GAE vs. Traditional Knee Pain Treatments: What’s Best For You?

Every step turns into a challenge with chronic knee pain. Whether it’s climbing the stairs, standing still, or simply getting out of bed, aching knees can significantly impact your quality of life. To most, the cause is osteoarthritis and joint inflammation, which may deteriorate over time, regardless of medication or physical training.

Patients today have a greater selection than ever. Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) is one of the most promising, advanced, minimally invasive therapies for knee pain that delivers actual relief without surgery. At South Florida Vascular Associates (SFVA), board-certified interventional radiologists are using this high-level technique to allow patients to experience a reduction in pain and a rise in mobility and activity, which they find enjoyable.

But how does GAE compare with the conventional knee pain treatment? Let’s take a closer look.

Understanding Knee Pain

Osteoarthritis (OA), or the progressive degeneration of cartilage that pads the joint, is most likely to cause knee pain. When the cartilage degenerates, bones scrape together, creating inflammation, swelling, and pain. Symptoms can also be aggravated by other influences, such as past injury or overuse.

Conventional options for knee pain management usually include:

• Pain medications such as anti-inflammatories or corticosteroid injections

• Physical therapy to strengthen supporting muscles

• Lifestyle changes, including weight management and low-impact exercise

• Surgery, such as knee replacement, for advanced cases

While these approaches can help, many patients find that relief is temporary or that surgery feels too extreme. That’s where Genicular Artery Embolization comes in.

What Is Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)?

GAE is an image-guided non-surgical procedure conducted by an interventional radiologist. The doctor directs the small catheter under a pinhole in the skin (typically a groin or wrist) to the minute blood vessels which nourish the inflamed region of the knee: the genicular arteries.

These arteries are blocked selectively by releasing microscopic particles to slow excess blood flow and inflammation along the joint. The outcome is an objective reduction in the pain, swelling and stiffness.

Patients can skip hospitalizations, surgery wounds and extended periods to heal due to the absence of incisions or implants. It is simply a minimally invasive knee pain procedure that aids the body in self-healing.

How GAE Compares with Traditional Treatments

1. Pain Medications and Injections

Non-prescription and prescription drugs can alleviate pain in the short term; however, it does not treat the problem. Injections of corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid can produce weeks or months of relief, but repeated treatment can result in reduced response.

GAE, however, acts directly on the inflammation as the source of pain. It acts within the body to relax hyperirritable blood vessels, which usually gives long-term effects and does not require the use of drugs.

2. Physical Exercise and Therapy

Exercise can help muscles become strong, and it can also enhance flexibility, which is also necessary for the overall health of the joints. Nevertheless, a lot of patients are not able to participate fully due to chronic pain.

With GAE initially decreasing pain levels, patients, in most cases, discover that physical therapy is more effective after this process, which enables them to sustain results and gain strength.

3. Surgical Options (Knee Replacement)

Knee replacement surgery may be life-altering in individuals with serious joint damage, yet it is also a big operation. Recovery is a long process that may take months, and not all people are eligible based on age, medical conditions and personal choice.

In contrast, GAE offers an alternative to surgery for patients seeking meaningful relief without the risks or downtime. For many, it’s a bridge between conservative care and invasive surgery, or even a way to delay or avoid surgery altogether.

Benefits of Genicular Artery Embolization

• Minimally invasive – no incisions or general anesthesia

• Quick recovery – most patients return to normal activity within 24–48 hours

• Outpatient procedure – performed in SFVA’s vascular suites, not a hospital

• Reduced knee stiffness, inflammation and improved comfort

• Long-term relief for patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis

Clinical studies show significant improvement in pain scores and mobility following GAE, with results that may last months to years.

Who Is a Candidate for GAE?

You can be a good candidate if you:

• Exhibit chronic knee pain as a result of osteoarthritis, reduced range of motion in knee, and difficulty walking due to knee pain

• Failed to find relief using drugs, injections, or treatment

• Not prepared to have knee replacement surgery or not eligible to have knee replacement surgery

• Prefer a non-surgical alternative so that you can be active

Your interventional radiologist will review your medical history and imaging studies to determine if GAE is right for you.

What to Expect at South Florida Vascular Associates

At SFVA, the experience is designed around comfort and care. After a consultation and imaging evaluation, the GAE procedure is performed under light sedation. With the help of the hi-tech imaging, your doctor locates the arteries to the inflamed section of the knee and carries out the embolization in a relatively safe and precise manner.

The whole process normally takes 45 to 60 minutes. The majority of patients are discharged on the same day and feel better in days to weeks as the inflammations reduce, and the tissues start to recover.

Follow-up visits can be used to ascertain subsequent success and give directions on the next steps to be taken to maintain mobility.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)?

It is a non-surgical process that eases the discomfort of the knee by obstructing unnatural blood circulation to swollen regions of the knee, which is a result of osteoarthritis.

2. What is the efficacy of GAE on knee pain?

Research indicates that the majority of patients report a great decrease in pain and better joint function for a 12-month period or even longer.

3. How long does recovery take?

The majority of individuals resume work and normal lifestyles within one to two days, far quicker than the time it takes to recover following surgeries.

4. Is GAE covered by insurance?

Coverage can vary depending on your plan and condition. The SFVA team helps verify insurance benefits and explain financial options before treatment.

5. Who performs GAE?

All embolization procedures at SFVA are done by board-certified interventional radiologists who are experts in image-guided vascular processes through the latest technology.

A Smarter Solution for Knee Pain That Won’t Go Away

When your daily activities are limited by knee arthritis, or if your knee pain is not improving with medication, you do not need to resort to temporary remedies or to major surgery immediately. Genicular Artery Embolization is a safe, effective and minimally invasive method of managing chronic pain and restoring movement.

At South Florida Vascular Associates, patients are discovering new possibilities for living pain-free through advanced vascular care.

Less pain. Faster recovery. Real results, without surgery.