Joint pain is one of the most common physical complaints. It can make everyday activities such as walking or working more difficult. Targeted joint injections can provide temporary pain relief and help improve function.
Joints are the connections between bones and allow for smooth movement. Joint injections deliver medication (typically a steroid and numbing agent) directly into or around a painful joint. The injections themselves are quick; the entire visit takes typically 15 minutes, and you can resume normal activity after. Most major joint injections are done in the office with a needle and syringe, while some (usually hip) are done under X-ray guidance. Joint injections may help reduce pain, reduce inflammation, improve function, and help guide your treatment plan. They can be safely repeated every 3 months.
Joint injections may be a treatment option for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions including, but not limited to:
Knee injections, a type of joint injection, can be used to help manage pain and improve function. Unlike the other types of joint injections (which are primarily steroid), knee injections have two options: steroid or gel.
Steroid knee injections function similarly to other joint injections and consist of an anesthetic plus the steroid that works to reduce pain and inflammation. These typically provide quick relief due to the numbing medication.
On the other hand, gel injections are designed to supplement the naturally occurring fluid in the joint space and aim to help lubrication within the knee. With this style of injection, there is typically more than one treatment session, each usually one week apart. The actual number of treatments depends on the type of gel product that is used.
Both options aim to reduce pain in the knee joint and improve the ease of daily function and are done in the office as a quick visit. The duration of relief can vary from person to person and can span weeks to months.
Connect with Capital Spine and Pain and begin your pain management journey today. To schedule an appointment with us please call us at 919-897-5999, option 2!
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