Alternatives to Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)

Understanding knee pain treatment options

Most people think of a full knee replacement when knee osteoarthritis comes to mind. However, surgeries like total knee replacement and arthroscopic knee surgery are usually reserved for advanced, severe disease in older patients.

At Georgia Endovascular, we are proud to offer several minimally invasive alternatives to knee surgery for osteoarthritis. This includes genicular artery embolization. For those who are seeking non-surgical alternatives to genicular artery embolization, we recommend safe and effective exercises and lifestyle changes.

Nonsurgical alternatives to genicular artery embolization

If your pain is manageable, you may not need GAE or other surgical procedures. Instead, your doctor may recommend using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for knee osteoarthritis. They may also suggest prescription medications, physical therapy, exercise, or knee injections. 

Before selecting one of these GAE alternatives, it is important to know that these options will not regenerate damaged cartilage or provide long-term relief like GAE can. However, they can help you get back to moving without pain.

Physical therapy and exercise

Two nonsurgical knee pain options include physical therapy and exercise. Low-impact exercises can strengthen the muscles around your knee joint. They can also supplement the rest of your osteoarthritis knee treatment.

The following exercises are great for knee OA pain:

• Stretching
• Walking
• Cycling
• Elliptical training
• Swimming
• Tai chi
• Yoga

If you are seeking specific exercises to help slow the progression of knee OA, the following bodyweight exercises have been recommended by the Arthritis Foundation.

• Bridge with leg extension
• Leg lifts
• Leg presses with a resistance band
• Seated knee lifts with a resistance band
• Step-ups
• Side steps with a resistance band
• Sit-to-stands
• Speed skaters with and without a resistance band
• Quadriceps stretches

Basic at-home treatments

In addition to exercising, you can also alleviate your knee OA pain at home using options like pain-relief creams and heat and cold therapy.

Several OTC creams help ease the aches and pains associated with knee arthritis. These options do not cure knee OA, but they do deliver anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving ingredients through the skin.

We recommend the following options:

• Aspercreme Pain Relief Cream with Lidocaine
• Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief Cream
• Hempvana Pain Relief Cream
• IcyHot Advanced Cream
• Biofreeze Roll-On Relieving Gel
• CBDfx Muscle & Joint Cream, Cooling Formula

As for heat and cold therapy, each option works best at different times. Here are a few tips if you are wondering whether to use heat or ice for osteoarthritis knee pain:

• Heat therapy. Applying heat improves circulation and relaxes muscles in and around the knee joint. The best time to use heat therapy is first thing in the morning.
• Cold therapy. A cold compress helps numb pain, decrease swelling, constrict blood vessels, and block nerve impulses to the knee joint. Use cold therapy as needed or after exercises.

Medications and Anti-Inflammatories

Knee pain from OA is typically treated with painkillers known as NSAIDs. These alternatives to genicular artery embolization have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects.

If you’re looking for the best NSAID for knee osteoarthritis, consider one of the following over-the-counter options:

• Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
• Naproxen (Aleve)
• Diclofenac (Voltaren)

If you need prescription medication to help manage OA knee pain, diacerein is also effective. However, it may not be appropriate for those with other conditions. It is also not ideal for long-term use.

Knee injections

Aside from at-home care and medications, knee injections are one of the alternatives to genicular artery embolization. This option does not provide permanent relief and healing, but it can help manage knee pain and discomfort.

According to NYU Langone Health, “An injection of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid may reduce inflammation and ease pain.” Experimental injections like platelet-rich plasma or stem cells may also relieve pain and promote healing.

While some people find that these injections provide long-term pain relief, other patients find them to be less effective.

Surgical alternatives to GAE

When looking for alternatives to genicular artery embolization, you probably have questions about interventional radiology vs. surgery.

Below are two of the most common surgical alternatives to GAE:

• Arthroscopic procedures are surgical procedures that involve making an incision in the knee. The doctor then places a tiny camera and tools in the knee to make surgical repairs.
• Partial or total knee replacement is another type of surgery that involves replacing some (partial) or all (total) of the knee joint. These procedures typically come with a recovery time of a few weeks.

Why more patients are choosing GAE

Georgia Endovascular specializes in an alternative to knee surgery for osteoarthritis called genicular artery embolization. Our doctors perform this minimally invasive outpatient knee treatment right in our office.

GAE only requires a small incision in your upper thigh for a catheter. No general anesthesia, hospitalization, or significant recovery time is needed. Best of all, you can return home on the same day.

Patients who are candidates find that GAE can provide long-term relief—without surgery. Moreover, it can be repeated as needed without increasing your risk of knee surgery.

Managing knee pain doesn't always require surgery. There are various effective non-surgical treatments, remedies, and exercises for osteoarthritis. And if you need GAE for knee pain treatment in Georgia, our team can assist you.

An interventional radiologist at Georgia Endovascular can help you determine the best knee pain treatment to help you regain control of your knee health. Contact us to schedule an appointment at one of our convenient locations.