Did you know that arthritis is the number-one cause of disability in the United States, according to the Arthritis Foundation? And did you know the term “arthritis” refers to more than 100 types of joint disease, pain, and inflammation?
Out of those 100 types of arthritis, osteoarthritis is the most common, affecting an estimated 32.5 million to 33 million people in the United States. Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown or wearing away of the cartilage on the ends of bones that contact each other – and it can severely affect everyday mobility and comfort.
All together, the many types of arthritis affect nearly 60 million adults and children in this country. Roughly 26 million of those people are affected so severely, they are unable to engage in everyday activities such as walking to the car or holding a cup as a result. It’s no wonder Congress and President Richard M. Nixon designated May as National Arthritis Month back in 1972.
Given such widespread and disruptive impact, it’s big news when a non-invasive treatment becomes more widely available for any form of arthritis. That’s true even when the treatment has long been used for other conditions, as is the case with low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT).
Spectrum Healthcare Partners is excited to celebrate the ways doctors in our radiation oncology division are advancing the use of this treatment option for osteoarthritis patients in Maine and New Hampshire.
Did You Know that Radiation Is Used to Treat More than Just Cancer?
Radiation therapy has long played a central role in cancer treatment. And now, through close collaboration across specialties, care teams are applying that same precision therapy in a new way: to help patients with certain chronic, non-cancer conditions find relief.
“Radiation is often associated only with cancer,” says Michael Milligan, MD, MBA, a radiation oncologist with Spectrum Healthcare Partners. “But introducing low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) has broadened how we think about its role in medicine. It’s also a tool for improving quality of life – especially for patients struggling with chronic pain, stiffness, or scarring.”
LDRT is expanding what is possible for patients with a variety of conditions, including osteoarthritis (when the cartilage on the ends of bones breaks down), Dupuytren’s contracture (a condition that causes one or more fingers to bend toward the palm of the hand), and keloids (abnormally thick, raised scar tissue).
What Is LDRT?
“LDRT is a very gentle form of radiation delivered to a specific area of the body in extremely low doses,” Dr. Milligan says. “Instead of killing cancer cells, these lower doses help reduce inflammation, pain, or abnormal tissue growth. It’s painless, non-invasive, and delivered in just a few quick outpatient sessions.”
Before treatment begins, patients undergo a brief planning session to map the target area and create a personalized plan. Most receive 15-minute sessions every other day for about two weeks. Many notice improvement within weeks, with full benefits continuing to build over time.
“Because LDRT doesn’t involve incisions, anesthesia, or medications, recovery is essentially immediate,” Dr. Milligan says. “For patients who haven’t found relief with medications or injections, it may offer another path forward.”
Low-dose radiation therapy is a safe, non-invasive option for certain chronic, non-cancer conditions – and can help with joint pain, scarring, and inflammation. While it is still gaining traction in the U.S. as of 2026, it is far from experimental. LDRT is backed by decades of clinical experience in Europe, where it has been used successfully for osteoarthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
When Can LDRT Be Used to Treat Pain and Preserve Function for Arthritis Patients?
LDRT is often used to treat osteoarthritis in large joints like the knees, hips, and shoulders – as well as smaller joints in the hands, wrists, and feet. Clinicians typically recommend it when other treatments have not helped or when patients are not ready for surgery.
“In joints affected by arthritis, LDRT can reduce inflammation, stiffness, and pain, often improving mobility,” says Dr. Milligan. “Patients with both early and chronic osteoarthritis can respond well.”
While injections and medications may provide short-term relief, they often wear off or cause side effects. Surgery is effective but invasive, with longer recovery and limited options for small joints. LDRT offers a non-invasive alternative with minimal risk and no downtime.
It is also an option for early-stage Dupuytren’s contracture, potentially delaying surgery by slowing the thickening of tissue in the palm.
“As a fellowship-trained hand surgeon, I see radiation therapy as a possible adjunct in the management of early-stage Dupuytren’s disease,” says Arthur Turko, MD, FACS, a plastic surgeon with Plastic + Hand Surgical Associates. “For patients presenting with nodules [small bumps under the skin of the palm] but without significant contracture [permanent shortening of the muscles, tendons, skin, and surrounding tissues in a joint], targeted low-dose radiation may help inhibit or may slow disease progression. This approach may delay the need for surgical intervention, offering patients a non-invasive option to maintain hand function.”
