Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is very common, affecting most persons as they age. Multiple joints are affected particularly the knees, hips, hands and spine. Patients experience pain and stiffness, which can severely limit activity

Treatment options include pain at intake and anti-inflammatory pills, topical creams and patches, joint injections and physical therapy. These often have limited effectiveness and often cause side effects. Joint replacement is used as a last resort. However, this carries the risks of major surgery and involves a long period of rehabilitation.

Low-dose radiation therapy has been used for osteoarthritis in Europe for many years. Many thousands of patients have been treated, particularly in Germany. Studies reported that an average of 70% of patients have significant pain and stiffness improvement. 20 to 25% of patients are completely pain-free at 1 year.

After reviewing the impressive data from Europe, Shorepoint and manyother radiation centers in the United States have been successfully treating patients for osteoarthritis over the past few years.

Because the recommended dose is so low, radiation therapy to the joints has virtually no side effects. Low-dose radiation therapy works by reducing the inflammation in the treated joints. However unlike anti-inflammatory pills which have to circulate throughout your body before they get to the joints, radiation therapy directly treats the affected joints. Pills often have side effects and can cause damage to your stomach or kidneys. They must be taken every day, indefinitely. Topical creams and patches may help but usually do not penetrate deep enough into the joints. Injections into the joints can provide short-term pain relief but can be painful and carry a risk of infection or side effects from repeated doses of steroids.

Low-dose radiation therapy to the joints involves 6 treatments given in 6 days. Treatment is mcompletely noninvasive and painless. Each treatment takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Hips, knees, hands and shoulders have responded well to treatment. Improvement is usually longlasting. Repeat treatment can be done in 6 to 12 months if necessary.

Treatment is covered by Medicare and most insurance.

Please call Shorepoint if you want to discuss low-dose radiation therapy for osteoarthritis with Dr. Marchese or Dr. Shah.