Eighty-one-year-old Mike Loyd of Oklahoma City is somewhat of a handy man. He enjoys fixing things around the house and rebuilding old cars. “I've always been kind of active mechanically,” he claims. “But it was kind of getting difficult to do things with my hands because they were hurting so much.”
Eighty-one-year-old Mike Loyd of Oklahoma City is somewhat of a handy man. He enjoys fixing things around the house and rebuilding old cars. “I've always been kind of active mechanically,” he claims. “But it was kind of getting difficult to do things with my hands because they were hurting so much.”
That’s when he went to see Shripal Bhavsar, M.D., a radiation oncologist at INTEGRIS Health Cancer Institute. “So, when I met Mike, he had really crippling arthritis in all the joints of both of his hands,” he explains. “It was really disabling for him. He wasn’t able to do the things he was used to doing.” Bhavsar recommended using low-dose radiation to treat Mike’s osteoarthritis.
“It often can be jarring for patients who come in here to the Cancer Institute when they have something that's not a cancer,” admits Bhavsar. But he says medical professionals have used this method for decades to treat various non-cancerous inflammatory conditions.
The medical technique uses small amounts of X-ray energy to target inflamed and painful joints. It differs significantly from the high doses used in oncology by strictly focusing on soothing irritated tissue rather than destroying abnormal cells. By targeting the inflamed areas directly, patients often experience a significant return to their normal routines. The approach provides a gentle alternative for those who have tried traditional pain management methods without success.
“For Mike, we set up a plan to essentially treat all of the joints in both of his hands,” says Bhavsar. “We were able to do both hands at the same time. We did roughly a couple treatments a week for about eight weeks. At the end of that, he felt considerably better.”
“I’d say it was successful,” states Mike. “They’re not perfect, but they’re a whole lot better than they were.” In fact, he’s back in his garage tinkering with his cars again.
Alleviating daily discomfort gives people the chance to enjoy their favorite activities again without constant worry. It targets the underlying nerve irritation to provide lasting comfort and restore a sense of normalcy. Patients frequently report returning to hobbies they previously abandoned due to physical limitations.
Bhavsar adds, “It's been tremendously effective. I have treated other non-arthritis conditions this way. We’ve used low-dose radiation for things like plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, elbow spurs. Those types of things can benefit from a treatment like this.”
The option provides a non-invasive way to manage chronic joint issues without relying on daily medications or invasive surgeries. It is ideal for older adults who have not found success with physical therapy or standard injections. It also provides a viable option for those with healthcare conditions that prevent them from taking certain medications. Mike just wishes he would have tried it sooner. “I would recommend others try it, very definitely.”
Call 877-811-4246 to schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Bhavsar to discuss radiation therapy to treat arthritis.
