Patient finds osteoarthritis relief with low-dose radiation treatment

Osteoarthritis made everyday movement painful for Susan Brown. "I’ve been fussing with arthritis forever. It’s hard doing everyday things like opening a bottle or a jar. You don’t realize how much you use your hands until you can’t anymore," she said.

Recently, Susan was referred to Dr. Arpan Prabhu, a radiation medicine physician at IU Health West Hospital who’s studying the impact of low‑dose radiation therapy on patients like Susan. "In the last five years, there’s been growing interest in treating osteoarthritis with radiation," said Dr. Prabhu. "It’s incredibly rewarding when patients come back after treatment and tell me their hips don’t bother them anymore, they can walk long distances, or they can use their hands in the kitchen again. Those are big wins."