What Are the Different Types of Joint Injections for Pain Relief?
Joint injections are one of the various treatments available to provide pain relief. There are several common types of injections, each of which is ideal for a different set of circumstances. Your doctor can explain your options for joint pain relief injections, but the following are among the most popular and effective.
For many people, visiting a joint injections clinic in Brooklyn offers an alternative to more invasive treatments, such as surgery. It is commonly used together with other non-invasive treatments.
Corticosteroid Injections
With a corticosteroid injection, your doctor injects corticosteroids to the joint. The injection produces similar effects as cortisol, which your adrenal glands produce to reduce inflammation. An injection is a quick method of getting corticosteroids into your bloodstream.
The pain-relieving effects of corticosteroid injections can last several months, sometimes up to six months. Your results will depend on various factors, including the condition causing your pain.
It is also worth noting that you are likely to experience mild swelling, redness, and/or increased pain at the injection site during the 48 hours after the injection. You have to avoid bathtubs, whirlpools, and any strenuous activity during that time.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Hyaluronic acid injections are a particularly common treatment for pain in the knee joint. Doctors usually suggest these injections to treat knee pain from osteoarthritis when other treatment methods fail to relieve the pain. Your knees already contain some hyaluronic acid, so this injection provides knee pain joint relief by supplementing that natural supply. Like your natural hyaluronic acid, the injected medicine helps your joints function properly by serving as a shock absorber and a lubricant.
There are variations of hyaluronic acid injections for knee pain treatments. Some people may only need one injection to start experiencing positive effects. Others will need weekly injections, up to five weeks in a row.
There are similar post-injection care instructions for hyaluronic injections as corticosteroid ones. You should not engage in strenuous activity or heavy lifting for two days. There may also be minor pain and swelling at the injection site, but these will fade quickly.
MONOVISC and ORTHOVISC Injections
MONOVISC® and ORTHOVISC® are specific hyaluronic acid injections. These FDA-approved treatments are slightly different viscosupplements. As the name implies, MONOVISC® comes in the form of a single, one-time injection. By contrast, ORTHOVISC® is a group of three hyaluronic acid injections.
Because everyone is unique, you may notice relief after just one injection, even with ORTHOVISC®. However, the best results will come after the third injection, in the case of ORTHOVISC®. Some people experience relief after MONOVISC® or ORTHOVISC® injections for as long as six months.
Choosing a Joint Injection for Pain Relief
If your doctor feels that joint injections are the right solution for your pain, they will suggest one of the above treatments. Their recommendation will depend on your situation, including your medical history and type of pain. Alternatively, they may give you information on various kinds of injections and let you choose one.
Schedule an appointment with Metro Healthcare Partners to learn more about your joint pain and start experiencing relief.