Joint Injections

When would I need a joint injection?

Joint injections relieve pain, improve mobility, or reduce inflammation, depending on the type of injection. The team at Sage Pain & Wellness Institute can inject any joint in your body and ease the pain of many joint conditions, including:

• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sciatica
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Facet joint syndrome
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction

This type of injection is highly effective because your provider places the medication inside your joint near the tissues causing your pain. 

What treatments do joint injections contain?

Your injection may contain one of several treatments: 

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory medications. They usually take 2-7 days to take effect, but many patients get long-lasting pain relief. 

Local anesthetics

Your joint injection may include an anesthetic, either alone or together with steroids. The anesthetic provides immediate but temporary pain relief.

One type of peripheral nerve block, called a genicular block, uses a local anesthetic to stop signals in the genicular nerves, which carry pain messages from your knee to your brain. The injection relieves pain in your knee due to arthritis, inflammation, and injuries. 

Hyaluronic acid

People with arthritis often benefit from hyaluronic acid injections. Hyaluronic acid lubricates the joint, easing pain and improving movement.

Regenerative medicine 

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow concentrate (BMC) contain your body’s natural healing cells. After drawing blood or taking a bone marrow sample, your provider processes the tissues in the office and injects them into the joint. The cells stimulate healing, trigger new tissue growth, reduce inflammation, and alleviate pain. 

What should I expect during a joint injection?

When you get a joint injection, your provider uses ultrasound or X-ray imaging to view the joint and guide the needle to the injured tissues. Then they inject the medication.

If your joint injection includes PRP or BMC, your provider obtains and processes the tissues during the same appointment.

You can go home shortly after your injection, but your provider may recommend avoiding intense activities for a few days, depending on the type of injection. 

Most people have some tenderness at the injection site for a short time. If you get a steroid shot, it’s common to have a temporary increase in pain.

You can get help for joint pain at Sage Pain & Wellness Institute. To schedule an appointment, use the online booking feature or call the office today.