At 73 years old, Edgar Oppenheimer is an avid golfer who plays more than 130 rounds a year. Like many older adults, Edgar has struggled with chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis. But instead of jumping straight to joint replacement surgery, Edgar found an alternative approach that gave him years of relief and pushed back his surgery: Low-Dose Radiation Therapy (LDRT).
Edgar’s knee problems began in 2005 after feeling a pop while running with his dog. He was diagnosed with a torn meniscus. He was told it would heal on its own but advised to stop running. He followed his doctor’s advice and kept active with golf and other regular exercise. He was uncomfortable at times but managed moderate activity okay and without much pain.
In 2016, after experiencing some unusual soreness, he visited a local orthopedic clinic, where imaging showed he was “bone on bone” in both knees—a common sign of advanced osteoarthritis. His doctor told him he would probably need surgery at some point. Even so, he continued playing golf regularly and did his best to manage the pain. 
In 2020, Edgar was out on the golf course, took a sharp swing, and felt his right knee pain worsen significantly. He decided at that time to see his orthopedic doctor and to begin cortisone injections to manage the inflammation. “They worked,” Edgar said, “but each shot only lasted a few months.” After hearing about LDRT from his primary care doctor, he decided to try it.
LDRT involves directing a small amount of radiation to the affected joints. Unlike radiation plans to treat cancer, the dose for inflammatory conditions is very low and typically spread out over six short doctor’s visits spanning 2-3 weeks. Edgar received his first LDRT treatments at the Ferguson Cancer Center in 2023, working with radiation medicine physician, Dr. Bobby Koneru. “The treatment only takes about 15 minutes,” he explained. “You don’t feel a thing—and the pain relief was almost immediate.”
Since then, Edgar has returned to the clinic to see Dr. Koneru for additional LDRT treatments, The treatment helped him avoid surgery longer and stay active. “The relief from LDRT lasts longer than cortisone injections,” he noted, “and it completely eliminates the pain for 6-7 months. I still have issues walking down steps, but I’ve been able to play golf.” 
“LDRT offers a safe, effective, and non-invasive option for managing osteoarthritis pain—especially for patients looking to delay or avoid surgery,” Dr. Koneru explained. “I’ve been treating patients with radiotherapy for benign conditions for several years and usually three out of every four patients who I see with osteoarthritis and treat with LDRT experience some level of pain relief. In addition, there are several studies that have now demonstrated that steroid injections make osteoarthritis worse by speeding up its progression. LDRT does the opposite by slowing it down.”
Edgar emphasized the convenience and simplicity of the treatment. “I’m really in and out in 15 minutes, and both knees can be treated at the same time,” Edgar shared. “There are no side effects or downtime. I wish I’d heard of it earlier.” Although Edgar has had different insurance plans over the years, his three LDRT visits have been covered by his insurance with his typical co-pay.
“While LDRT provides long-lasting pain relief in my clinical experience, there may be some patients who still decide to have joint replacement surgeries for a variety of reasons in consultation with their orthopedic surgeons,” Dr. Koneru added.
Edgar explained that although he still has trouble walking down steps and has scheduled surgery later this year, he highly recommends LDRT, especially for people who are not ready for surgery. “It bought me years of mobility and a better quality of life. I’m grateful my doctor suggested it.”
LDRT is commonly used in Europe to treat inflammatory conditions, especially in Germany, but is still gaining awareness in the United States. For many patients like Edgar, it offers a valuable window of relief—especially when medications like cortisone are no longer enough. If you’re living with chronic joint pain due to osteoarthritis, talk to your doctor about whether LDRT could be right for you.