When chronic pain keeps coming back, we have another answer.
Non-Surgical Chronic Pain Treatment in Knoxville, TN Using Low-Dose X-Ray Therapy
Persistent knee, heel, foot, or joint pain that keeps coming back, often linked to conditions like osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and more.
- 10–25× lower dose than cancer radiation
- Medical-physicist supervised
- 15-min treatments · No anesthesia · No downtime
- Most insurance accepted · No referral
Getting started is easy: a consultation with our physician — in person or by phone. No referral needed, and we check your insurance benefits up front, so there are no surprises.
At Heelex Medical, we specialize in chronic knee, heel, foot, and joint pain that hasn't responded to injections or physical therapy. These symptoms are often linked to conditions like osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, bursitis, and Dupuytren's.
Our low-dose X-ray therapy (LDRT) targets these conditions — without surgery or downtime. No referral needed. We accept Medicare, BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Tricare, and ChampVA — coverage is confirmed before your first visit.
What Is Low-Dose X-Ray Therapy for Pain Relief?
Low-dose X-ray therapy is a gentle, non-surgical option designed to reduce pain and inflammation in joints, tendons, and soft tissues. It is commonly used for ongoing knee, heel, foot, and joint pain that hasn't improved with traditional treatments.
We use a very low level of energy — roughly 10 to 25× lower than the doses used for cancer. Our board-certified radiation oncologist — the same expertise behind high-dose cancer care — guides every treatment at this much gentler dose. Targeted, controlled, designed specifically for pain relief — without surgery or downtime.
Published studies on LDRT for benign disease report response rates of 70–90%, with most responders maintaining relief for one to two years. Heelex protocols follow the international evidence base, including the DEGRO 2018 guidelines for radiotherapy of benign diseases.
- Relieves pain in knees, heels, feet, hands, and joints.
- Reduces inflammation so movement feels easier and more natural.
- Helps resolve persistent skin conditions like warts that haven't responded to other treatments.
- Short visit: 5–10 minutes.
- No discomfort: You'll feel a mild warmth or nothing at all.
- Easy from day one: no needles, no IVs, nothing to fear — you sit, we treat, you're done in minutes.
- We control how deep and how strong the beam goes — only where it's needed.
- Almost no side effects — no burns, no scars, no long recoveries.
- Accepted by most major plans — we verify your benefits before treatment, so there are no surprises.
- Fast relief: Most people feel better within a few sessions.
- No surgery or pills: A gentle way to ease pain.
- Walk-in friendly: Busy life? Get in, get treated, get on with your day.
The science, in plain language.
Chronic pain often comes from immune cells stuck in "attack mode." LDRT uses a precisely calibrated low dose of X-rays — about 1/10th to 1/25th of cancer-treatment doses — to gently signal those cells back into "healing mode" — low enough that your body handles it like everyday cellular wear, while the inflammation quiets and the tissue stays healthy.
Calm the immune response
A short, painless X-ray treatment shifts inflammatory cells (M1) toward healing cells (M2).
Reduce inflammation at the source
Painful "attack" signals (TNF-α, IL-1) decrease. Healing signals (IL-10, TGF-β) increase.
Restore comfort and mobility
Most patients feel meaningful relief in the weeks following their 6 to 8 weekday sessions, scheduled on consecutive business days so the course completes in under two weeks.
Heelex offers a different approach.
If your pain keeps coming back, the next step is simple — a consultation with our physician, in person or by phone. We'll listen to your history, walk you through whether this is a fit, and check your insurance before anything else. Easy to start. No referral. No runaround.
Over 20 conditions, organized by where it hurts.
Joint pain, foot pain, hand and wrist conditions, fibrotic disease, skin conditions — browse the full directory and find your condition in seconds.
See every condition we treat →Request a consultation.
A phone or in-person consult with our physician — same business day callbacks Mon–Fri. No referral required. We verify your insurance benefits before treatment, so there are no surprises.
Request a Call or Text
No referral required. Tell us a little about you and we'll reach back same business day.
Non-Surgical Chronic Pain Treatment in One Location.
Heelex combines advanced low-dose X-ray therapy to treat chronic pain at its source. Our team focuses on conditions that haven't improved with traditional approaches, offering patients a safe and effective alternative.
Low-Dose X-Ray Therapy
Targeted, non-invasive treatment for chronic pain conditions including osteoarthritis and plantar fasciitis. Each treatment is carefully overseen by a specialized team, including a radiation oncologist, medical physicist, and certified radiation therapists — ensuring safe, precise, and effective care.
Physician- and physicist-owned.
Every patient is treated by a board-certified team. Heelex is owned by the clinicians and scientists who deliver the care.
- Board-certified radiation oncologist — Authorized User Physician for both Heelex locations — prescribes and oversees every treatment.
- Robbie Hakeem, DABR, DABMP — co-founder and board-certified medical physicist — oversees beam calibration, dosimetry, and radiation safety at both clinics.
- Certified radiation therapists (RTTs) on staff at each location, trained on our treatment system.
Patient Spotlight.
I am very pleased with my treatment at Heelex. My pain has stopped in my ankle and heel area. This has improved my daily life in a substantial way. The entire staff at Heelex was a joy to work with. They are very professional and efficient. I certainly recommend them to anyone seeking this type of treatment.
I am so glad I discovered Heelex to get treatment for my plantar fasciitis! After months of physical therapy and steroid shots, I was still having pain in my foot that interfered with normal daily functioning. Eight brief treatment sessions at Heelex — and it's gone! Thank you to the staff for taking care of me! Everyone was always a delight to work with! Will not hesitate to use it again!
After 25 YEARS of pain in my foot from the inflammation of pustular psoriasis, I have had 7 months of clear skin and pain relief with only 1 episode of reoccurrence. After trying every treatment imaginable from creams, steroids, light treatments, and biologics, I'm so thankful to have found Heelex!
Heelex Medical — Knoxville, TN
Heelex Medical
6450 Kingston Pike, Suite 2
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 999-5988
Fax: (865) 540-6104
Email: office@heelex.net
Hours: Mon–Fri: 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Sat–Sun: Closed
Lat 35.9377° N · Lon -83.999° W