Intra Articular Injections
Intra Articular, Bursal, and Trigger Point Injections : Knee or joint pain can be debilitating and difficult to treat. Weight management, medications, physical therapy, orthotics, intra-articular injections, and surgery are some of the approaches used to treat knee or joint pain.
Intra-articular injection is a type of injection that is administered directly into a joint to relieve pain. The most common intra-articular injection to relieve joint pain are corticosteroids, local anesthetics, hyaluronic acid, and Botox.
If you are feeling severe joint pain that has not improved with conservative treatments, your doctor may recommend intra-articular joint injection.
Intra-articular injections are most commonly used for the treatment of osteoarthritis, acute gout, and rheumatoid arthritis of the knee.
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Corticosteroids
Corticosteroid is a highly effective pain-relieving medication. Corticosteroids injection is administered directly into a joint to relieve pain. Corticosteroids work to relieve pain by reducing inflammation. Corticosteroids inhibit the production of inflammatory cells that are produced naturally in response to an injury or chronic condition.
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Local Anesthetics
Local anesthetics can sometimes be used as intra-articular injections for pain relief.
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Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in synovial fluids that helps to lubricate the joints. In patients with osteoarthritis, the hyaluronic acid can rapidly break down and lead to worsening of the condition.
Intra-articular injections using hyaluronic acid have been used to increase lubrication in joints, reduce pain, and improve the range of motion.
Bursal Injections
A bursa is a soft tissue usually found between two structures, such as bone, muscle, tendon and skin. It allows the two structures to slide over one another.
The most commonly injected bursas are around the shoulder and hip. A bursal injection might also be helpful in many other areas of the body such as the elbow and the knee.
Your doctor may recommend a bursal injection if you have symptoms of bursitis. Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa and it is a common cause of bursa pain.
Bursal injections usually involve injections of a small dose of corticosteroids and local anesthetic directly into the bursa.
Trigger Point Injection
Trigger points are painful knots the form in the muscles when a muscle can’t relax.
Trigger point injections often involve injecting small amounts of corticosteroids and local anesthetic into the trigger point to alleviate the pain.
A trigger point injection can help relieve muscle pain in the arms, legs, lower back and neck. Trigger point injections may also be used for the treatment of fibromyalgia, tension headaches and myofascial pain.
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Injection of the Shoulder Region
The shoulder region is an area that multiple injuries and inflammatory conditions can occur. When you still feel pain in your shoulder even after other conservative interventions such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and activity modification have been tried, your doctor may recommend therapeutic injection to relieve pain.
Conditions that may require this injection include osteoarthritis, adhesive capsulitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder typically occurs in older persons due to wear and tear or from traumatic injuries in younger persons. Patients with osteoarthritis usually experience chronic pain, decreased range of motion, and weakness. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that involves inflammation of the synovium of the shoulder joint.
Injection may be used for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis and painful conditions of the shoulder. Persistent pain related to inflammatory conditions responds well to therapeutic injection in the shoulder region.
The common substances injected into the shoulder to provide pain relief are corticosteroids and hyaluronans.
Corticosteroid is a strong anti-inflammatory medication that reduces inflammation and pain. Hyaluronan also has anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its ability to coat pain receptors, stimulate endogenous synovial fluid production and lubrication effects.
As a therapeutic injection, corticosteroids or hyaluronans may be injected into the shoulder to reduce inflammation and provide pain relief. As a diagnostic injection, it can help your doctor determine the source of your pain if you experience pain relief following your injection.
FAQs
Will cortisone shot help bursitis?
Cortisone injections can help with bursitis. These injections can provide immediate and long-lasting pain relief for up to six months. Cortisone injections may also cure bursitis completely and never recur.
How long does it take for a steroid injection for bursitis to work?
Most patients experience almost immediate pain relief when steroid is injected into the pain area. However, the pain may return as the anesthetic wears off. It could take 2-3 days for the steroid to start working. Patients experience long-lasting pain relief from the moment the steroid begins to take effect.
What kind of shot do you get for bursitis?
The most common shot for bursitis is corticosteroids and anesthetic injections. Corticosteroids help to reduce inflammation and provide pain relief. Some doctors may also recommend platelet-rich plasma (PRP) shot. PRP shot helps the injured tissue to heal more quickly.
How long does a intra-articular injection last?
The duration of pain relief from intra-articular injection varies from person to person. Intra-articular injection can last up to 12 weeks or more in some persons while it may last for as short as 4 weeks in some others.
What does intra-articular injection do?
Intra-articular injection provides knee or joint pain relief by reducing inflammation of the joint.
Are intra-articular injections painful?
Intra-articular injections are minimally painful. You may only experience mild pain or little discomfort when the needle is being inserted into the treatment site.
