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Knee Pain Treatment
Focused On You
Seeking treatment for osteoarthritis-related knee pain doesn’t always have to be a choice between injections and full joint replacement. Emage Joint Centers is expanding access to minimally invasive genicular artery embolization (GAE) in the comfort and convenience of a true outpatient setting.
Patients First, Always
Emage recognizes your experience with knee pain is unique, and we’re committed to listening, understanding and recommending a treatment that aligns with your goals.
Joint-Preserving Care
Minimally invasive GAE treatment is designed to relieve symptoms without knee replacement. By keeping the joint intact, you also keep future treatment options open.
Calmer Outpatient Experiences
Emage believes your joint care experience should feel more personal than a hospital. Our outpatient care centers are designed with comfort and convenience in mind.
Faster Return to Movement
Most people can resume their daily lives within a few days of their GAE treatment, and many often report noticeable pain relief within a week of their procedure.
What
is GAE?
Genicular artery embolization is a cutting-edge, minimally invasive procedure designed to alleviate chronic knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. It works by targeting and reducing blood flow to the genicular arteries, reducing inflammation often caused by the condition.
By breaking the cycle of inflammation with GAE, we can more effectively target the symptoms of osteoarthritis. The procedure can provide lasting symptom relief in ways that pain injections or medications can’t, without resorting to full surgery.
About The GAE Procedure
GAE can be performed in the comfort and convenience of Emage’s outpatient offices. You don’t have to be admitted to the hospital, and you go home the same day. Here’s how the procedure typically works:
- Preparation: The patient receives local anesthesia or sedation to ensure comfort during the procedure.
- Accessing the Arteries: Using advanced imaging technology, we guide a small catheter through a tiny incision (typically in the groin or upper thigh) to the genicular arteries.
- Embolization: Tiny particles, similar to grains of sand, are injected into the genicular arteries, blocking blood flow to the areas of inflammation.
- Relief: By reducing abnormal blood flow, GAE reduces inflammation in the knee, and pain in the knee.
- Post-procedure: After the procedure, the catheter is removed, and the patient is monitored briefly before going home. There are no large incisions and no stitches.
- Recovery: Patients who receive GAE often report immediate and long-term pain relief that allows them to return to the activities they love with short recovery times.
Your
GAE Treatment Journey at Emage
Emage takes a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating knee osteoarthritis, and we strive to make the path to better mobility simple, comfortable and clear for each patient.
Step 1: Initial Consultation
Meet with one of our interventional radiologists in our offices or via telehealth. We’ll discuss your medical history, symptoms, prior therapies and treatment goals, which helps determine the approach that’s best for you.
Step 2: Imaging & Treatment Recommendations
We’ll use advanced diagnostic imaging techniques, such as X-rays, MRIs and ultrasounds, to get a clear picture of the extent of your knee osteoarthritis. Based on these findings and your medical history, we may recommend GAE treatment to achieve better, lasting pain relief.
Step 3: Treatment Day
GAE treatments can be performed in the comfort of our fully equipped outpatient offices. There’s no need for a hospital, and you’ll only need local anesthesia or sedation for the procedure. The full GAE procedure usually takes about an hour, and you can then rest in our recovery area for a few hours before going home.
Step 4: GAE Recovery
Following GAE treatment, most people resume their normal daily activities quickly, often within 48 hours and without the need for extensive rehab. Patients often report substantial pain relief within a few days of their procedure.
Throughout the GAE treatment and recovery process, Emage’s team will be there to support, assist and answer any questions. We’ll also equip you with the resources you need to continue to manage knee health following your treatment.
FAQs
About GAE Treatment
How soon can I expect relief after GAE?
Most people experience noticeable pain relief within a few days to a week following their GAE treatment.
What are the benefits of GAE over surgery?
Because GAE is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure, it avoids many of the risks and inconveniences of knee replacement surgery or other operations. The recovery time is also significantly shorter. Research also shows significant pain relief after the procedure, which allows patients to reduce their reliance on medications, injections and other treatments.
How do I keep my knee healthy after the GAE procedure?
Following your GAE procedure, you can control the further progression of knee osteoarthritis by adopting healthier habits like:
- Staying active and exercising safely
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Focusing on strength and flexibility
- Eating a balanced diet
- Wearing supportive footwear
- Using hot and cold therapy as needed
- Resting between activities to avoid joint strain
Is GAE treatment covered by insurance?
Insurance coverage for GAE treatment may vary based on your plan. Emage Joint Centers is in-network with a variety of insurance providers, and we’re happy to help you understand your coverage details, verify your benefits and answer any questions.
Talk to a
Healthcare Coordinator
You deserve to know your options for chronic knee pain. Reach out to Emage Joint Centers today to schedule a consultation and learn more about minimally invasive GAE treatment.