X-ray Irradiation: Specialists & Information

In X-ray stimulation therapy, the areas of the body to be treated are exposed to low-dose X-rays. This triggers various processes in the diseased tissue that can lead to pain relief.

X-ray stimulation therapy has been used for over 100 years to treat various medical conditions.

The mechanism of action of X-ray stimulation therapy is not yet fully understood. Researchers believe that the radiation increases blood flow, among other effects. It also inhibits the activity of

• immune cells that play an important role in inflammation, and
• fibroblasts, which are responsible for scar formation.

While this does not correct the anatomical changes that led to the pain, X-ray stimulation therapy has a positive effect on the accompanying inflammatory symptoms. Within days or weeks (sometimes months), pain relief or even complete freedom from pain may occur.

Pain radiation therapy is primarily used to treat pain in the following areas of the body:

• Hip: Hip joint pain caused by osteoarthritis (so-called radiation therapy for hip osteoarthritis) or bursitis
• Shoulder: Painful shoulder osteoarthritis, painful frozen shoulder, painful calcifications in the shoulder joint, or bursitis
• Knee: Osteoarthritis of the knee joint
• Heel or Achilles tendon: For painful heel spurs or Achilles tendon irritation.

But also for

• osteoarthritis of other joints,
• keloids (excessive scarring),
• Dupuytren’s contracture,
• tennis elbow,
• tendinitis,
• gynecomastia, and
• psoriasis

this form of radiation therapy is used. However, radiation therapy for heel spurs is the most commonly performed treatment.

Radiation therapy for pain is a minimally invasive and painless procedure. It is primarily used for patients in whom other treatment options (medication or surgery) have not achieved the desired results.

Compared to the potential side effects of pain medications, the side effects of X-ray stimulation therapy are relatively mild.

Pain radiation therapy generally uses the same equipment as that used in cancer radiation therapy. This includes a linear accelerator and an orthovolt X-ray therapy machine.

However, the radiation dose used in pain radiation therapy is significantly lower. In cancer treatment, it ranges from at least 45 to 70 Gy. In X-ray stimulation therapy, radiation doses range from 0.5 to 2 Gy (up to 24 Gy for heel spurs).

As with cancer radiation therapy, linear accelerators are among the devices used in X-ray stimulation therapy © VILevi | AdobeStock

After the specialists in X-ray stimulation therapy

• have determined the body region to be irradiated,
• the radiation dose,
• the frequency of treatment, and
• the direction of the radiation

, sensitive areas (e.g., gonads, thyroid gland) are protected with lead shields.

During the painless treatment, which lasts only a few seconds or minutes, the patient should remain still. The radiation therapy is usually repeated several times over a period of about two to four weeks. If necessary, the treatment may need to be repeated after one year.

Although the radiation dose used is very low, radiation therapy slightly increases the risk of developing a tumor and functional disorders (e.g., of the heart and gonads).

For this reason, patients must undergo follow-up examinations for at least half a year after treatment.

Overall, however, side effects such as skin irritation (redness, inflammation, dryness) are rare. The pain may also increase initially before improving.

Specialists in X-ray stimulation therapy are usually radiologists (radiation oncologists). They often work in specialized clinics for X-ray stimulation therapy (radiation clinics). There, they collaborate in interdisciplinary teams with specialists from other fields (e.g., orthopedists, rheumatologists).

The specialists then make a joint decision based on

• the patient’s medical history,
• the symptoms, and
• the test results

whether radiation therapy for pain is necessary.

When planning the treatment, radiation oncologists are often assisted by medical physicists.