Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee happens when cartilage in your knee joint breaks down. When this happens, the bones in your knee joint begin rubbing together, causing friction which leads to pain, stiffness and swelling. Osteoarthritis of the knee can’t be cured, but often symptoms can be alleviated through pain medications, physical therapy, and healthy lifestyle changes.  

Symptoms

• Chronic pain in the knee
• Stiff feeling knees, especially after long periods of sitting. 
• Swelling or puffiness around the knee. 
• Hearing cracking or grinding noises when you move your knee. 
• Knees that feel unstable, as if they don’t fully support your body.  
• Feeling as if your knee is stuck after mild or strenuous activity.  

Causes and Risk Factors

• Obesity – If your BMI is 30 or more, your risks of developing osteoarthritis of the knee become significantly higher.
• Age, most commonly between the ages of 40 – 80.

• New or previous knee injury. 
• Frequent, strenuous use of the knee from exercise, sports, or a physically demanding job. 
• Genetic conditions that make you more susceptible to osteoarthritis.  

When should you schedule an appointment?

If you have knee pain, please contact us. We are the first multidisciplinary clinic in the United States for chronic musculoskeletal disease where you can be evaluated by a vascular specialist, orthopaedic specialist and interventional pain specialist all under the same roof.

They will evaluate your condition and suggest a personalized approach around your needs which may include conservative therapies such as pain medications, knee brace, physical therapy, steroid/gel injections or minimally invasive treatment such as genicular artery embolization/genicular nerve block or surgery, if appropriate.

Vascular Solutions of North Carolina is proud to be among the first in the state to offer a cutting-edge procedure that allows patients suffering with knee osteoarthritis the ability to find relief with minimal downtime and long-lasting results. Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is a new minimally invasive procedure providing immediate and long-term pain relief for patients with osteoarthritis (OA).

We are one of the highest-volume centers in the country for musculoskeletal embolization procedures (such as GAE) with experience and outcomes that exceed other centers. Physicians from Cleveland Clinic, Columbia University and Vanderbilt University affiliated hospitals have been trained by Dr. Rao.  Call us today to schedule a consultation and see if this service is right for you!