Joint Injections
What Causes Joint Pain?
Illnesses or injuries can damage the connective tissue in your joints. Damaged joints may feel achy, stiff, swollen, or hot and you may struggle to perform your daily activities. You might even rely on a constant supply of painkillers to manage your discomfort.
Joint pain can be a symptom of many different health conditions. People with the following conditions often suffer from pain in their joints, be that, the hip, the knees, the shoulder, or the bursa:
- Arthritis
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Sports injuries
- Bursitis
- Gout
- Autoimmune disorders
These conditions are often treated with medications or physical therapy. But in some cases, you may struggle with ongoing pain even after receiving other treatments. Joint injections can be a valuable part of your treatment strategy.
What Are Joint Injections?
Joint injections contain corticosteroids, a medication which can help reduce inflammation to relieve pain and swelling. While steroid medications may not cure your illness or injury, they can work with other treatments to provide fast and long-lasting pain relief.
It’s important to understand that steroid medications are not painkillers. Instead of blocking pain signals, they work to reduce your pain by controlling the inflammation that puts pressure on your joints.
These medications can be an excellent option for patients who can’t use or prefer not to use narcotics. Unlike prescription painkillers, corticosteroids don’t make you groggy and don’t carry any risk of addiction. And unlike surgical procedures, these injuries require no hospitalization or lengthy recovery time.
You can usually receive these injections in Dr. Kanuru’s office, and within a few minutes, you can go straight home.
Hip Injections
Hip pain can significantly impact your quality of life, making simple activities like walking, climbing stairs, or getting out of bed challenging and uncomfortable. When conservative treatments such as physical therapy and oral medications aren’t providing adequate relief, hip injections can be an effective next step in your pain management plan.
Knee Injections
Knee pain can range from a dull ache to sharp, debilitating discomfort that interferes with walking, exercise, and daily activities. When knee pain persists despite rest, ice, and over-the-counter medications, targeted injections can provide the relief needed to restore function and improve quality of life.
Shoulder Injections
Like knee and hip injections, shoulder injections work by reducing inflammation rather than simply masking pain. This approach addresses the root cause of discomfort, allowing patients to regain mobility and return to their daily activities with greater comfort and confidence.
Bursae Injections
Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that act as cushions between bones, tendons, and muscles. When they become inflamed—bursitis—they cause significant pain and limit your range of motion. Bursa injections are particularly effective for treating bursitis as they deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly into the inflamed bursa.
What Results Can I Expect From Knee, Hip, Shoulder and Bursa Injections?
While individual results may vary, most patients notice significant pain relief soon after receiving their injections. Sometimes it may take a few days before you feel the full benefits, but effects can last for weeks or even months. You may need multiple shots to manage your pain over a long period of time.
Dr. Kanuru assists his patients in developing a personalized treatment plan to achieve long-term pain relief. If you’re ready to switch from short-term pain relief to long-term pain management, call today or request an appointment online.