Articles and Patient Guides
Everything on this site about low-dose radiation therapy for arthritis: by joint, by question, and by topic.
Newest Articles
LDRT for Spinal Arthritis and Facet Joint Pain
Back pain from worn facet joints is a different problem from a slipped disc, and the evidence for it is thinner.
LDRT for Older Adults Who Can't Have Surgery
No anesthesia, no incision, and no recovery time. What older adults should weigh before a course.
After LDRT: Recovery, Restrictions, and What to Expect
Your course is over. What the weeks after usually look like, what to watch for, and when your program judges the result.
7 Myths About LDRT, Debunked
Radioactive? Same as cancer treatment? Seven common claims about LDRT, each checked against the evidence.
Who Should Not Get LDRT? Contraindications and Cautions
Pregnancy is the one firm no. Past radiation, young age, and connective tissue disease call for a closer look first.
Is LDRT Safe? The Radiation Dose in Plain English
A course is 3 to 6 Gy to one joint, in small visits. What that number means, and why it cannot be turned into a count of CT scans.
How Long Does LDRT Take to Work?
Relief builds over weeks and is judged at about three months. For responders, it often lasts past a year. What the studies show on timing.
LDRT vs. Gel Injections
Hyaluronic acid shots peak at about eight weeks and fade by about six months. How LDRT compares on evidence, timing, and cost.
Study: LDRT May Slow Early Knee Arthritis Over 12 Years
A 12-year study found less disability with LDRT, and fewer knee replacements in grade 2 knee arthritis. What it shows, and its limits.
By Joint and Condition
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis
What LDRT involves for knee arthritis and what the evidence shows.
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Hip Osteoarthritis
How the evidence and treatment approach apply to the hip.
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Shoulder Osteoarthritis
What the evidence shows for the shoulder.
LDRT for Hand and Thumb Osteoarthritis
Using LDRT for finger and thumb-base joints.
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Ankle Osteoarthritis
What LDRT offers for ankle arthritis.
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Foot Osteoarthritis
What the published evidence shows for foot joints, and where it runs thin.
LDRT for Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Pain
Almost no research has been published on LDRT for the SI joint. What little exists, and where it runs out.
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis
LDRT for persistent heel pain from plantar fasciitis.
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Bursitis
When bursitis does not settle and LDRT is discussed.
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Tendonitis
What LDRT can and cannot do for tendon pain.
Comparing Treatments
Osteoarthritis Treatment Options Before Surgery
Non-surgical options to try before surgery.
What to Do When Joint Injections Stop Working
Your options when cortisone shots no longer help.
LDRT vs. Gel Injections
Hyaluronic acid shots peak at about eight weeks and fade by about six months. How LDRT compares on evidence, timing, and cost.
LDRT vs. Stem Cell and Regenerative Injections
PRP, stem cell shots, and dextrose prolotherapy against low-dose radiation. What each costs, what the guidelines say, and what the evidence shows.
LDRT vs. Genicular Nerve Ablation (RFA) for Knee Pain
One quiets the knee's pain signals. The other treats the joint. How they compare, and who each suits best.
Alternatives to Knee Replacement Surgery
What to consider before deciding on a knee replacement.
LDRT vs. Hip Replacement: Which Is Right for You?
How the two options compare: what replacement fixes, what LDRT can and can't do, and who each fits best.
Weight-Loss Drug Eased Knee Arthritis Pain in Trial
A large obesity trial of retatrutide found less knee arthritis pain. Not approved yet. What the results mean for patients.
Safety and Candidacy
Who Is a Good LDRT Candidate?
What programs generally look for before recommending LDRT.
Who Should Not Get LDRT? Contraindications and Cautions
Pregnancy is the one firm no. Past radiation, young age, and connective tissue disease call for a closer look first.
Is LDRT Safe? The Radiation Dose in Plain English
A course is 3 to 6 Gy to one joint, in small visits. What that number means, and why it cannot be turned into a count of CT scans.
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy (LDRT) Side Effects
The known side effects and risks.
Can LDRT Cause Cancer? The Radiation Risk, Explained
A small risk in theory, and tiny in practice, according to the doses and decades of patient data.
Can I Still Get LDRT With a Pacemaker or Implants?
A pacemaker usually does not rule it out. Metal hardware gets worked around. A replaced joint is the main exclusion.
Can LDRT Treat More Than One Joint?
Yes. Both knees or several joints can be treated in one course. Each joint gets its own plan and dose.
7 Myths About LDRT, Debunked
Radioactive? Same as cancer treatment? Seven common claims about LDRT, each checked against the evidence.
Your Treatment Course
What to Expect at Your LDRT Appointment
A walkthrough of each visit and the full course.
How to Talk to Your Doctor About LDRT
What to bring, what to ask, and how the referral path works.
Traveling for LDRT: How Many Visits, How Far Apart?
Six short sessions over two to three weeks, no recovery time, and a planning visit up front. What each LDRT visit involves and how to plan travel around one course.
How Long Does LDRT Take to Work?
Relief builds over weeks and is judged at about three months. For responders, it often lasts past a year. What the studies show on timing.
What If LDRT Doesn't Work? Repeat Treatment, Explained
When to judge the first course, and what the guidelines say about a second or third.
After LDRT: Recovery, Restrictions, and What to Expect
Your course is over. What the weeks after usually look like, what to watch for, and when your program judges the result.
Cost and Coverage
Does Medicare Cover Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Arthritis?
How Medicare pays for LDRT and what you may owe.
Is LDRT Covered by Insurance?
What private plans typically cover and how to check yours.
How Much Does LDRT Cost Without Insurance?
No program publishes a single price. How billing works, and how to get your real number.
Research and Background
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy (LDRT) Research and Evidence
The published studies behind LDRT for arthritis, including the negative ones.
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy (LDRT) Success Rates
What the published studies report for pain relief and response.
Study: LDRT May Slow Early Knee Arthritis Over 12 Years
A 12-year study found less disability with LDRT, and fewer knee replacements in grade 2 knee arthritis. What it shows, and its limits.
ARS Guideline for Low-Dose Radiation Therapy
What the American Radium Society's 2026 guidance says.
LDRT for Arthritis
The overview hub: how the treatment works and who it suits.
Osteoarthritis Basics: Causes and Symptoms
How arthritis develops and how it is diagnosed.
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy (LDRT) FAQ: Cost and Safety
Short answers to the questions patients ask most.
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What to Do Next
What Is LDRT?
How the treatment works, the typical schedule, and what the evidence shows.
Am I a Candidate?
Who LDRT helps most, and the situations where it is not the right choice.
FAQ
Plain answers to the questions patients ask most.
Find LDRT Near You
Browse our directory of hospitals and cancer centers currently offering low-dose radiation therapy for osteoarthritis.
Find a Location Near You