Non-Surgical Knee Pain Treatment
For Osteoarthritis
Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)
Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)
What Is Causing Your Knee Pain?
Chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis can make everyday activities — walking, climbing stairs, standing for long periods — difficult and frustrating. If medications, injections, or physical therapy haven’t provided lasting relief, you may be looking for a non-surgical option.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is caused by the cartilage of the joint being worn down over time or trauma. It is most common in the knees, hips, hands, and spine. It cannot be reversed. As a result there is chronic inflammation around the joint. However, there are some treatments available to help improve joint function or reduce pain.
Over 30 million people in the US have osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease. The risk of developing osteoarthritis increases with overuse of the joint, injury to the joint, age, and obesity. Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis and genetics can indicate increased risk for osteoarthritis. What Is Non-Surgical Knee Pain Treatment (GAE)?
Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) is a minimally invasive procedure that reduces inflammation and blood flow to painful areas of the knee joint, helping decrease pain and improve mobility.
This non-surgical alternative is performed in an outpatient setting to reduce the inflammation to these areas around the knee and thus reducing the pain.
Though the procedure does not cure osteoarthritis, the goal of GAE is to reduce the patients knee pain and therefore reducing the use of opioids and pain killers as well as injections. Improving mobility and therefore the patient’s quality of life.
How Does GAE Work?
This a minimally invasive procedure performed with local anesthetic and moderate sedation. Typically takes 1-2 hours to perform and the patient goes home after a 2-4 hour recovery time.
Using ultrasound the physician places a small catheter (size of a spaghetti noodle) in the artery in the patient’s groin. Then using x-ray guidance the catheter is navigated into the artery with inflammation.
Tiny bead like particles are injected into the inflamed artery to reduce the blood flow and subsequently reduce the inflammation which will then reduce the pain.
Why Patients Choose GAE Instead of Surgery
- No joint replacement
- No large incision
- No hospital stay
- Short recovery time
- Can delay or avoid knee replacement
Who Is a Knee Pain/GAE Candidate?
- History of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee
- Pain in one or both knees at rest or walking
- Stiffness in your knees when waking up
- Chronic knee pain
- Degenerative joint disease (DJD)
- Failed previous treatments such as knee injections and physical therapy
- Not ready for knee replacement
Are you a GAE candidate?
Georgia Vascular Institute provides non-surgical knee pain treatment in Atlanta, serving patients from South Fulton, Camp Creek, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, and all surrounding metro Atlanta communities.
Dr. Kevin Carson
Meet Our Doctor
Kevin L. Carson MD, CAQ
Dr. Kevin Carson is a board-certified interventional radiologist specializing in minimally invasive embolization procedures. He performs Hemorrhoid Artery Embolization (HAE) for patients with internal hemorrhoids (Grade 1–3), offering a non-surgical solution for rectal bleeding and discomfort. Using advanced image-guided technology, he treats the source of the problem without traditional surgery. Patients value his thoughtful, patient-first approach and clear communication.
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