LDRT can also reduce the recurrence risk of unusually thick, raised scars (called keloids) after surgery, and ease symptoms like itching, pain, or tenderness.
Can LDRT Help Me Delay or Avoid Surgery for My Arthritis?
“LDRT is a great option for patients hoping to avoid surgery altogether or even just to kick the can down the road,” says Dr. Milligan. “Many patients experience durable pain control that has lasted for years.”
Clinical research in Europe supports this approach, with studies showing that 60-90% of patients report pain relief, often lasting more than a year.
For patients with complex medical needs, LDRT can offer benefits that extend beyond joint pain.
“For example, men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer may notice their arthritis pain intensify,” Dr. Milligan explains. “We’ve seen patients who, after receiving LDRT, were able to stay more active – helping to ease arthritis symptoms and improve their overall tolerance of cancer therapy.”
LDRT Does Not Happen in Isolation
Strong partnerships across the care team power LDRT.
“We rely on our colleagues in orthopedics, dermatology, rheumatology, and primary care to identify patients who might benefit from LDRT,” says Dr. Milligan. “We often work closely with orthopedists to establish a diagnosis, understand what’s been tried, and determine if radiation might help.”
That kind of collaboration is especially valuable for patients with complex or overlapping needs, from cancer care to chronic pain management.
“What I enjoy most about working at Spectrum is the culture of collaboration,” Dr. Milligan says. “We don’t just work in silos. We come together across specialties to bring patients world-class, evidence-based, patient-centered care.”
LDRT Is Gaining Momentum
Across disciplines, LDRT is quickly reshaping how doctors treat chronic pain and scarring.
Once viewed only as a cancer treatment, it is now helping more patients move, function, and feel better without surgery or long-term medications. And as more specialists recognize its potential, more patients can benefit.
“What excites me most is the growing recognition within the medical community that LDRT is a safe and effective option for patients with osteoarthritis and other certain non-cancer conditions,” says Dr. Milligan. “Helping patients find relief from pain and regain their overall well-being is not only meaningful for them, but also deeply rewarding for me as a physician.”
Key Takeaways:
- Arthritis is the number-one cause of disability in the United States, affecting nearly 60 million adults and children.
- The term “arthritis” refers to more than 100 types of joint disease, pain, and inflammation.
- Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, caused by the breakdown or wearing away of the cartilage on the ends of bones that contact each other.
- Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 32.5 million to 33 million people in the United States.
- Low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) has been used to treat arthritis in Europe for decades, and its use is becoming more common in the United States.
- LDRT is a very gentle form of radiation delivered to a specific area of the body in extremely low doses.
- LDRT is non-invasive, is administered during several short appointments on an outpatient basis, and requires no downtime for recovery.
- LDRT is an option for patients who have not found relief with medications or injections, or who wish to delay or avoid surgery.
- LDRT can help patients with both early and chronic osteoarthritis.
- LDRT can be used to treat osteoarthritis in larger joints such as the knee or hip and in smaller joints such as those in the hands or feet.
- LDRT can improve mobility for people with arthritis by reducing joint inflammation, stiffness, and pain.
- LDRT is also used to treat other non-cancer conditions. Examples include (but are not limited to) Dupuytren’s contracture (which causes one or more fingers to bend toward the palm of the hand) and keloids (abnormally thick, raised scar tissue).
- Physicians in Spectrum Healthcare Partners’ Radiation Oncology division offer LDRT treatment to patients in Maine who have osteoarthritis, keloids, and certain other conditions relating to bone-growth and vascular (blood vessel) issues.
- Spectrum’s radiation oncologists collaborate with colleagues in orthopedics, dermatology, rheumatology, and primary care to identify patients who might benefit from LDRT.
- According to studies published in medical journals such as International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics and Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, and others, 60-90% of arthritis patients receiving LDRT report pain relief that often lasts more than a year.
