ARA Diagnostic Imaging Nov 2025

Outpatient procedure helps patients with arthritis knee pain get back on their feet and walk (or run) to a better quality of life.

Our knees carry a lot of weight — and not just the number on the bathroom scale. The knee is vital for our mobility, letting us walk, run, jump, climb, stand, and even sit. They absorb the impact of our steps and protect the other bones and joints in our body. They help provide balance and stability. Every waking hour of our day, we rely on those joints to get us around the house or office, support our bodies as we exercise and stay healthy, carry us up and down the stairs, and sit down to eat. We take our knees and the jobs they do for granted — until problems arise. Constant pain caused by arthritis of the knees can make simple yet essential movements like getting in and out of bed, climbing in and out of the car, or even walking down the hall miserable. To avoid the aches and risk of falling, we sit too much, which hurts our overall health. Some of us may need painkillers to get us through the day. And perhaps worst of all, we’re unable to do the things that give us joy, hurting our quality of life.

What is GAE?

Next, the radiologist places tiny beads that block some of the arteries in the knee. Over the following weeks and months, the lowered blood supply results in a significant decrease in pain and inflammation. In fact, patients who have GAE experience at least 50 percent less pain within the first three months, with 70 percent of patients still feeling that relief a full year after their procedure. The advantages of GAE over traditional surgery are many. First, the patient is only put under local anesthesia and moderate sedation, leading to less post-operative nausea, faster recovery, and lower risk of complications associated with general anesthesia. Also, the incision is much smaller, and the procedure itself is less invasive, resulting in less blood loss and risk of infection. And since the treatment is targeted, surrounding tissues and systems are virtually unaffected. Overall, the complication rate of GAE is less than five percent, primarily involving bruising or mild discomfort. Patients go home the same day and are usually able to return to normal activities within a few days, often feeling pain relief right away. Sometimes it can take a few weeks for the full benefits to take effect, but over time, the reduced inflammation leads to improved knee function and mobility — and a much-improved quality of life.

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An aching or swollen knee is an easy thing to shrug off at first. First, we tell ourselves we can push through the discomfort; then we might resolve to scale back some of our activity. Next thing we know, we’re avoiding the movement — the relaxing walks, the long trips in the car, the fun times with our kids and grandkids — that make life worth living. If chronic knee pain is impacting your life, genicular artery embolization might be a safe, effective, and convenient solution. You might benefit from GAE if you experience any of the following:

Sometimes rest, ice, compression, and elevation; weight loss; over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen; or physical therapy can alleviate the issue. But when those remedies don’t work, patients are often left to face the prospect of total knee replacement, an invasive procedure that presents a risk of complications and a recovery that lasts for weeks. But for many people who suffer from knee pain caused by osteoarthritis or inflammation in the joint lining, there is another, simpler, path back to easier movement that can help patients delay total knee replacement or sometimes make it unnecessary. Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is a leading-edge, effective, and minimally invasive procedure that addresses knee pain at the source. And fortunately for people in Central Texas, ARA Diagnostic Imaging, a radiology group that provides medical imaging and interventional radiology services through 17 outpatient centers and in 24 hospitals within the region, is well versed in this groundbreaking treatment.

By Josie Brocato on Nov 21, 2025

The primary cause of knee pain in cases of arthritis is the breakdown of the cartilage that makes a protective cushion behind the knee. With the cartilage gone, there is no cushion between the bones to limit friction and deterioration. Additionally, the lining of the knee joint, called the synovial membrane, can become inflamed due to the growth of new blood vessels in the area. This leads to abnormal swelling and redness. The GAE procedure relieves this by simply shutting down some of the arteries that are causing inflammation. During the procedure, an interventional radiologist makes a small cut in the groin or wrist, inserting a tiny tube (catheter) and small wires and navigating the circulatory system all the way down to the knee using real-time moving X-ray.

Is GAE right for me?