Procedures
Corticosteroid Injections
- Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory medications that can reduce pain and inflammation in the joints.
- They are commonly used to treat conditions such as osteoarthritis of the knee, elbow, and wrist, adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), bursitis, tendinitis, and rotator cuff disorders.
- Corticosteroid injections can provide short-term pain relief and improve the range of motion.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections
- Hyaluronic acid is a lubricating substance that can be injected into the joint to improve joint lubrication and reduce pain.
- These injections are often used in combination with corticosteroids for enhanced effectiveness.
- Hyaluronic acid injections may provide longer-lasting pain relief compared to corticosteroids alone, especially for knee osteoarthritis.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
- PRP injections use concentrated platelets from the patient’s own blood to promote healing and reduce inflammation.
- They are sometimes used to treat mild to moderate osteoarthritis and chronic tendon injuries, such as rotator cuff disorders and tennis elbow.
Local Anesthetic Injections
- Local anesthetics like lidocaine can be injected alone or with corticosteroids to provide immediate pain relief.
- They are often used for diagnostic purposes to determine the source of joint pain.
Joint Aspiration
- If a joint is swollen and painful, the doctor may use a needle to remove excess fluid to reduce inflammation and pain.
- After aspirating the fluid, a corticosteroid is often injected to further decrease inflammation.