Hip Osteoarthritis Treatment — Without Surgery in Knoxville, TN
✓ Medicare & major plans accepted ✓ FDA-Cleared Therapy ✓ 15-Minute Visits
Low-dose radiation therapy for hip pain when injections, physical therapy, and medication have stopped working.
4.7 stars from 273 patients Physician-Reviewed
See If You're a Candidate
Same business day callbacks Mon–Fri. No referral required.
Request a Consultation.
A phone or in-person consult with our physician. We'll listen, walk you through whether this is a fit, and verify your insurance before treatment. Easy to start. No referral. No runaround.
Request a Call or Text
No referral required. Tell us a little about you and we'll reach back same business day.
If You're Here, You've Probably Tried Everything
If you have hip osteoarthritis and you've already tried cortisone injections, physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, or hyaluronic acid shots — and you're still in pain — you're in a difficult position. The next step your orthopedic surgeon will likely recommend is hip replacement. Many patients aren't ready for that, can't have surgery for medical reasons, or simply want another option first.
Low-dose radiation therapy is that option.
What Is Low-Dose Radiation Therapy?
Low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) uses very small doses of X-rays — roughly 1/10th to 1/25th of the dose used to treat cancer — to reduce the inflammation that drives osteoarthritis pain. The treatment is delivered as a focused, low-energy X-ray beam and targets only the affected joint. The mechanism is well-understood: at these doses, radiation modulates the inflammatory cells inside the joint, reducing the chemical signals that cause swelling, stiffness, and pain. It does not affect cartilage, bone, or surrounding tissue.
LDRT has been used routinely in Germany for decades. It is increasingly offered at U.S. academic medical centers. Heelex Medical opened in 2020 as a dedicated low-dose radiation therapy clinic.
Is This Right for You?
LDRT may be a good fit if:
- You've been diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis
- You've tried at least one conservative treatment — physical therapy, NSAIDs, cortisone injections, or hyaluronic acid — without lasting relief
- You want to avoid or delay hip replacement surgery
- You can't have surgery due to age, medical risk, or other factors
LDRT is not appropriate for active joint infection, rheumatoid arthritis, a hip that already has a joint replacement, or pregnancy. A consultation is the only way to determine whether LDRT is right for your specific situation.
What to Expect
- Consultation — A 30-minute visit with our team. We review your imaging, history, and prior treatments. No commitment.
- Simulation — A brief planning session where we image the hip and design the treatment field.
- Treatment — 6 to 8 weekday sessions. Each session takes about 15 minutes total — roughly two minutes of actual treatment time. You lie still on a table; you feel nothing.
- Recovery — None. You drive yourself home and return to all normal activities immediately.
- Follow-up — We check in at 6 weeks and 3 months. Most patients begin noticing relief between weeks 6 and 12.
Insurance
Low-dose radiation therapy for osteoarthritis is accepted by Medicare and most major insurance plans. We verify your specific benefits before treatment, so there are no surprises. View the full list of accepted insurance.
Take the Next Step
If hip osteoarthritis is limiting your life and the standard treatments haven't worked, a 30-minute consultation answers whether LDRT is right for you. No cost. No commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions: Hip Osteoarthritis & LDRT
Can radiation therapy treat hip arthritis without a hip replacement? +
For many patients, low-dose radiation therapy is a non-surgical option for chronic hip osteoarthritis pain, and it never closes the door on a hip replacement later. It quiets the joint inflammation that produces pain instead of operating. Around 70-80% of patients in published series report meaningful relief.
Is low-dose radiation therapy safe for the hip? +
The dose is roughly 10 to 25 times lower than the dose used to treat cancer and is delivered to only the affected hip. It has been used routinely in Germany for decades without evidence of increased cancer risk at these low doses, and side effects are rare.
Who is a good candidate for LDRT for hip arthritis? +
Patients who have tried conservative care — physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, or injections — without lasting relief, and who want to avoid or delay surgery or cannot have it for medical reasons. A consultation is the only way to confirm whether it fits your situation.
Do I need a referral? +
No. You can call us directly. If you have an orthopedic surgeon, primary care physician, or rheumatologist, we coordinate with them.
Does it hurt? +
No. You feel nothing during treatment. No needle, no injection, no anesthesia.
Are there side effects? +
Rare. Some patients notice mild, temporary skin redness. No systemic side effects.
Will it cause cancer? +
The dose used for benign conditions is 10 to 25 times lower than the dose used to treat cancer. Long-term studies in Germany — where LDRT has been used for decades — have not shown an increased cancer risk at these low doses. We do not treat patients under 40 except in specific circumstances.
How quickly will I feel better? +
Most patients begin noticing relief between 6 and 12 weeks after their final session. About 70% report meaningful improvement.
How long does relief last? +
Typically 12 to 24 months. A second course can be given if symptoms return.
What if it doesn't work for me? +
Most patients respond well — and if your consultation shows you're not a strong candidate, we'll tell you up front, before you've spent a dime. LDRT also never closes any doors: every other option, including surgery, stays open to you.
Is it covered by insurance? +
Most major insurance is accepted, including Medicare and major commercial plans. Our office handles all insurance pre-authorization.
How many sessions will I need? +
Most benign musculoskeletal conditions require 6 to 8 weekday sessions, scheduled on consecutive business days so you complete a full course in under two weeks. Each session takes about 15 minutes. Some skin and fibrotic conditions follow different protocols — your consultation will clarify what fits your situation.
Working With Your Care Team
Your orthopedic surgeon knows your history and your options better than anyone, along with the physical therapist or primary-care doctor on your care team. We don't replace them, and we wouldn't want to. We're a resource for them — for patients who have worked through the usual steps and want a non-surgical, drug-free option before considering surgery. You stay in their care: we treat only what's referred, keep your doctors informed, and refer you back to them. We're not here to take anyone's patients.
Scientific references
Niewald M, Müller LN, Hautmann MG, et al. (2018). Multicenter trial on radiotherapy for symptomatic painful hip osteoarthritis. Strahlentherapie und Onkologie.
Open on PubMedFrey B, Rückert M, Weber J, et al. (2020). Low-dose radiotherapy of osteoarthritis: from biological findings to clinical effects. Strahlentherapie und Onkologie.
Open on PubMed
Is Low-Dose Radiation Therapy safe?
The dose used for benign conditions is a small fraction of cancer-treatment radiation — roughly 10–25× lower — delivered in a few short sessions. Low-dose radiation therapy for benign disease has decades of clinical use, and side effects are uncommon and typically mild.
Every treatment plan is prepared by a board-certified medical physicist and reviewed by a licensed physician. Whether it's the right option for you — and any personal considerations — is decided together during your consultation.