Many people with knee osteoarthritis experience persistent joint pain. Yet, for a variety of reasons, they delay seeking medical attention, choosing to manage their symptoms with remedies such as over-the-counter pain medication. Unfortunately, new research reveals the hidden danger in such decisions.

Delayed Joint Pain Treatment: What’s the Danger?

A recent study in BMC Geriatrics looked at the rate of joint pain occurrence in patients above the age of 45 residing in India. Next, they examined how quickly those patients sought medical attention for their condition. And here’s what they found: while 47% of study participants experienced joint pain, the vast majority delayed seeking medical care, instead managing their symptoms with home remedies or over-the-counter medication. Unfortunately, that means many people will experience progressively debilitating symptoms, necessitating more invasive interventions when the finally do seek care.

So, why do people avoid getting help for their joint pain? When that pain is caused by knee osteoarthritis, we know that many patients worry they will be told that surgery is their only option if they want knee pain relief. Luckily, thanks to advancements in the field of Interventional Radiology, that is no longer the case.

Minimally Invasive Joint Pain Relief

Today, when patients are suffering from knee pain du to osteoarthritis, they can choose to undergo Genicular Artery Embolization, or GAE. This minimally-invasive procedure, available at the Georgia Knee Institute, relieves the pain of osteoarthritis by blocking blood flow to the inflamed area. Many patients also find that their range of motion and their mobility improves following this procedure. And, for those who are afraid of invasive procedures, GAE also allows patients to delay or avoid knee replacement surgery.

Have you been dealing with joint pain on your own, afraid to seek medical attention? Stop delaying your care and request a consultation with our specialists. When you visit one of our three locations in Georgia, we can discuss non-surgical treatments to relieve your discomfort and slow or prevent arthritis progression.