Joint Injections for Pain
Joint injections are typically used to ease joint pain and increase mobility. They are recommended as an alternative to medicine or surgical options. Joint injections also have the ability to reduce inflammation and can allow individuals to experience relief from joint pain for a number of months.
Common types of joint injection include; corticosteroid injections, used to reduce inflammatory cell activity and address pain; hyaluronic acid injections, generally used for cases in which corticosteroid injections have proven ineffective, and specifically in the knee joint; platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, for osteoarthritis joint pain; and placental tissue matrix (PTM) injections, which can decrease pain and promote healing.
We offer steroid and anaesthetic injections for painful conditions of shoulder, shoulder blade, elbow, wrist and hand (including injections for carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger and trigger thumb), hip, knee, heel and foot.
Joint injections can be used to address painful symptoms caused by a wide variety of conditions associated with the foot, knee, hip, fingers, wrist, elbow and shoulder joints. Joint pain can arise from an injury, wear and tear, or inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout and systemic lupus erythematosus.
In many cases, joint problems can lead to pain in other areas of the body, such as the lower back, legs, buttocks, and groin. Joint injections - typically administered at the foot, knee, shoulder or hip - can help to ease these symptoms, too.
The predominant benefits of joint injections for pain are the reduction of the pain itself, and the improvement of function. Joint injections for pain can decrease joint inflammation, which assists in preserving the structure and function of joints.
Because joint injections for pain are local injections, there can be a small risk of side effects when compared to other types of treatment. In the case of steroid injections, there is the possibility of avoiding larger doses of oral steroids, which are understood to have a greater risk of side effects.
Another advantage of joint injections for pain is the amount of time they can be effective for. While joint injections can lead to a temporary flare in inflammation and pain for up to 48 hours after the treatment, they take effect quickly, and can result in pain relief and a decrease in inflammation which last for up to several months.
The treatment itself is quick and safe, taking only a few minutes and typically not requiring any downtime.
Joint injections for pain also offer the benefit of working well as part of a wider treatment plan which includes other treatments such as physical therapy.
Ahead of a joint injection, your doctor might ask you to stop taking certain types of medication. The treatment itself typically takes place at a hospital or doctor's office. Your doctor will go through the procedure with you, and you will be asked to sign a consent form.
Ultrasound may be used to help find the best injection site, and you will be instructed to lie down in a way which allows easy access to the injection site. The injection - of a mix which can include a numbing agent - will then be administered. You'll be given instructions on how to keep the injection site dry and clean over the next few hours, and you may want to use an ice pack to help relieve any pain.
- Pain can get worse for a day or so before it gets any better. Please take your normal painkiller medication including paracetamol and ibuprofen if you are not allergic to these. You can also apply ice or cold pack on the area for about 10-20 minutes at a time. Please put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.
- Rest area for a few days, using it only when necessary. Avoid strenuous activity for several days especially one which put stress on the area where you had the injection.
- If we have applied dressing over the area, keep them clean and dry. You may remove the dressing in most cases after 24 hours.
- Where we inject, a coin shaped area of the skin can become slightly pale in colour and the skin can take a slightly different texture. If this happens it is unfortunately permanent.
You should ring for advice if you notice any of the following:
- increased pain, swelling, warmth or redness in the area
- red streaks leading from the site
- puss draining from the site
- fever
These can be the result of a serious infection necessitating a course of antibiotics