Your New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be about pushing harder or doing more. Sometimes, the most meaningful goal is simply feeling better than the year before.
If chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis has been holding you back from activities you enjoy, it might be time to consider a different option: one that prioritizes your comfort and well-being.
You may want to look into Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE). GAE is a minimally invasive procedure for managing chronic knee pain without surgery. It’s an option that could help you move through your day with greater ease and independence.
How GAE Helps Reduce Chronic Knee Pain from Osteoarthritis
Genicular Artery Embolization is an advanced, image-guided procedure that helps reduce the inflammation that contributes to knee pain from osteoarthritis.
By decreasing inflammation, GAE can help ease pain and support better mobility, whether that’s walking your dog, gardening, playing with grandchildren, or simply navigating life with less discomfort.
During the procedure, your doctor uses real-time imaging to guide a tiny catheter through a small pinhole incision to the genicular arteries around your knee.
Microscopic embolic beads are then administered to reduce abnormal blood flow to the inflamed tissue that lines the inside of your knee joint.
The benefit: GAE can offer pain relief with fewer risks, less recovery time, and less lifestyle disruption than major surgery.
Steps to Take Before Your GAE Procedure
- Gentle Stretching and Short Walks: Light movement keeps your joints flexible and reduces stiffness. Even a 10-minute walk around your neighborhood can make a positive difference in your well-being.
- Anti-Inflammatory Foods: Choose foods that naturally reduce inflammation, such as leafy greens, fatty fish, berries, and nuts. Stay hydrated and limit processed foods and excess sugar.
- Supportive Footwear: Wearing shoes with proper arch support and cushioning can reduce stress on your knees during daily activities.
- Track Your Pain: Keep a simple log of when your knee pain is the worst and which activities trigger it. This information is valuable for your medical care team to know.
Knee Recovery After GAE
- Light Movement to Support Healing: Gentle walking and range-of-motion exercises promote circulation and help prevent stiffness. Your doctor will guide you on when to start.
- Gradual Return to Activities: Ease back into your routine slowly. Most patients can resume light daily activities within a few days, and add more strenuous activities over the following weeks.
- Icing to Reduce Soreness: Apply ice to your knee for 15 to 20 minutes at a time to manage any post-procedure discomfort.
- Strengthening Exercises: Once your doctor gives the go-ahead, simple strengthening exercises can help stabilize your knee and support long-term improvement.
Why Choose Sound Vascular & Vein for GAE?
At Sound Vascular & Vein, we specialize in advanced, minimally invasive procedures like GAE which allow for faster recovery and improved quality of life.
Our board-certified, fellowship-trained interventional radiologists, including Dr. Aparna Baheti and Dr. Peter Gregory, bring extensive expertise in image-guided embolization techniques to ensure precise, effective treatment.
What sets us apart:
- Experienced Physicians: Our doctors have performed hundreds of GAE procedures and have a deep understanding of knee osteoarthritis and vascular interventions.
- Image-Guided Precision: We use advanced imaging technology to target the source of your knee pain, enhancing accuracy and minimizing risk.
- Minimally Invasive Expertise: GAE is performed through a tiny pinhole incision, with no general anesthesia and hospital stay required.
- Patient-Centered Approach: From your initial consultation through follow-up care, we’re committed to understanding your goals and supporting your treatment.
- Convenient Location: Our Federal Way clinic serves patients throughout the South Sound region, including Seattle, Tacoma, and surrounding communities.
We believe in continuity of care, so you’ll work with the same compassionate team from start to finish.
Take the Next Step Toward Relief
GAE offers a minimally invasive option that could help you move, rest, and live with greater ease.
Schedule a consultation with Sound Vascular & Vein today. Learn whether you are a good candidate for GAE and explore your options for managing knee pain.
Call us at (253) 874-7107 or fill out a contact form online to learn more.
Sound Vascular & Vein is located at 32014 32nd Ave S, Federal Way, WA 98001, proudly serving patients throughout the Puget Sound region with advanced, minimally invasive vascular care.
