Joint Injections: All You Need To Know

Joint pains can have significant effects on anyone. If you have pain in your knees, it’s difficult for you to continue carrying out your daily activities with ease. Apart from pain, joint problems can cause depression or even frustrations. Once you visit a doctor or physician, they will analyze your case and determine the best possible solution for your case. Joint injections are one of the ways of solving the problem without having to carry out any surgery. If you are wondering what this treatment is all about, read further because we learn more about this treatment in this article. Let’s jump right into it.

What a joint injection is

A joint injection is a non-surgical procedure that your doctor will inject into the affected joint to provide the required relief to carry out your daily routines and tasks easily. The doctor will inject a solution of corticosteroid and anaesthetic to the damaged tissue directly. Generally, once injected, the patient may not feel the pain anymore for a while. Experts say that the treatment offers a long-term solution for your pain, but it may not be a permanent solution since it only makes the pain manageable.

What the procedure involves

The treatment is a straightforward procedure that takes place in the doctor’s office. If the doctor needs to inject different joints, he or she may do it in an operation room. The procedure takes at least twenty minutes, and doctors will ask you to be still as he or she injects the needle into the affected joint. Once you are ready, the doctor will clean the skin around the joint to remove bacteria and then insert an empty syringe if he or she needs to remove the fluid surrounding the joint.

After the fluid removal is complete, the doctor will insert the needle with the steroid into the joint. For accuracy and guidance of the needle, the doctor will sometimes require the help of an X-ray machine, especially for shoulder, jaw, and hip joints. The injection relieves the pain immediately. However, doctors will recommend avoiding overworking the joint for two days to allow the medication to work.

Are there side effects to joint injection?

One of the reasons doctors will recommend this type of injection is that it doesn’t have any side effects. Few patients develop allergic reactions, flare joint inflammation, and pain. However, these cases are sporadic. Besides this, if you have an increase in pain, the doctors will also recommend medication to ease the pain. Doctors also limit the number of times one should receive this injection repeatedly, especially on the same joint, since they can damage the joint’s cartilage.

How should you prepare for a joint injection?

Usually, doctors will discourage patients from taking blood thinners and supplements to reduce bleeding and bruising. Also, ensure that you communicate with your doctor if your temperature spiked to 38C before the injection.

Parting shot

As you can see, a joint injection is a recommendable treatment, especially if you have a joint condition such as arthritis. Ensure that you cover the area for one or two days to allow the medication to work. Also, watch out for any infection that may last for more than 48 hours after the injection.