Joint Injections

What are joint injections?

Joint injections are a minimally invasive treatment option for relieving pain due to an inflamed joint.  Each injection includes prescription medications, such as corticosteroids and anesthetic numbing solutions, that go directly into your affected joint.

Corticosteroids can successfully reduce inflammation that causes chronic joint pain, while the numbing agent ensures you experience immediate pain relief.

What conditions can be treated with joint injections?

Injection therapy can be useful in treating persistent pain that results from conditions like arthritis, joint injuries, and degenerative disease. Your Pain Medicine Consultants provider can administer injections in joints in several areas of your body including your:

• Hip
• Hand
• Knee
• Foot
• Ankle
• Elbow
• Shoulder

Joint injections can also go into the facet joints of your spine.

Who is a good candidate for joint injections?

Your Pain Medicine Consultants provider may recommend joint injections if chronic pain in your joints interferes with your quality of life or ability to work.

Generally, you may undergo other therapies before trying joint injections. These therapies may include oral anti-inflammatory medicines and physical therapy. If you continue to have pain in the joint, injections may be the next treatment strategy.

You may not be able to tolerate joint injections if you have an infection or if you have a bleeding disorder. Joint injections may also be risky for diabetics and those with glaucoma — the medications can increase both sugar levels and blood pressure temporarily.

What can I expect during a joint injection procedure?

Joint injections are a fast, in-office procedure that involve the injection of medication into a painful joint. Your Pain Medicine Consultants provider uses a special X-ray technology, known as a fluoroscope, to guide the needle into the right place. The fluoroscope produces real-time images of your joint to ensure the correct positioning of the needle.

Immediately following treatment, you’re monitored briefly before going home to rest. You can resume your usual activities the day after treatment.

Side effects are minor and may include soreness and bruising at the injection site, which you can alleviate with over-the-counter pain relievers.

How long will results of a joint injection last?

Typically, you can expect to feel relief of pain within 2-3 days after the injection. Pain relief should continue for several days to several weeks until you need a follow-up treatment.

During this pain-free time, your provider may recommend physical therapy or other treatments to promote long-term pain relief and improved flexibility in your joint.

Find out if a joint injection is right for you by scheduling a consultation online or by phone with the Pain Medicine Consultants office nearest you.