TAME calms chronic tendon and joint pain by switching off the abnormal blood vessels that keep it inflamed, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, frozen shoulder and more, through a pinhole, with no surgery.
In chronic tendon and joint conditions, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff and other tendinopathies, the body grows clusters of abnormal new blood vessels at the painful site. Alongside them grow new nerve endings, and together they sustain inflammation and pain. This is why some tendons and joints stay painful for months or years despite physiotherapy, medication and injections.
Transarterial micro-embolisation switches those abnormal vessels off. Through a pinhole in the wrist or groin, a microcatheter is guided to the small arteries feeding the painful tendon or joint, and tiny particles are injected into the abnormal vessel clusters. Normal vessels are spared. With the abnormal vessels gone, the inflammation and the pain signalling they sustain wind down. It is the same principle applied in the knee as genicular artery embolisation (GAE); TAME is the term used for tendons and other joints.
Your imaging and previous treatments are reviewed to confirm the pain pattern fits and embolisation is likely to help.
Under sedation, through a single pinhole. Contrast imaging maps the abnormal vessels in real time before they are treated.
You go home the same day. Mild ache or skin mottling near the treated area for a few days is common and settles.
Pain typically improves over two to six weeks. You continue physiotherapy to convert pain relief into strength and function.
TAME is an emerging treatment supported by a growing body of international experience: many well-selected patients experience meaningful pain reduction, and the procedure can be repeated. The evidence base is younger than for some other embolisation procedures, and not everyone responds, so careful patient selection is essential, which is exactly what the consultation is for.
Risks are low: temporary skin discolouration or numbness, a small bruise at the puncture site, and an ache for a few days are the common ones. Dr Tarr will discuss the current evidence for your specific condition frankly against your imaging and symptoms.
The strongest experience is in tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), and shoulder and gluteal tendinopathy, typically when pain has persisted beyond 3–6 months of proper conservative care.
It's the same principle, switching off abnormal pain-driving vessels. Genicular artery embolisation (GAE) is the version used for knee osteoarthritis; TAME is the term used for tendons and other joints.
Published series report benefit commonly lasting months to a few years, and the procedure can be repeated. Individual results vary, which Dr Tarr will discuss frankly against your imaging and symptoms.
The procedure itself is done under sedation and is well tolerated. Some patients have a temporary flare of ache for a few days afterwards before the improvement begins.
Transarterial micro-embolisation for musculoskeletal pain is an emerging treatment; the evidence base is early but growing.
Selected sources supporting the information on this page. General information only, not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Reviewed by Dr Gregory Tarr; last reviewed July 2026.