Injections Q & A
How do injections help with joint pain?
Injections can help joint pain by reducing inflammation when other therapies aren't providing symptom relief.
For many people who have joint pain, a combination of rest or activity modification, physical therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes help damaged tissues heal and relieve pain.
If you've tried these approaches without success, or your symptoms were under control at one point but are worsening again, joint injections could offer significant benefits. You could also delay the need for surgery with joint injections.
How do joint injections work?
Corticosteroids (steroids, for short) contain synthetic cortisol that mimics the action of the natural cortisol produced by your adrenal glands. Cortisol is a hormone necessary for regulating your body's metabolism and immune response.
A steroid injection reduces the inflammation in your joints. This may be a temporary relief, requiring repeat injections, or the relief may be long-lasting.
What conditions can joint injections help with?
Our team at Midwest Center for Joint Replacement typically delivers knee injections for patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. We provide hip injections most commonly for patients with hip bursitis.
Bursitis is a painful disorder affecting the bursae, which are small, fluid-filled sacs near your joints that cushion your bones, tendons, and muscles. Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursae. It most frequently arises as a result of overuse and repetitive strain injuries.
How are joint injections administered?
Most joint injections are done in-office during your standard appointment. The team uses a numbing spray at the treatment site.
How often should I have a joint injection?
It's not advisable to inject steroids into the same area repeatedly, so we typically wait at least three months between administering injections.
If you've tried injections for a while and still aren't experiencing long-lasting relief, your provider may recommend that you consider joint replacement surgery.
Find out more about joint injections and how they can benefit you by calling Midwest Center for Joint Replacement today.
