Shoulder Osteoarthritis Treatment — Without Surgery in Knoxville, TN
✓ Medicare & major plans accepted ✓ FDA-Cleared Equipment ✓ 15-Minute Visits
Low-dose radiation therapy for shoulder pain when injections, physical therapy, and medication have stopped working.
4.7 stars from 272 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 shoulder osteoarthritis and you've already tried cortisone injections, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatories — and you're still in pain — you're in a difficult position. The next step your orthopedic surgeon will likely recommend is shoulder replacement or other surgery. 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 with a specialized X-ray machine 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 shoulder osteoarthritis
- You've tried at least one conservative treatment — physical therapy, NSAIDs, or cortisone injections — without lasting relief
- You want to avoid or delay shoulder 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 shoulder 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 shoulder 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 shoulder 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.
Scientific references
Mücke R, Schönekaes K, Micke O, et al. (2003). Low-dose radiotherapy for painful benign skeletal disorders. 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