel. Some people experience knee discomfort as the treated area responds.
Many people notice gradual improvement over several weeks as inflammation decreases. We explain what you can expect and when to follow up.
As your knee starts to feel better, walking, stretching, and strengthening exercises support your recovery and help protect the joint. We may also encourage you to continue working with your physical therapist, depending on your needs.
We are compassionate and take the time to understand how knee pain affects your life. For one person, success might mean walking around the neighborhood again. For another, it might mean taking a summer trip without constantly searching for a place to sit.
Whatever your goals, you shouldn’t have to miss out on summer activities you enjoy because your knee hurts. Call Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC, or complete the online form today to learn whether genicular artery embolization could help you stay active this summer.
