Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Benign Conditions

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Overview

Radiation therapy isn’t only for cancer. It can treat a number of non-cancerous conditions, too. At Luminis Health, our low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) program for benign conditions offers a non-invasive treatment option that’s safe — and effective in up to 80 percent of cases.

Patient Testimonial - Dr. Rewari

“After treatment, I have significantly more mobility than before. I would certainly encourage others [to try LDRT]. You have nothing to lose. [You] definitely come away with more positives than before.”

— Philip, an 85-year-old patient with osteoarthritis

What is Low-Dose Radiation Therapy (LDRT)?

Lose-dose radiation therapy, or low-dose radiotherapy, helps reduce pain and stiffness caused by inflammatory and degenerative conditions of the tendons, joints and other soft tissues. It uses targeted X-rays to turn on the body’s anti-inflammatory response, which helps relieve symptoms and restore movement.

Benefits of LDRT

LDRT can be a good option for people with mild, early-stage inflammatory and degenerative conditions who haven’t been helped by conservative treatments and want to avoid surgery. Treatment with low-dose radiotherapy is painless and performed quickly. Each session lasts about 10 minutes, and sessions are typically performed two to three times a week for 6 sessions. Choosing to have low-dose radiation therapy also doesn’t eliminate surgery or other treatment options for you down the road.

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Why Choose Luminis Health for LDRT?

We’re proud to be one of the only centers in the region to offer LDRT for benign conditions. Although your primary care doctor, orthopedic or sports medicine doctor can all refer you for LDRT, you can also contact us yourself to learn more.

Treatment is covered by most major medical plans, including Medicare, but your provider can help you learn more about your coverage. Our team, which includes social workers and nurse navigators, can also give you an estimate of your out-of-pocket costs before you start.

Throughout your treatment, our nurse navigators are on hand to guide you, providing you with comprehensive care for you and your family, and answering any questions you may have along the way. You’ll also have an entire team supporting you and working to address your individual needs and treatment goals in a timely and compassionate way.

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Conditions We Treat with LDRT

We treat plantar fasciitis, Dupuytren’s disease and osteoarthritis with low-dose radiation therapy.

To be considered as a candidate for the treatment, you must:

Be free of other medical conditions or symptoms that could make treatment harmful for you.
Be older than 40 years old.
Have a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis, Dupuytren’s disease or osteoarthritis.

If the plantar fascia — the thick band of tissue that runs from the heel of your foot to your toes — becomes inflamed, it’s painful. LDRT may be an option for plantar fasciitis when at-home remedies like icing, stretching, resting, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications and orthotics aren’t effective at relieving the pain.

Dupuytren’s disease, or Dupuytren’s contracture, is a chronic condition that causes the tissue under the skin in the hand to thicken and tighten over time. When the tissue thickens, it forms a lump in the palm of the hand, which can extend into a cord or nodule. As the condition progresses and the cord tightens, it causes one or more fingers to curl (contract) toward the palm of the hand.

LDRT may help you if you have Dupuytren’s disease and are just starting to develop a nodule or cord in your hand. If your finger or fingers are already starting to contract, you’re more likely to need surgery to improve your mobility.

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that develops when the cartilage that lines the joints wears down and bones rub against each other, causing pain. Because osteoarthritis is degenerative, it gets worse over time and leads to chronic pain.

If you have early-stage osteoarthritis and conservative treatments like medications and physical therapy haven’t helped, LDRT could be an option.

What to Expect from LDRT

You’ll start with an in-person consultation with our team to learn whether low-dose radiation therapy is the right option for you.

Once you’ve decided on LDRT, we’ll schedule a CT simulation for you so we can plan how to precisely target your radiation treatments. We’ll then schedule your treatments and tell you how you can prepare and what you should know beforehand.

We’ll schedule a follow-up appointment with you after your courses are completed to assess how you responded, how you’re feeling, and whether any additional steps or treatments are needed.

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