Joint pain can disrupt every aspect of life, from raising your arm and climbing stairs to enjoying a daily walk or playing in athletics. When you need relief from the pain or help with healing, a joint injection may put you on the road to well-being.
At Cascade Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center, P.C., our team specializes in several joint injections, each targeting different joint needs. Learn about three injections we may recommend, how they work and the conditions they treat.
Steroids (corticosteroids) are powerful anti-inflammatory medications. Following an injury, temporary inflammation is a critical part of healing. But sometimes, the inflammation doesn’t improve as the tissues heal.
At that point, inflammation stops being beneficial. Instead, it causes ongoing pain, delays healing, and impairs joint function. Injecting steroids into the joint reduces the inflammation.
We can inject steroids into any joint, from large joints like your knees, hips, and shoulders to smaller joints like those in your wrist, ankle, and spine.
Steroids can help whether you have an inflammatory condition like bursitis or the inflammation caused by a degenerative disease, accident, or sports injury.
However, steroid injections are not the first line of treatment. We typically recommend this treatment if your pain persists after other conservative therapies like oral medication, activity modification, and physical therapy.
Each person responds differently to steroid injections, so we can’t predict how long the results will last for everyone. However, if the joint responds to the treatment, your results can last 3-6 months or longer.
Hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan or hyaluronate) is a natural component of the synovial fluid inside your joints. Joints rely on hyaluronic acid for lubrication, smooth movement, and shock absorption.
This joint injection treats mild to moderate osteoarthritis. Though it’s currently only FDA-approved for knee osteoarthritis, we may use it off-label for other joints. Like steroid injections, we use hyaluronic acid injections after less invasive treatments.
Hyaluronic acid does more than reduce inflammation and pain. It also helps preserve the tissues or slow progressive joint degeneration.
You may receive one injection or a series of several shots, depending on the brand of hyaluronic acid. After the last injection, your results may last up to six months. Then, you can get another hyaluronic acid treatment if desired.
PRP and stem cell injections use your body’s natural cells to activate healing. Platelets trigger healing in every part of your body. Stem cells regenerate tissues. For example, the stem cells used in joint injections can rebuild muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bones.
PRP and/or stem cells can treat numerous orthopedic conditions, including:
Platelets: Platelets are in your blood. When you’re injured, they migrate to the damaged tissues and release proteins (growth factors). Growth factors accelerate healing, regulate inflammation, support new tissue growth, and recruit and activate stem cells.
Stem cells: Stem cells live in tissues throughout your body. Each stem cell can replicate, maintaining the original cell while creating a new one. The new cells grow into the specific cells needed to repair and replace damaged tissues.
We make PRP by drawing blood and processing it to separate the platelets. We can harvest stem cells from excess body fat or bone marrow. After injecting PRP and/or stem cells, they immediately start healing.
How well the injection works depends on variables like your overall health and the extent of the tissue damage. The quality of the PRP and stem cells also makes a difference. That’s why you should always consult healthcare providers like our team, who have extensive experience in regenerative procedures.
Call Cascade Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center, P.C, or request an appointment online today to learn if a joint injection can alleviate your pain and improve your mobility.
