Davis Love III’s Struggle with Arthritis
The strange thing about medicine is that sometimes the most powerful treatments are the quiet ones. Low-dose radiation therapy for arthritis is one of those ideas—simple in concept, surprisingly effective in practice, and only recently beginning to get attention in the United States.
In this conversation, professional golfer Davis Love III shares his experience living with arthritis and searching for ways to keep doing the things he loves—especially playing golf.
Love explains that arthritis has affected both of his thumbs over the years. In 2024, he underwent surgery on his right thumb. The procedure worked, but the recovery was long—about eight months before he felt fully back to normal. When arthritis began causing similar problems in his left thumb, he hoped to find another option that wouldn’t require the same kind of downtime.
That search led him to Low-Dose Radiation Therapy (LDRT), a treatment he first heard about through his trainer, Randy Myers. Curious about the approach, Love connected with Dr. Tim Jamieson to learn more about how the therapy works and who it may help.
A Different Kind of Radiation Therapy
When many people hear the word “radiation,” they think of cancer treatment. LDRT operates on a completely different scale.
According to Dr. Jamieson, the radiation used for arthritis treatment is less than five percent of the dose typically used in cancer therapy. At this much lower level, radiation behaves less like a destructive force and more like a biological signal—helping calm inflammation inside the joint.
At the cellular level, LDRT works by reducing inflammatory cytokines and limiting the recruitment of inflammatory cells that drive pain and swelling. In other words, it nudges the body’s inflammatory response back toward balance.
What Patients Can Expect
The treatment process itself is straightforward and non-invasive.
It begins with a planning session using a CT scan, which allows physicians to precisely map the joint being treated. After that, patients receive a series of six brief treatments spread over two to three weeks. Each visit typically lasts only a few minutes.
For many patients, the results can be significant. Clinical experience shows that about 80 percent of people with mild to moderate arthritis experience meaningful pain relief and improved function after treatment.
Even more encouraging is that relief can last for several years. Many patients experience benefits for two to three years, and the treatment can be repeated if symptoms eventually return.
Because the radiation dose is so low, side effects are minimal. Most patients experience no noticeable skin irritation or other complications.
More Than Just Arthritis
While LDRT is commonly used for arthritis in joints like the hands, shoulders, hips, and knees, its anti-inflammatory effects extend beyond joint disease.
The same therapy is also being used to treat conditions such as plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, and bursitis—painful inflammatory problems that can limit everyday movement and activity.
A Treatment Gaining Momentum
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy has been used for decades in countries like Germany, where it has long been a standard option for inflammatory joint conditions. In the United States, however, adoption has been slower.
Today, fewer than ten percent of radiation therapy facilities offer LDRT for arthritis. That number is beginning to grow as more physicians and patients learn about the treatment and its potential benefits.
For individuals looking for alternatives to surgery, injections, or long-term medication use, LDRT may offer another path forward.
Listen to the full conversation with Davis Love III and Dr. Tim Jamieson to learn more about how Low-Dose Radiation Therapy is helping patients manage arthritis and return to the activities they love.
You can also learn more about treatment options here at Capital Radiosurgery Centers and Southeast Georgia Health System.
