This article was medically authored by Dr. Kevin Lie and last reviewed for accuracy on 06/24/2026.

Living with arthritis in the knee? Seeking treatment for arthritis knee pain that will allow you to avoid surgery? Before you explore your options, it's important to understand arthritis pain. So, let's dive in together.

Key Takeaways

• Osteoarthritis in the knee can lead to joint pain, stiffness and limited mobility
• Minimally invasive (GAE) Genicular Artery Embolization offers non-surgical symptom relief
• A new study reveals that the relief from GAE lasts for at least one year, and that the procedure does not cause side effects

Understanding Knee Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that causes swelling and tenderness in one or more of your joints. If you have knee arthritis, joints in one or both of your knees may be affected, leading to pain, stiffness, and limits on mobility. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of disease in your knees. And, while it's progressive and incurable, the right treatments can help relieve your pain.

Is There Treatment for Arthritis Knee Pain?

Again, you can't cure osteoarthritis. But you can preserve your mobility, relieve pain and prevent or delay progression by seeking early intervention.

Some people find relief with heating pads and/or over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. Physical therapy and regular exercise can help you stay active and mobile. In some cases, injections may also offer symptom relief and improved mobility. But, if those treatments fail to offer sufficient relief, and you want to delay or avoid surgery, or simply aren’t a surgical candidate, genicular artery embolization (GAE) in Georgia can provide an effective alternative to surgical treatment for arthritis knee pain.

What is Genicular Artery Embolization?

GAE is a non-surgical procedure to slow osteoarthritis progression in the knee. Minimally invasive, and lasting about one hour, this treatment allows you to avoid hospitalization and general anesthesia.

During the procedure, our interventional radiologists administer anesthetic through a small puncture opening in the groin. Then, they use that opening to insert a thin catheter to the femoral artery, directing it to the knee’s genicular artery via X-ray image guidance. 

Once in place, we release small embolic materials into your vessels, limiting blood flow to the knee lining and thereby reducing pain, inflammation and other knee arthritis symptoms. Once complete, we extract the catheter, monitor you for a few hours, and send you home. The next day, you can resume normal activities. And, within weeks of the procedure, you should experience noticeable arthritis pain relief.

How Long Does GAE Relief Last?

A study in Radiology followed almost 200 women and men; they all hadosteoarthritis and all chose GAE as a treatment for arthritis knee pain. Each of the participants had a technically successful procedure, and none experienced serious or even moderate adverse effects after treatment. Then, during a one-year follow-up visit, participants all reported, “A significant drop in pain and a significant increase in function, including sports and recreation and daily activity." They also noted that, after undergoing GAE, their "quality of life significantly increased"

Says lead researcher Dr. Florian Nima Fleckenstein, "Our study demonstrates that GAE using rapidly resorbable gelatin-based microspheres is a safe, minimally invasive therapy that provides meaningful pain relief and functional improvement in participants with osteoarthritis-related knee symptoms for at least 12 months. This lets us speak about safety and efficacy with real confidence. For the right patient, it can mean lasting relief from a single, minimally invasive procedure—a meaningful new option between injections and joint replacement."

Choosing GAE for Treatment of Arthritis Knee Pain in Georgia

Ready to see if you’re a candidate for GAE in Georgia? This treatment is for you if:

• You've been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis
• Have pain and stiffness that's moderate to severe
• Aren't getting relief from medication or conservative treatments
• Are between 40 and 80 years of age, in general good health

Do you meet these criteria and are want relief from osteoarthritis knee pain? Click here to request an appointment with our experts at one of our three Georgia Endovascular locations.