(866) 552-4866 Max* used to look forward to his walks. Each day like clockwork, he would go for a walk to energize himself before work, then add another one before dinner to clear his head. Occasionally, he would go on longer hikes on weekends. But to Max, those days felt like ages ago. Knee pain had slowed him down quite a bit, so much so that walks he once loved suddenly felt longer and heavier—something he had to prepare for mentally. And because it dictated where he went, how long he stayed out, and whether he skipped a day, it stopped being "just pain." It became a loss of freedom.
Max certainly is not alone. For many people living with chronic knee pain, losing that freedom, independence, and joy from something as simple as a walk around the block is deeply frustrating, exhausting, and emotional. And in many cases, it lingers because the true source of their pain is not always the first thing doctors consider.
Besides arthritis, osteoarthritis, worn cartilage, or bone-related wear and tear, knee pain can also be driven by ongoing inflammation and abnormal blood vessel growth inside the knee—keeping pain signals firing long after traditional treatments stop working. This inflammatory process is most commonly seen in osteoarthritis-related knee pain, which is where Geniculate Artery Embolization (GAE) can help.
By targeting the inflamed blood vessels that drive pain, especially in patients with osteoarthritis, GAE offers a minimally invasive option to fight inflammation at its source, creating meaningful pain relief.
Your knee pain could be vascular-related. Request an appointment with a StrideCare vascular specialist today. Our team ensures you receive the support you need from a qualified doctor close to home.
Walking Is not Just Exercise—It's Independence
Walking is how we stay connected to our lives and the people around us. It's how we run errands, spend time with family, travel, and decompress after a long day. It is so common that recent statistics show nearly 60% of U.S. adults walk for leisure, thus making it the most popular aerobic activity.
So, when knee pain flares with every step, we turn to physical therapy, pain medication, and even steroid injections—something, anything, that will allow us to do what we love. There is a deep-seated longing to break free from the pain, and when that pain does not go away, it does more than just hurt physically—it chips away at confidence and quality of life.
Are These Knee Pain Symptoms Holding You Back?
- Knee pain
- Stiffness, especially in the morning or after inactivity
- Decreased range of motion
- Inflammation and swelling
- The knee joint feels unstable or wobbly
- Creaking, crackling, and grating sensations
- The knee may lock or stick
- Knee pain from arthritis or osteoarthritis
Researchers estimate that over 32.5 million U.S. adults have osteoarthritis, which is what many doctors point to as the culprit of chronic knee pain. There is no cure for this degenerative joint disease. Moreover, it is one of the leading causes of disability and the most common form of arthritis overall—especially in older adults.
Many people are told it is "just arthritis" or wear and tear. But that diagnosis often feels incomplete—especially when X-rays do not match how intense the pain feels, or when treatments that should help do not. Here is the reality: your knee pain is not just structural—its signal overload telling your brain that something's wrong inside.
Why Standard Knee Pain Treatments Do Not Always Restore Comfort
Many providers start with the familiar issues—arthritis, worn cartilage, past injuries, or bone changes—and those explanations certainly matter. As a result, the patient journey begins with lifestyle changes and activity modifications, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, steroid or gel injections, etc. And for many, these steps help—at least temporarily.
But when pain keeps returning, especially pain triggered by walking, it often means the underlying inflammation is still active. Medications may quiet the symptoms. Injections may calm things down for a while. But they do not always address the abnormal blood flow feeding the problem. This is when the conversation might shift to venous disease, arterial blockages, and peripheral vascular concerns. Many traditional vein and artery-focused therapies, like what we offer at StrideCare, aim to restore blood flow or correct blockages in large vessels. As a result, patients can overcome symptoms such as leg heaviness and swelling.
While these treatments can significantly improve circulation-related symptoms in the legs, they do not always address the localized microvascular inflammation inside the knee joint that makes walking painful.
GAE is a groundbreaking procedure that can limit pain and reduce inflammation by targeting abnormal blood vessels in the synovial lining of the knee joint. There are multiple genicular arteries surrounding the knee, and selectively targeting those involved in synovial hypervascularity can reduce persistent inflammation associated with knee osteoarthritis. Here's how GAE works:
- Patients are given medication to help them feel sleepy and comfortable during the procedure, which takes only 45-60 minutes.
