Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the No. 1 joint disorder in the nation. It is especially prevalent among those 60 years old and up. When it affects the knees, it can make everyday movement unbearably painful.

There is no known cure for knee osteoarthritis, but there are treatments that can help manage its symptoms. Many people with knee osteoarthritis attempt different pain-relieving methods before ultimately resorting to knee replacement surgery. At Florida Endovascular and Interventional, we’re here to offer you an innovative, minimally invasive treatment that can offer lasting relief.

What Exactly Is Osteoarthritis?

Also known as degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis, osteoarthritis is a condition in which the rubbery cartilage at the ends of bones wears away over time. Without this cushioning cartilage at the joint, the resulting bone-on-bone friction can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in the knee.

Osteoarthritis can affect just one or both knees. It can limit your range of motion and make walking or other movement painful. The symptoms of osteoarthritis typically get worse if left untreated.

Florida Endovascular and Interventional

How to Tell If It’s Knee Osteoarthritis

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms or have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, it is important to talk to your doctor about treatment options. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing this condition, but with the right combination of therapies, you can find relief from your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

  • Pain and stiffness in the knee joint, especially after periods of rest or first thing in the morning
  • Pain improving with rest
  • Swelling in the knee joint
  • Reduced range of motion in the affected knee
  • A grating or creaking sensation when moving the knee joint
  • Visible deformity in the shape of the knee joint

Knee Pain Relief With Interventional Radiology

Interventional radiologists are medical doctors who specialize in using minimally invasive procedures to treat conditions affecting the bones, joints, and blood vessels, organs, and other soft tissue in the body. They are experts in imaging techniques, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, which they use to guide their interventions.

The interventional radiology providers at Florida Endovascular and Interventional can treat a wide range of medical conditions, but are particularly well-suited to treating knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. When other conservative treatment methods – such as anti-inflammatories, gel shots, braces, or physical therapy – fail to address the pain of knee osteoarthritis, surgery may not necessarily be the next step for you.

Our providers offer the following procedures that can bring lasting pain relief for those suffering from knee osteoarthritis:

  • Genicular artery embolization (GAE). A catheter is threaded from an artery in the thigh to the arteries supplying blood to the lining of the knee joint. Medication or materials are used to reduce blood flow to the joint lining. This can effectively reduce inflammation at the joint, alleviating the pain associated with knee osteoarthritis.
  • Radiofrequency ablation (RFA). This procedure uses heat to destroy pain-causing nerves in the knee. It can provide long-lasting relief from knee osteoarthritis pain.
  • Cryoablation. Similar to an RFA treatment, cryoablation administers extreme cold temperature to freeze and destroy pain-causing nerves in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

The decision to use interventional radiology to treat knee osteoarthritis will depend on several factors, including the severity of your condition, your response to previous therapies, and your own personal preferences. Our interventional radiologists work with your other doctors to create a treatment plan tailored especially for you.

If you are living with knee osteoarthritis pain, talk to your doctor about whether interventional radiology treatments might be right for you.

Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment in Miami Lakes, Plantation & Aventura, FL

Are you suffering from chronic knee pain? You may have treatment options you weren’t aware of – and you may not need to rush into a knee replacement surgery.

Contact the interventional radiologists at Florida Endovascular and Interventional by calling (786) 534-2555 or request your appointment now. Our providers offer new, innovative, minimally invasive procedures that offer lasting relief of the pain caused by knee osteoarthritis. Best of all, you leave our office with nothing more than a needle pinprick in the thigh.

We have three convenient South Florida locations from which to serve you: in Miami Lakes, Plantation, and Aventura.