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San Fernando Valley · Board-Certified

Knee pain relief, without the surgery.

A two-minute assessment to learn whether Genicular Artery Embolization or another minimally invasive procedure could be the right alternative to knee replacement for you.

Take the 2-minute assessment Or learn about GAE first
2 hrs Outpatient procedure
85% Patients report relief
2-3 days Typical recovery
patella (kneecap)
fig. 01 Genicular arteries
fig. 02 Embolization target
If you're reading this

You've probably been told to wait. Or to push through. Or that surgery is the only way forward.

i.

The injections aren't lasting like they used to

Cortisone gave you months of relief — then weeks. Hyaluronic acid worked once. Now nothing seems to last, and you're being asked to come in more often for less benefit.

ii.

You're not ready for a knee replacement

Maybe you're too young. Maybe surgery isn't realistic given your work or your other health conditions. Maybe you've watched a friend recover from one and it's not a road you want to walk.

iii.

You haven't been told about your other options

There's a category of minimally invasive, image-guided procedures most patients are never offered — because they're performed by interventional radiologists, not orthopedic surgeons.

What we offer

Image-guided procedures designed to relieve pain — not replace your joint.

Genicular Artery Embolization is one of several minimally invasive procedures performed in our outpatient suite. Each is image-guided, performed under local anesthesia, and designed for patients who want lasting relief without major surgery.

Featured procedure

Genicular Artery Embolization

An outpatient procedure that targets the abnormal blood vessels feeding inflammation in your knee. Through a small catheter — about the diameter of angel hair pasta — we deliver microscopic particles that calm the inflammation at its source.

~2 hrs
Total time at our office
No gen.
anesthesia
Sedation only — you stay awake
2-3 days
Back to most normal activity
85%
Patients report meaningful relief at one year
RFA

Radiofrequency Ablation

For nerve-driven joint pain. Targeted heat is used to interrupt pain signals from the genicular nerves with no incision required.

Embolization

Hip & Shoulder Embolization

The same precision technique used for the knee, applied to the hip and shoulder for inflammatory joint pain that hasn't responded to conservative care.

Image-Guided

Advanced Joint Injections

Ultrasound and fluoroscopy-guided steroid, hyaluronic acid, and PRP injections — placed precisely, rather than blindly, for better and longer-lasting relief.

PAE · Men's Health

Prostate Artery Embolization

A non-surgical alternative for men with enlarged prostate (BPH) symptoms. Outpatient, no catheter to take home, no sexual side effects.

Two-minute assessment

Wondering if you'd be a candidate?

Most patients have spent years cycling through treatments before they hear about us. Our brief assessment helps you understand — in plain language — whether one of our procedures could be a fit for what you've been dealing with.

  • ✓ Six simple questions about your symptoms
  • ✓ A personalized response from one of our providers
  • ✓ No commitment, no obligation, no insurance required
Begin the assessment

Where is your pain or limited movement?

Knee — one or both
Right knee, mostly
Hip
Shoulder
Multiple areas
Continue the assessment
Free patient resource

Get the guide: talking to your doctor about non-surgical options.

Most primary care physicians and orthopedic surgeons won't bring up interventional radiology procedures — either because they're not yet familiar with GAE, or because it's outside their scope. This guide gives you the science, the side-by-side comparison with surgery, and 8 specific questions to bring to your next appointment.

  • ✓ The biology of how GAE works — in plain language, not jargon
  • ✓ Clinical data from peer-reviewed trials: real outcomes, real numbers
  • ✓ Honest side-by-side: GAE vs. knee replacement with full citations
  • ✓ 8 questions to ask your doctor — with notes on what a good answer sounds like
  • ✓ Write-in space to record what your doctor says
  • ✓ All 12 references so you can cite the studies if challenged
Add your name and email, then we’ll open the conversation guide in a new browser tab — no account needed.

We follow HIPAA standards and will never sell or share your information. For now the guide opens in your browser instead of by email.

