If pain in a specific area is not treated in time, it may eventually develop into “chronic pain,” causing serious harm to the patient’s quality of life. For stubborn chronic pain, traditional medications or topical ointments may not be effective. It is recommended to consider “TAME microvascular embolization” to completely break free from pain.

1. A new option to say goodbye to chronic pain! TAME is like turning off the pain “faucet”

TAME (TAME, Transcatheter Arterial Micro-Embolization), known in Chinese as “musculoskeletal ectopic vascular embolization,” is a minimally invasive transarterial injection treatment for chronic pain. Its principle is to close the abnormally proliferating tiny blood vessels in the musculoskeletal joints, thereby improving pain. In simple terms, TAME microvascular embolization is a new method for treating chronic pain. By closing these abnormally proliferating tiny blood vessels, it helps effectively block the continuous transmission of pain signals and thus relieves pain.

Injuries, repetitive strain, or degeneration of the musculoskeletal system and joints can cause abnormal proliferation of tiny blood vessels and exposed nerve endings. These abnormal tissues continuously release signals of “I am injured,” making the pain difficult to heal. The effect of TAME is like turning off the pain “faucet,” preventing the pain from continuing. Therefore, TAME microvascular embolization is also known as “microvascular embolization,” “musculoskeletal embolization,” and “neovessel ablation.”

2. Tried anti-inflammatory drugs, rehabilitation, and shockwave therapy with no effect? Doctor: Early TAME intervention can relieve pain

Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts for more than three months and scores above five on a pain assessment scale. This type of pain not only affects the patient’s daily life, but may also place a burden on mental health. For this kind of stubborn chronic pain, traditional treatments may have limited effectiveness. For example, common “conservative treatment” aims to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, but it is difficult to achieve a fundamental therapeutic effect on abnormally proliferating tiny blood vessels.

When patients have tried conservative treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications, rehabilitation, shockwave therapy, patches, and local injections, but their condition still does not improve significantly, TAME can be considered. The indications for TAME usually apply to severe pain lasting more than 3 months and scoring above 5. Conditions such as frozen shoulder, partial rotator cuff tears, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and degenerative knee osteoarthritis may benefit from more direct and effective treatment, especially for patients troubled by chronic pain for a long time.

3. A blessing for frozen shoulder and arthritis patients! Injured areas suitable for TAME treatment

The so-called “standard” TAME is usually performed in an angiography suite, with X-ray localization and arterial catheter techniques as assistance. TAME can be used on a wide range of treatment areas, and long-term pain in the fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, knees, elbows, shoulders, hips, and other joints may be treated through TAME. Through X-ray fluoroscopy, doctors can precisely locate the abnormally proliferating tiny blood vessels and use a microcatheter to deliver embolic medication to the target area.

In addition, pain caused by postoperative conditions, major injuries, overuse, or degeneration may also improve through TAME therapy. Specifically, pain caused by frozen shoulder, partial rotator cuff tears, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and degenerative knee osteoarthritis can be considered for TAME.

4. Like a gardener “cutting through the knot” with one swift stroke, TAME helps precisely eliminate extra blood vessels

Overall, the concept of TAME is similar to the horticultural practice of pruning messy trees. Doctors use a microcatheter to identify the disordered and proliferating blood vessels and treat them with embolic medication to reduce stimulation of pain nerves and alleviate local inflammatory reactions, much like a gardener precisely finding the branches that need to be trimmed. In addition, the microcatheter delivers the embolic medication to the target blood vessels and causes them to shrink, reducing pain signals released by abnormal blood vessels while also easing local inflammation, thereby relieving pain.

TAME microvascular embolization can be said to open a brand-new door of treatment for patients with chronic pain. By closing abnormally proliferating tiny blood vessels, it can effectively block the transmission of pain signals, thereby relieving pain and improving quality of life. If you have been troubled by long-term chronic pain and traditional treatments have not been effective, you should seek diagnosis and intervention early to help yourself break free from the shackles of pain as soon as possible and regain a healthy, happy life.