- A small catheter is inserted into the patient's upper thigh or ankle and guided by X-ray to the arteries supplying blood to the knee.
- The doctor will then inject small particles to block the blood supply.
- The patient experiences reduced inflammation, often within two weeks, leading to less knee pain and the ability to walk again with confidence.
Consulting with a vascular specialist about the benefits of GAE can help you overcome persistent knee pain that hasn't responded to other treatments. If you want to discuss your treatment options, schedule an appointment with StrideCare's experts today.
Why GAE Is Different
Geniculate Artery Embolization (GAE) is highly effective in patients with knee pain not driven by arthritis, injury, or other vascular causes. It has also been shown that it can be a long-lasting therapy for patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis who do not wish to undergo knee replacement surgery, simply by reducing synovial arterial hypervascularity. Rather than altering the joint itself (it does not remove bone, replace cartilage, or change joint anatomy), GAE for knee pain focuses on reducing the abnormal blood flow that sustains inflammation in the synovium. In one study of 40 subjects over a 10-month period, 100% achieved success.
It is also a painless outpatient procedure—not surgery.
Because GAE is primarily used to treat inflammation-driven knee pain associated with osteoarthritis, not all patients are candidates. Patients interested in GAE must meet the following criteria:
- Age between 40-80 years old with moderate to severe knee pain and local knee tenderness
- Osteoarthritis based on X-ray, but without bony deformities or sclerosis
- Knee pain resisted conservative treatment (medication, physical therapy, joint injections, etc.)
Next Steps: Empowered, Not Overwhelmed
Walking should be fun. You want to feel the freedom and empowerment that comes with lacing up your shoes and going out for a walk. But if walking has become limited—so much that you find yourself constantly stopping to rest on the nearest park bench or choosing the shorter route—it may be time to look beyond standard treatments and ask deeper questions about what is really going on and what outside-the-box options exist.
Ask yourself, and your doctor:
- Where does walking hurt the most?
- What parts of my knee hurt the most?
- How long does the pain last, and how painful is it (0-10 scale)?
- What's the real cause of my knee pain?
- Is Geniculate Artery Embolization appropriate for my situation?
- What are realistic expectations about recovery and typical outcomes?
Love Walking Again with StrideCare's Expertise
It may not be possible to avoid knee pain. As we age, our joints simply do not work quite like they used to. This is especially true if we suffer injuries, create repeated stress on our knees, or lead unhealthy lifestyles. But you deserve to be able to walk and enjoy life, without surgery as the only answer to get you there.
Our groundbreaking Genicular Artery Embolization procedure can provide lasting knee pain relief for many of the common symptoms you are currently experiencing. More good news: treatments are covered by most medical insurances and Medicare. Plus, you can be treated at StrideCare's outpatient clinics without visiting the hospital.
StrideCare continues to be a leader in performing leading-edge procedures to treat these and other conditions—all the while providing compassionate patient care. Our doctors stay on the cutting edge of medicine to diagnose and treat using innovative, minimally invasive procedures with little to no pain, short recovery times and high success rates. StrideCare strives to employ the top providers in this field so that our patients are never short of options for reclaiming their lives.
Please contact us at 866-552-4866 or complete the appointment form to schedule a consultation. The experts at StrideCare will recommend a personalized plan to help you achieve the best results.
StrideCare Vascular serves South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia communities: Charleston, Orangeburg, Mount Pleasant, Murrells Inlet, Summerville, Walterboro, West Ashley, Addison, Allen, Anna, Arlington, Austin, Carrollton, Celina, Clear Lake, Craig Ranch, Dallas, Euless, Flower Mound, Forney, Fort Worth, Frisco, Garland, Houston, Irving, Katy, Kaufman, Mansfield, McKinney, Mesquite, including Midland, North Dallas, Odessa, Paris, Pecos, Plano, Prosper, Rockwall, Round Rock, Rowlett, Royce City, San Antonio, Sherman, South Dallas, Southlake, Stone Oak, Sugar Land, Sulphur Springs, The Woodlands, Waxahachie, Webster, Petersburg, Tappahannock, Richmond, Colonial Heights, Mechanicsville, Midlothian, Henrico, and more.
This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Before starting any new treatment or questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider.
*Patient names and/or photos may be changed to protect patient confidentiality.