✓

Your guide is open.

If you don’t see a new tab, your browser may have blocked it — you can open the PDF or the HTML version directly.

When you're ready, you can also take the 2-minute assessment to find out if you're likely to be a candidate for one of our procedures.

Talking to your doctor about non-surgical knee pain options.
A practical guide to the conversation, the science, and the questions worth asking.
What the research shows
47%
meaningful pain relief at 24 months
72%
durable response at 2 years
<2%
significant complication rate
Questions to ask your doctor
01 Based on my imaging, what's my Kellgren-Lawrence grade?
02 What non-surgical options have I not yet tried?
03 Are you familiar with Genicular Artery Embolization?
11 pages 12 cited references
Dr. Sabeen Dhand, MD — board-certified interventional radiologist
Your physician

Dr. Sabeen Dhand, MD

Board-Certified Interventional & Diagnostic Radiologist

Dr. Dhand is a Northwestern-trained interventional radiologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Radiology at the UCLA School of Medicine. He has performed thousands of image-guided minimally invasive procedures and is nationally recognized in the field — including selection as Program Director of the 2023 Western Angiographic and Interventional Society conference.

Every consultation begins the same way — with a careful review of your imaging, your treatment history, and what you've actually been experiencing day to day. Some patients are excellent candidates for GAE; some are not. The goal of your visit is an honest answer about what's likely to actually help you.

Medical school
Northwestern Feinberg
School of Medicine
Board Certifications
Interventional & Diagnostic Radiology
Academic appointment
Asst. Clinical Professor,
UCLA School of Medicine
Languages
English, Spanish
Read Dr. Dhand's full bio →
Where to find us

Van Nuys, in the heart of the Valley.

Our office is centrally located in Van Nuys, with easy access from anywhere in the San Fernando Valley. Free parking is available on site, and the building is fully accessible for patients with mobility limitations.

Address
14411 Hamlin St
Van Nuys, CA 91401
Phone
(818) 418-8165
Hours
Mon – Fri
8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Parking
Free on-site parking,
ground-floor access
Get directions in Google Maps
Sherman Oaks Encino Studio City Reseda Lake Balboa North Hollywood Tarzana
14411 Hamlin St

I'd been carrying a cane for two years. Three weeks after the procedure with Dr. Dhand, my granddaughter and I walked the whole length of the Sherman Oaks farmers market — twice. I cried in the car on the way home.

M
Margaret R.
GAE patient · Van Nuys, CA
Common questions

Patients usually want to know.

GAE is covered by Medicare and many commercial insurance plans, though coverage varies by plan and medical necessity. We'll verify your benefits before scheduling and walk you through any out-of-pocket costs in advance — no surprises.
No. The procedure uses local anesthesia at the catheter entry site combined with mild IV sedation, similar to what you'd receive for a colonoscopy. Most patients are awake but comfortable, and you can speak with us throughout.
Some patients notice meaningful improvement within days. For others, the full benefit develops gradually over 4 to 8 weeks as the inflammation resolves. We'll discuss realistic expectations for your specific situation at your consultation.
Most of our patients have. Many candidates for GAE specifically are people whose injections used to work but no longer do — that pattern often points to changes in joint vascularization that GAE is well-positioned to address.
GAE is not a cure for osteoarthritis — it's a way to manage pain and inflammation. Some patients use it to delay knee replacement by years; others find it provides enough relief that surgery becomes unnecessary. We'll have a candid conversation about what's realistic for your stage of disease.
Our office is in Van Nuys at 14411 Hamlin St (zip 91401), with convenient access from Sherman Oaks, Encino, Studio City, Reseda, Lake Balboa, and surrounding neighborhoods. Free parking is available, and we offer ground-floor access for patients with mobility limitations.

Find out if relief is actually possible for you.

Take the two-minute assessment. If you're a likely candidate, we'll invite you in for a consultation with one of our providers.

Take the assessment