How Can Low-Dose Radiotherapy Treat Knee Osteoarthritis?

Types of radiotherapy - Knee osteoarthritis medical problem

When those who have not had radiotherapy before find themselves in a medical situation where it is a possibility, the first question may not be “which type?” Few osteoarthritis sufferers will know there is one kind that could benefit them.

Those who have some knowledge of radiotherapy, either as specialists or patients who have experience of treatment, may be more aware of how many different types of radiotherapy there are and why the distinctions matter.

Indeed, there are several familiar kinds of radiotherapy with various uses:

  • Full body radiotherapy
  • Intensity modulated radiotherapy
  • Image-guidedradiotherapy
  • Stereotactic radiotherapy

The types listed above are all external radiotherapy, but there is also internal radiotherapy, where a radioactive substance is injected into a particular area of the body to focus the radiation on a specific area.

These distinctions, however, are all based on high levels of radiation being used to disrupt cancer cell DNA and shrink tumours. They do not include the distinction between these high doses of radiation and low-dose radiation.

What Causes Osteoarthritis Of The Knee?

Osteoarthritis sufferers would never have their conditions treated by high-dose radiotherapy. But low-dose radiotherapy can be very effective and patients may be particularly keen to try it for joints such as the knee, which by nature will be worst affected by osteoarthritis.

While some other joints may be rested, walking will always put a strain on a sore knee, where osteoarthritis will often occur as a result of the cartilage becoming worn down and thinned, sometimes as a result of injury.

Factors that predispose some people to be more likely than others to suffer osteoarthritis of the knee include:

  • Gender, with women being more at risk than men
  • Age, with over 50s more likely to be affected, although it can strike at younger ages
  • Joint problems, such as gout
  • Repeated injuries to the knee
  • Being overweight, as this places more strain on the knee

How Does Low-Dose Radiation Ease The Pain Of Osteoarthritis?

The effect of low-dose radiotherapy is to impede the inflammatory response, which means your knee joint will become less inflamed and therefore the pain will be a lot less than otherwise.

You may have already considered other treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee, such as surgery or taking anti-inflammatory drugs. But there could be good reasons for these not being suitable for you.

For example, speaking to the Cleveland Clinic about low-dose radiotherapy for osteoarthritis, radiation oncologist Dr Rahul Tendulkar explained: “It’s a great option for patients who can’t take anti-inflammatory drugs due to ulcers, kidney problems or other conditions.”

He added that it is also an alternative for those who are not yet ready to undergo surgery for their condition.

Dr Tendulkar revealed the results of low-dose radiotherapy have been very promising, commenting: “In one recent trial, about 70 per cent of patients who received radiation saw a drop in their knee pain, compared to about 40 per cent in the placebo group.”

The treatment starts with a scan to assess the knee, followed by a short session of treatment lasting just a few minutes. Future repeats are possible.

Not only is this swift and simple without any downtime, but the radiation aspect is not something to be concerned about.

Does Low-Dose Radiation Have Any Side Effects?

The word radiation is often associated with high doses with significant medical effects, which is certainly true for the far higher doses used in treating cancer. But the levels of radiation are so much lower for osteoarthritis treatment and side effects are uncommon at low doses.

To put this in perspective, it is worth noting that everyone is commonly exposed to low doses of radiation every day from various sources:

  • Background radiation from the environment, especially in the presence of certain minerals in the ground
  • Food containing potassium, such as bananas

Because the human body is perfectly geared up to handle radiation at this level, the amount that will be given in a low-dose radiotherapy session will not add sufficiently to that to challenge the threshold at which radiation will have adverse effects.

If you are suffering from osteoarthritis in your knee, or indeed other joints, you may find that low-dose radiotherapy offers a new way of finding pain relief, one that may be especially useful if you are in that category of people who cannot take anti-inflammatories.

Indeed, you may find that it is more effective than the treatments you have relied on so far. For that reason, it may be well worth your investigating the treatments we can provide to help you increase your mobility and suffer far less pain.