Joint Injections For Pain – Are They Right For You?

Many people in the US live with chronic joint pain on a daily basis. According to a study by the CDC, “Almost 15 million US adults live with severe joint pain related to arthritis” alone.

Many people tend to be more comfortable with OTC drugs such as NSAIDs, acetaminophen, pain patches and heating pads. Although useful, to a certain extent, overuse of OTC drugs can cause preventable health issues in the future and can result in accidental abuse of OTC drugs.

Speak with one of our SEPSC specialists about other pain relief options that are longer lasting and safer when dealing with long term use and pain relief.

What Are The Injections and What Are They For?

Joint pain injections include:

1. Corticosteroid or Joint Injections

The cortisone injection provides relief for arthritis, including bursitis, osteoarthritis, joint pain in the shoulders, knees, and hips and reduces inflammation. Patients receiving Cortisone injections will receive anywhere from one to three injections that will provide pain relief for up to six months.

2. Hyaluronic Acid Injections

Normally the second line of pain relief injections, when corticosteroids have not worked and are commonly used to treat the knee, patients who show no visible inflammation and diabetic patients. HA could be a safer option due to corticosteroids’ history of raising blood sugar levels.

3. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections

Used to treat symptoms related to osteoarthritis joint pain. It works to promote healing by using your own blood and platelets for its protein and growth factors that help to heal your soft tissues.

4. Placental Tissue Matrix (PTM) Injections

This is an injection where the placental tissue from a healthy baby and mother are injected into the joint.

5. Trigger Point Injections

Used for people who suffer from chronic pain illnesses that affect the muscles like fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome. This is where your muscles tighten up and start to feel like painful knots, meaning painful to the touch. It also at times irritates the nerves around the muscles and causes the sufferer to feel what is known as referred pain.

6. Nerve Block Injections 

These injections work by preventing pain signals from communicating with the brain. These pain signals come from a group of nerves that cause pain in a certain part of the body or a particular organ.

Will Injection Therapy Cure My Joint Pain?

Injection Therapy may not be a miracle cure, but for most patients, it can sure feel like one due to its ability to minimize pain and give long-term pain relief that can last for many months.

Most joint pain affects:

• Elbows
• Feet and ankles
• Hips
• Knees
• Shoulders
• Wrists and hands

Most likely you have in some way injured a joint or surrounding bone, a ligament, a muscle, a nerve, or a tendon, even if it’s just through repetition. Aging can also be a factor in chronic pain, although younger people can be afflicted as well. Surgery is a final option after all other treatments have been exhausted.

What Are The Benefits And Is It Painful?

Joint injections can be painful, but you have to ask yourself if a few minutes of pain is worth a few months of being pain free. The benefit of a joint injection is that it can minimize inflammation, lubricate the joints and provide you the ability to enjoy life again, carefully.

What The Doctor Needs To Know

Prior to any injection, please let your SEPSC specialist know if you have a history of the following:

• Cancer that has not been in remission for at least 5 years
• Any blood borne disease or any other malignancies
• Infections that you currently have and are being treated for
• If you are currently on any blood thinners, including Coumadin
• If you have Parkinson’s Disease or Cerebral Palsy

Do Most Patients Seem Happy With The Outcome?

Yes, our patients are happy when they’re pain free and SEPSC wants to put a smile on your face too, so contact us today to schedule your consultation.

During your consultation at Southeast Pain and Spine Care, ask about our overall approach to pain management and how our four-pronged approach can create an individual plan for you which could include joint pain injection treatment.