Hip Osteoarthritis Treatment — Without Surgery
✓ Medicare Covered ✓ FDA-Cleared Equipment ✓ 15-Minute Visits
Low-dose radiation therapy for hip pain when injections, physical therapy, and medication have stopped working.
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 1/100th 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 centers including Cleveland Clinic and Loyola Medicine. Heelex Medical opened in 2020 as the first clinic in the United States dedicated exclusively to low-dose radiation therapy.
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 consecutive 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 covered by Medicare and most major insurance plans. Our office handles all insurance pre-authorization. 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.