Chennai-based Endovascular & IR Specialist, Dr. Ravindran Ramalingam offers minimally invasive, scar-free treatments ensuring faster recovery and minimal pain.

Endovascular &
IR Specialist

Center Address
Gleneagles Health City, Perumbakkam, Chennai, TN

Dr. Ravindran Ramalingam is a Chennai-based Endovascular & Interventional Radiology (IR) Specialist with over a decade of experience, delivering minimally invasive, scar-free treatments for faster recovery, less pain, and shorter hospital stays.

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Arterial Injection Treatment for Chronic Joint Pains

A Non-Surgical, Image-Guided Option for Long-Standing Joint Pain

Chronic joint pain can severely affect daily activities, sleep, and quality of life. Many patients continue to suffer despite medicines, physiotherapy, or joint injections.

Arterial injection treatment is a modern, minimally invasive procedure that targets the abnormal blood vessels that causes pain—without surgery or joint replacement.

👉 Living with joint pain for months or years?

What Is Arterial Injection Treatment for Chronic Joint Pains?

Arterial injection treatment is an image-guided procedure in which medicine or microscopic particles are delivered directly into the abnormal blood vessels supplying the painful joint.

This treatment works by:

  • Reducing abnormal inflammation
  • Decreasing pain-causing blood flow
  • Calming irritated joint tissues
  • Improving movement and function
  • No open surgery

  • No joint replacement

  • No stitches or scars

  • Faster recovery

This injection is not the same as common injections such as hyaluronic acid, steroid or PRP injections or routine nerve block injections used in plastic surgery or pain clinics. The target area and the medication used are completely different.

Our treatment is designed to directly target abnormal blood vessels that are responsible for chronic pain. Instead of masking pain signals, the injection works by reducing or closing these problem blood vessels, which addresses the root cause of pain. This approach is different from conventional treatments like X-ray–based therapy or standard pain injections and can only be performed by specialists trained in treating vascular conditions.

Because the abnormal vessels are treated directly, this injection provides a strong and long-lasting pain-relieving effect, unlike temporary pain relief methods. Clinical experience shows that more than 80% of patients experience significant improvement or complete relief.

Every year, nearly 500 patients undergo this treatment, and it has been shown to be safe with no serious side effects reported. This makes it a reliable and minimally invasive option for patients suffering from pain caused by abnormal blood vessels.

If you have not previously tried a treatment that specifically targets problem blood vessels, this advanced injection therapy may be a safe and effective option worth considering.

What is Chronic Joint Pain?

Chronic joint pain refers to pain that lasts more than 3 months and does not improve with routine treatment.

Common treated conditions:

  • Plantar Fascitis, Achilles tendinitis, gout.
  • Osteoarthritis of hand, knee, wrist.
  • Tendinitis in wrist.
  • TFCC injury.
  • Tennis elbow, Golfer’s elbow

In many cases, abnormal new blood vessels develop around the joint, increasing inflammation and pain. Arterial injection treatment directly targets these vessels.

How Is Arterial Injection Treatment Done?

The procedure is performed by an interventional radiologist using live X-ray (angiography) guidance.

Step-by-step process:

  • Local anesthesia is given (you remain awake and comfortable)
  • A very thin tube similar to IV line is gently inserted into an artery
  • Special medicine or micro-particles are then injected into abnormal vessels
  • Healthy blood flow is preserved
  • The tube is removed and only a few minutes of gentle compression is needed at the access site
  • Patients can go home immediately after the procedure

What Are the Risks?

Arterial injection treatment is generally very safe when performed by experienced specialists. Most side effects are mild and temporary.

Possible risks with approximate incidence include:

  • Temporary increase in joint pain – common (20–30%)
  • Mild swelling or warmth around joint – common (15–25%)
  • Bruising at puncture site – common (10–15%)
  • Skin discoloration or numbness – uncommon (5–8%)
  • Infection – rare (<1%)
  • Non-target injection – very rare (<1%)

What Are the Alternatives?

