What to Expect

Consultation

This first visit is a conversation, not a treatment session. Nothing happens to your joint yet. You'll meet with a radiation oncologist, who will ask about your pain history, what you've already tried, and look at any recent imaging of the joint. If you haven't had an X-ray recently, they may order one.

This is also the appointment to ask questions. It helps to write them down beforehand. We have a printable checklist with the ones patients ask most.

• Bring your insurance card and a list of current medications
• Bring copies of recent imaging or records if you have them, though the office can often request these directly
• Wear something comfortable that gives easy access to the joint you're being seen for

CT Simulation

Before your first actual treatment, you'll come in for a CT scan of the joint, often called a "simulation." This maps out exactly where the radiation needs to go. You'll lie on the CT couch in the same position you'll be in for treatment, so the team can plan around it precisely. No radiation is delivered at this visit.

Treatment Planning

Using the CT images, your radiation oncologist works with a medical physicist and dosimetrist to build your treatment plan, the exact angles, dose, and setup that will be used for all six sessions. This planning step typically takes one to two weeks, so don't expect your first treatment to start right away. It's worth keeping that gap in mind so it doesn't feel like an unexplained delay.

The Six Treatment Sessions

A typical course is six short visits, spaced two to three times a week over about two to three weeks. You'll lie on a treatment couch while a technician lines your joint up carefully, so the radiation lands in the same spot each time. Most of each visit is this positioning. The radiation itself takes well under a minute, and you won't feel it happening.

There's no needle and no sedation, and nothing to prepare beforehand. Eat and take your normal medications as usual. Most people drive themselves to and from each visit.

Once a week during your treatment course, you'll typically see your radiation oncologist or a member of their care team for a brief check-in, sometimes called an "on-treatment visit." This is a chance to flag any soreness, skin changes, or questions as they come up, rather than waiting until the course is finished.

• Each session runs about 10–15 minutes, mostly setup on the treatment couch
• You'll lie still briefly while the machine is positioned over the joint
• Roughly once a week, expect a short visit with your care team to check how you're doing
• You can go straight back to your day afterward. No recovery time needed

After Treatment: The Follow-Up Visit

Relief doesn't always show up right away. Some patients notice a difference within days; for others it takes several weeks to build. It's worth giving it time before deciding whether it worked for you.

Once your six sessions are complete, your care team will typically schedule a follow-up appointment some weeks or months later to see how your pain and function have responded. Most people notice nothing unusual in the meantime. A small number see mild skin or nail irritation near the treated area, which is uncommon and typically resolves on its own.

If the relief fades over time, treatment can often be considered again. If you notice anything that concerns you before your scheduled follow-up, call the office that treated you rather than waiting.