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Thank You! Here’s Your Path Forward With GAE.
Based on your responses, your knee may benefit from the GAE procedure. While these results indicate you could be an ideal candidate for this non-surgical intervention, a definitive confirmation requires a clinical evaluation by a doctor.
We understand how frustrating it is to feel stuck between treatments that don’t work and a major surgery you aren’t ready for. Below, we have provided several resources to help you understand how GAE can help you regain your mobility and manage chronic pain right here in Ocala.
Want to talk to someone about GAE and your knee? Request an appointment with our specialists. We’d be happy to help.
The GAE Procedure: What to Know
Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is a specialized vascular treatment that targets what feels like “fire” inside an arthritic knee. As osteoarthritis progresses, the body often creates extra blood vessels in the joint lining. These vessels bring in excess fluid and sensory nerves that lead to constant, stubborn pain.
What to expect during the procedure:
- Advanced Guidance: Our specialists use real-time X-ray imaging to navigate a tiny, spaghetti-thin catheter to the specific arteries surrounding your knee.
- Targeted Action: We release microscopic particles to partially block these abnormal blood vessels. This pruning process reduces the blood flow that fuels inflammation.
- Comfort and Safety: The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and “twilight” sedation. You remain relaxed and comfortable throughout the 1-to-2-hour process.
- No Hospital Stay: Because GAE is minimally invasive and requires only a pinhole incision, you return home the same day with just a small bandage.
Help for Chronic Knee Pain
Living with moderate to severe osteoarthritis requires a comprehensive approach. We have compiled these resources to help you bridge the gap between your current pain and your desired activity level.
- GAE vs. Traditional Injections: Talk to our specialists about how GAE works. We’ll share why GAE often succeeds when steroid or gel shots fail by addressing the vascular source of pain rather than just masking symptoms.
- Recovery Timeline: Most of our Ocala patients resume light daily activities within 24 to 48 hours, with significant pain reduction typically appearing within two weeks.
- Insurance and Coverage: Our staff works directly with providers to determine coverage for this innovative vascular treatment. See our accepted insurances.
Take the Next Step Toward Relief
If you’re tired of planning your day around your knee pain, it’s time to see if GAE is the missing piece of your treatment plan.
The Leaders in General & Vascular Surgery in Ocala
Surgical Specialists of Ocala choose to use minimally invasive techniques for conditions of the lung and chest wall whenever possible. We perform hundreds of minimally invasive procedures in Ocala and the surrounding aresas each year using video-assisted and robot-assisted approaches.
