1. What Is TAME Therapy?

TAME (TAME, Transcatheter Arterial Micro-Embolization) is known in Chinese as microvascular embolization. It is a minimally invasive transarterial injection treatment for chronic pain. It is mainly used to treat stubborn chronic pain, especially when traditional medications or topical ointments are not effective. Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting longer than three months, with a pain score **"above five points"**. TAME technology can effectively block abnormal blood vessel proliferation, thereby reducing inflammation and pain.

2. How Does TAME Therapy Help Relieve Pain?

The mechanism of TAME therapy is to close off abnormally proliferated microvessels in musculoskeletal joints. Injury to the musculoskeletal system and joints, repetitive strain, or degeneration can lead to abnormal proliferation of microvessels and exposed nerve endings. These abnormal tissues continuously release signals that say "I am injured," making the pain difficult to heal. TAME works like turning off the pain "faucet," preventing the pain from continuing. By delivering embolic medication to the target blood vessels through a microcatheter and causing them to shrink, it can reduce pain signals released by abnormal blood vessels while also easing local inflammatory responses, thereby relieving pain. TAME is also known as "microvascular embolization," "musculoskeletal embolization," and "neovascular clearance therapy."

3. Which Chronic Pain Conditions Are Suitable for TAME Therapy?

TAME is typically indicated for severe pain lasting more than 3 months and scoring above 5. Many kinds of pain caused by surgery, major injuries, repetitive strain, or degeneration may improve with TAME therapy. Specifically, these include:

• Patients with long-term chronic pain: knee osteoarthritis, adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), elbow arthritis (tennis elbow, golfer's elbow), and plantar fasciitis.

• Postoperative pain: such as residual pain after joint replacement or arthroscopic surgery.

• Sports injuries: injuries to joints, muscles, or ligaments caused by long-term high-intensity training or accidents.

• Pain caused by special conditions such as osteoarthritis of the fingers, complex regional pain syndrome (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, CRPS), etc.

In addition, the applications of TAME technology continue to expand, and studies have found that it may even be used to treat prostatitis, hemorrhoid-related anal pain, and other problems.

4. If Traditional Treatments Have Not Worked, Should You Consider TAME Therapy?

Yes. When patients have tried conservative treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs, rehabilitation, shockwave therapy, patches, or local injections, but their condition still has not improved significantly, TAME can be considered. TAME therapy is especially suitable for people who do not respond well to traditional treatments, or for those who have tried medications, rehabilitation, hyaluronic acid, or PRP injections but still cannot get effective pain relief. Chronic pain that responds poorly to traditional treatment and significantly affects daily life is called "refractory pain." TAME is regarded as one of the latest treatment tools for refractory pain.

5. What Are the Advantages of TAME Therapy Compared with Traditional Treatments?

The main advantages of TAME therapy include:

• Minimally invasive: performed through transarterial injection with less invasiveness.

• Safety: patients usually do not need to stay in the hospital and can go home the same day.

• Short recovery time: the standard TAME recovery period is one week, and the simplified TAME can even provide noticeable pain relief on the same day.

• Targets the root cause: it can more directly address abnormal new blood vessels, which are the source of pain.

• Fewer side effects and can help avoid extensive use of steroids.

• Repeatable treatment: even if pain returns, TAME can be performed again, and no drug resistance develops.

• Precise treatment: the physician can accurately locate the lesion and deliver embolic medication under imaging guidance.

6. What Is the Difference Between Simplified TAME and Standard TAME?

Simplified TAME (Simplified TAME) is a new type of TAME therapy. Compared with standard TAME, the advantages of simplified TAME are greater convenience and speed, minimally invasive precision treatment, and suitability for the extremities.

• Convenient and fast: the treatment is more convenient and quicker, with less invasiveness. There is no need to place a catheter in an artery or perform arterial puncture, and patients can usually go home after the outpatient procedure.

• Minimally invasive and precise: it reduces pain during injection and shortens the time needed for postoperative hemostasis.

• Noticeable recovery: the recovery period for standard TAME is one week, while simplified TAME can provide noticeable pain relief on the same day.

7. Which Body Areas Are Suitable for Standard TAME and Simplified TAME?

The treatment areas for standard TAME are diverse and broad, including:

• Shoulders

• Knees

• Elbows

• Long-term pain in areas such as the hip joint and even the lumbar spine joints.

Simplified TAME is suitable for the extremities, such as the fingers, wrists, ankles, and plantar fasciitis. In 2024, Dr. Okuno further developed a simplified TAME for upper back and shoulder blade pain.

8. Does Recovery Happen Faster After TAME Treatment?

Yes. After TAME treatment, proper compression to stop bleeding at the puncture site and keeping it dry are crucial to avoid complications such as infection or bleeding. It is usually recommended to avoid lifting heavy objects or engaging in weight-bearing activities for 1 to 2 weeks after the procedure to reduce pressure on the puncture site and promote wound healing. The advantage of simplified TAME is that it can help the affected area recover in a shorter time, with noticeable pain relief on the same day. If appropriate rehabilitation is combined after the procedure, the recovery effect is even better. Rehabilitation helps restore joint range of motion, strengthen muscle power, and consolidate the treatment effect.

9. Which People Are Not Suitable for TAME Therapy?

The following four groups of people should be carefully evaluated or may not be suitable for TAME therapy:

• Patients allergic to contrast agents or therapeutic drugs.

• Patients with severe kidney function decline.

• Patients taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet medications: these drugs usually need to be stopped 5 days before surgery.

• Patients whose pain area is too close to the brain blood vessels or spinal blood vessels.

In addition, patients with other systemic diseases, such as immune system disorders or acute or chronic infectious diseases, are also advised to fully inform the physician before surgery for a comprehensive evaluation.

10. Are There Potential Side Effects of TAME Therapy?

A small number of patients may experience some temporary conditions after TAME treatment:

• Local skin ischemia, and in severe cases, small ulcers may develop.

• Bleeding around the artery forming a hematoma.

• Temporary redness, soreness, or numbness in the treatment area.

These symptoms usually improve gradually within one month. However, if numbness, coldness, or discomfort occurs in the hands or feet, or if there is persistent bleeding at the puncture site or the bruising expands, seek medical attention immediately and inform the physician that you have undergone arterial puncture and abnormal blood vessel embolization treatment, so it can be handled promptly. To reduce the risk of complications, the procedure should be performed by a physician with experience in cardiac catheterization procedures, and special attention must be paid to precision under imaging guidance.