Knee Osteoarthritis Care
Personalized care for knee pain, osteoarthritis, and mobility issues — focused on identifying the true source of pain and choosing the right treatment.
- Pain may not match X‑ray findings
- Abnormal vessels + extra nerves around the knee can drive chronic inflammation and pain
- Lasting relief comes from treating the source — not only the symptoms
What Is Knee Osteoarthritis?
Knee osteoarthritis is a common condition caused by gradual wear and tear of the knee joint. Over time, this can lead to pain, stiffness, swelling, and difficulty walking or moving comfortably. It is most often seen in people over the age of 40.
However, the level of pain a person feels does not always match what is seen on X-rays or scans. Some patients experience severe pain even when joint damage appears mild, while others with more visible damage may feel less pain.
This is because knee pain is not caused by joint damage alone. In many patients, abnormal blood vessels and extra nerves around the knee can drive ongoing inflammation and chronic pain — so standard treatments may not fully work or may only help temporarily.
Abnormal Blood Vessels: A Common Cause of Long‑Term Pain
Our bodies can sometimes create abnormal small blood vessels as part of aging, injury, or long-lasting inflammation. This can happen to anyone, even without a serious injury.
These abnormal blood vessels often grow together with extra nerves. They keep the area inflamed and continuously send pain signals. Over time, this becomes a major cause of long-term (chronic) pain.
Because the pain comes from these abnormal blood vessels, common treatments such as medications, steroid injections, or physical therapy may not work well or only temporarily reduce inflammation and discomfort for a short time.
- To relieve chronic pain effectively, the source of pain must be treated — not just the symptoms.
- For patients whose knee pain does not improve with standard treatments, approaches that address the source of pain may offer better relief.
Current Treatment Options for Knee Pain
Knee pain can be treated in many ways, depending on the severity of symptoms and joint damage. Most treatment options available today focus on only one stage of the condition.
In the early stages, patients are often treated with pain medications, supplements, physical therapy, or injections to reduce inflammation and discomfort. These treatments may help relieve symptoms but do not always address the underlying cause of pain.
In more advanced stages, when pain becomes severe or movement is significantly limited, surgery such as knee replacement is often recommended. While surgery can be effective for some patients, it may not be suitable for everyone and involves longer recovery and higher risks.
Many patients fall between these stages — their pain is too severe for medications alone, but not severe enough for surgery. As a result, they continue to live with chronic pain, limited mobility, and few clear options.
- Medications & supplements
- Physical therapy
- Weight loss management
- Low cost
- Short-term symptom relief
- Requires long-term adherence
- Corticosteroids
- Hyaluronic acid
- Temporary pain relief
- High recurrence rates
- Does not treat root cause
- GAE — targets abnormal vessels
- Image-guided, precise treatment
- Non-surgical, fast recovery
- More durable pain relief
- Treats the source, not just symptoms
- An effective bridge before surgery
- Total knee replacement
- Partial replacement
- Reconstructive surgery
- For severe joint damage
- Longer recovery needed
- High long-term efficacy
How Our Clinic Is Different
We provide comprehensive knee care across all stages of knee pain — with the right option at the right time.
How GAE Works: Treating the true source of pain
By addressing abnormal blood vessels rather than focusing only on the joint itself, we can reduce inflammation at its source and provide more durable pain relief compared with traditional therapies.
Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure used to relieve knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. It works by targeting abnormal blood vessels around the knee that drive ongoing inflammation and pain.
Using advanced imaging guidance, the doctor carefully reduces these abnormal vessels while preserving normal blood flow to the knee. GAE can be especially helpful for patients whose symptoms do not improve with medications, physical therapy, or injections such as steroids or hyaluronic acid.
- A non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment for knee osteoarthritis pain
- Performed through a tiny pinhole (about 0.6 mm) with no incision or hospital stay
- Works by blocking abnormal blood vessels that cause inflammation and pain
- Takes about 1–2 hours under local anesthesia
- Provides long-lasting pain relief with quick recovery and minimal side effects
- A globally recognized treatment for early to moderate knee osteoarthritis that targets the root cause of pain with minimal risk
Early-stage care focuses on identifying and managing pain at its earliest signs — before it progresses into chronic or structural problems. This phase emphasizes accurate assessment, pain control, movement correction, and guided rehabilitation.
- New or mild joint pain
- Early signs of overuse or strain injuries
- Stiffness, reduced mobility, or muscle imbalance
- Those who want to prevent worsening conditions
- Comprehensive Assessment — evaluate pain source, movement patterns, posture, and biomechanics
- Structured Pain Management — non-invasive strategies to reduce inflammation
- Rehabilitation Planning — personalized exercise and strengthening program
- Progress Monitoring — ongoing evaluation and adjustments
- Reduces risk of chronic pain
- Improves mobility and stability
- Prevents long-term structural damage
- Supports faster return to activity
Efficacy and Safety
* Values shown are pooled average changes (WMD) versus baseline across multiple cohorts.
Step‑by‑Step Treatments to Reduce Abnormal Blood Vessels
We choose the right approach based on your symptoms and assessment.
This injection is different from common treatments such as hyaluronic acid or nerve block injections. It directly targets abnormal blood vessels that cause pain.
It is performed by specialists using a substance designed to reduce these vessels. Because it treats the cause of pain, the results can be longer‑lasting.
More than 80% of patients experience significant improvement in appropriate cases, and this treatment has been provided to thousands of patients with no serious side effects reported.
For more targeted treatment, we offer catheterization therapy, also called Genicular Arterial Embolization (GAE), a minimally invasive procedure used to treat abnormal blood vessels.
- Imipenem/Cilastatin, safely used for over 20 years.
- Forms tiny particles that selectively reduce blood flow in abnormal vessels.
- Helps reduce inflammation at its source and provide durable pain relief.
See How GAE Works
Watch our specialists explain the catheterization process — from insertion to vessel closure — in under two minutes.
Are You a Candidate for GAE?
GAE may be a suitable option for patients with ongoing knee pain that does not improve with standard treatments.
- You have chronic knee pain caused by osteoarthritis
- Pain continues despite medications, physical therapy, or injections
- Knee pain limits daily activities such as walking, standing, or climbing stairs
- You are not ready for surgery, or surgery is not recommended for you
- Knee pain is caused by acute injury, infection, or fracture
- There is severe joint deformity requiring immediate surgery
- Certain medical conditions make the procedure unsafe
At YOUNIFY Clinic, candidacy for GAE is determined through careful clinical assessment and imaging review.
Our doctors consider your symptoms, overall health, and stage of knee disease to recommend the most appropriate treatment — whether GAE or another option.
Learn More About Knee Pain
Where should knee pain be treated? Causes and care options
The main guide for people starting to compare knee pain care options.
Walking PainWhy does my knee hurt when walking?
Understand walking pain, stair pain, and activity-related knee symptoms.
Pain LocationInner knee pain: what should be checked?
A practical guide to medial knee pain, meniscus, ligaments, and arthritis.
Common ConditionKnee osteoarthritis and options before surgery
Learn about stages, injections, and GAE for selected patients.