Reid Cancer Center now offers low-dose radiation therapy for osteoarthritis pain relief

Everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or getting out of a car can become increasingly painful for people living with osteoarthritis. To help relieve joint pain and stiffness, Reid Health is expanding treatment options by offering low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) for osteoarthritis.

Radiation therapy can also help manage non-cancer conditions. Reid Cancer Center now offers low-dose radiation therapy to help relieve pain and inflammation caused by osteoarthritis. Using very small doses of radiation, LDRT is a safe, noninvasive treatment that can reduce chronic pain, improve mobility, and help patients return to daily activities.

Jason Hinton, MD, Radiation Oncologist at Reid Health, said unlike radiation therapy used to treat cancer, LDRT is designed to calm the body's inflammatory response within the affected joint.

"You can think of LDRT as a localized anti-inflammatory treatment, similar to ibuprofen, but targeted only to the painful joint," Dr. Hinton said.

"The goal is to reduce pain, improve movement and flexibility, and help you return to normal daily activities."

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease affecting the bone, cartilage, ligaments, fat, and tissue lining the joint. It’s the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 32.5 million adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As the disease progresses, inflammation contributes to pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility. LDRT helps reduce inflammation by changing the activity of immune cells within the affected joint.

The new service expands access to specialized osteoarthritis care in East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio while providing orthopedic specialists and other referring providers with another nonsurgical option for patients whose pain persists despite conservative treatment.

Studies show about 70% of patients experience meaningful pain relief following treatment, while up to 30% experience complete pain relief. Improvement typically occurs gradually over several weeks to several months and can provide long-lasting benefits for many patients, Dr. Hinton said.

LDRT might be appropriate for adults diagnosed with mild to moderate osteoarthritis whose pain continues to interfere with daily activities despite treatments such as medications, physical therapy, exercise, bracing, or steroid injections. It also might benefit patients who aren’t ready for joint replacement surgery or who aren’t ideal surgical candidates.

Patients with advanced arthritis might benefit more from evaluation by an orthopedic surgeon to determine whether joint replacement is the most appropriate treatment.

The treatment might not be appropriate for patients who are pregnant, have pain caused by an infection or recent injury, or are younger than 50.

Treatment begins with a planning CT scan and is performed on an outpatient basis at Reid Cancer Center. Most patients receive six treatments given every other day over about two weeks.

Each visit lasts about 20 minutes, although the treatment itself only takes a few minutes. No anesthesia or recovery period is required, allowing patients to return to normal daily activities immediately after each appointment.

Side effects are minimal and, if they occur, are typically mild and temporary, such as slight skin redness, warmth over the treated area, or a temporary increase in joint discomfort known as a pain flare.

"LDRT is intended to complement, not replace, other osteoarthritis treatments," Dr. Hinton said.

"Most patients continue exercise, physical therapy, weight management, pain medications as needed, and other treatments recommended by their healthcare team."

Radiation Oncology specialists at Reid Cancer Center work closely with orthopedic providers to identify patients who could benefit from LDRT as part of their overall treatment plan.

"It’s typically considered after conservative treatments haven’t provided enough relief but before or instead of surgery for selected patients,” Dr. Hinton said. "The goal is to reduce pain, improve function, and help you stay active."

If arthritis progresses, patients who receive LDRT can still move forward with joint replacement when the time is right.

Reid Health accepts referrals from providers and community physicians, including primary care, orthopedics, pain management, rheumatology, and other specialists.

Patients interested in learning whether low-dose radiation therapy could be appropriate for them should speak with their primary care provider or orthopedic specialist. Patients with imaging confirming an osteoarthritis diagnosis may also self-refer.

For more information or to schedule an evaluation, call Reid Cancer Center at (765) 983-3358 or visit ReidHealth.org.