For years, Gwendolyn Faunce-Hussler (pictured above, center) lived with excruciating pain caused by osteoarthritis, a condition she had battled since the age of 18. Having undergone more than half a dozen surgeries, she had tried everything to find relief. However, it wasn’t until she underwent Low-Dose Radiation Therapy with our care team that she experienced a truly life-changing breakthrough.
“It was phenomenal. I couldn’t believe it!” Gwendolyn recalls. “The first time I got off the table and started walking to the car, I was like, ‘This can’t be! It can’t already be helping me!’ But, I already felt so much better – and I still feel fine!”
Our Springfield market recently introduced Low-Dose Radiation Therapy (LDRT) as an innovative, non-invasive option for osteoarthritis sufferers. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, impacting 32.5 million people in the U.S. Traditional treatments include painkillers, steroid injections, physical therapy and surgery. However, LDRT provides a second-line treatment option when conventional methods don’t offer sufficient relief.
“Radiation therapy can provide targeted pain relief and reduce inflammation in localized areas affected by osteoarthritis,” Josh Martin, MD, (pictured above, right) a radiation oncologist in our Springfield market, explains. “It’s a non-invasive approach that can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life while complimenting other treatments.”
LDRT involves six treatments, administered every other day over a two-week period. Unlike cancer treatments that use high-dose radiation, LDRT delivers a much lower dose – just a small fraction of what is used for cancer patients – making it a safe and effective alternative with minimal risk of side effects.
For Gwendolyn, the results were astonishing.
“I have a husband who is 77 and he walked better than I did! That’s pretty bad,” recalls the 64-year-old. “The difference is amazing. The excruciating pain in my hips is gone. I’ve already recommended this treatment to friends because it’s so innovative and there’s no pain involved.”
Having endured years of frustration with unhelpful diagnoses and ineffective treatments, Gwendolyn credits her recovery to Dr. Martin as well as her rheumatologist, Dr. Nneoma Kate-Joan Onuorah (pictured above, left).
“Dr. Onuorah is fantastic,” Gwedolyn adds. “She’s the only doctor that didn’t write me off when my inflammation levels were high, and the cause was unclear. And Dr. Martin—oh my gosh—he’s delightful! He really puts you at ease and explains everything clearly.”
For Gwendolyn, the treatment process itself was simple and stress-free. Since completing her six-session treatment, she says her life has been transformed.
“I’ve been through so many surgeries, treatments, and injections, but this is the most amazing thing I’ve ever done. I wish this had been available when I was younger—I could have avoided so many surgeries. There’s no downtime, no recovery period. You just go about your life as if you never even had treatment, except now you feel so much better.”
Her message to others suffering from osteoarthritis?
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If you don’t try it, how are you going to know if it works? There’s nothing to lose.”
Are you struggling with joint pain? Learn more about the variety of treatment options our ministry offers, including Low-Dose Radiation Therapy.