Treatment options for chronic joint pain depend on:

  • Your pain severity and daily activity limitations
  • Overall health and existing medical conditions
  • Personal preferences and lifestyle needs

Often, a combination of treatments is used to achieve better pain control.

Alternative 1: Pain Medications

  • Commonly used to manage chronic joint pain and inflammation
  • May provide relief for mild to moderate pain
  • In some patients, pain relief may be inadequate or temporary

Alternative 2: Physical Therapy

  • Helps strengthen muscles around the joint
  • Improves flexibility and joint stability
  • Can reduce stiffness and scar tissue
  • Most effective in early or moderate joint problems

Alternative 3: Acupuncture

  • May offer pain relief in some individuals
  • Results vary from person to person
  • Often used as a supportive or complementary therapy

Alternative 4: Steroid Injections

  • Steroid medicines injected directly into the joint
  • Help reduce inflammation and pain
  • Relief may be temporary, and pain can return
  • Repeat injections may be required
  • Commonly tried before moving to more invasive treatments

Alternative 5: Joint Surgery or Joint Replacement

  • Includes joint repair or complete joint replacement
  • Can provide significant and long-lasting pain relief
  • Requires hospitalization and longer recovery time
  • Not suitable for everyone, especially patients with other medical conditions

Choosing the Right Joint Pain Treatment

Every patient’s condition is unique. A detailed assessment helps identify the most effective, safest, and least invasive treatment option, based on symptoms, health status, and recovery goals.

📌 Compared to surgery, arterial injection treatment is non-surgical, repeatable, and joint-preserving.

What Happens After Your Procedure?

Recovery is usually quick and smooth.

After the procedure:

  • Most patients walk the same day
  • Pain relief often starts within 1–3 weeks
  • Improvement continues over 1–3 months
  • Normal activities can be resumed immediately
  • Physiotherapy may be advised for best results

Many patients experience significant pain reduction and improved mobility.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Arterial Injection Treatment for Chronic Joint Pain

Arterial injection treatment is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure that targets abnormal tiny blood vessels around a painful joint. By injecting special medicine or particles into these vessels, inflammation and pain are reduced, helping improve movement and quality of life.

It is commonly used for knee osteoarthritis, shoulder pain, hand pain, hip pain, elbow pain (tennis elbow), and other chronic joint pains that do not improve with medicines or physiotherapy.

Patients who have:

  • Long-standing joint pain
  • Poor response to medicines, injections, or physiotherapy
  • Early to moderate arthritis
  • Pain but not ready for surgery
    may benefit from this treatment.

No. It is a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure, not open surgery.

It is done under local anesthesia, so most patients feel only mild discomfort during or after the procedure.

The procedure usually takes 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the joint being treated.

Most patients are discharged the same day or after a short observation period.

Many patients notice pain relief within days to a few weeks, with continued improvement over the next few months.

Pain relief can last many months to even years, depending on the severity of arthritis and lifestyle factors.

Yes. When done by experienced specialists, it is safe and widely used with a low risk of complications.

Possible risks include mild pain or bruising at the puncture site, temporary swelling, allergy to contrast dye, or rarely infection or vessel spasm. Serious complications are rare.

In many patients, yes. It can delay or reduce the need for joint replacement surgery, especially in early to moderate arthritis.

This treatment works from inside the blood vessels, targeting abnormal inflammation-causing vessels, while steroid or PRP injections are placed inside or around the joint.

It is performed by a trained interventional radiologist using advanced imaging guidance.

Yes. It is available in advanced interventional radiology and pain management centers in India.

Why Choose Arterial Injection Treatment?

  • Non-surgical pain treatment

  • No joint replacement

  • No scars or stitches

  • Performed under local anesthesia

  • Faster recovery than surgery

  • Preserves natural joint

Take the Next Step — Without Surgery

If chronic joint pain is limiting your movement, independence, or lifestyle, you don’t have to wait for surgery.

Arterial Injection Treatment offers a modern, minimally invasive solution for long-standing joint pain.