Joint injections can dramatically ease arthritis symptoms, improve joint health and slow tissue damage, depending on the type of injection. When to consider a joint injection depends on several factors.
Our team at Cascade Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center, P.C., helps guide your decision. We examine the joint, learn about your symptoms, and determine the stage of your arthritis. Then, we discuss the best treatment based on your unique needs.
There are three joint injections we may recommend to improve arthritis symptoms:
Hyaluronic acid injections treat osteoarthritis. Your joints naturally produce hyaluronic acid, which lubricates the tissues, supports smooth movement, and helps absorb shock.
After osteoarthritis develops, the joint has less hyaluronic acid than usual. An injection helps restore lubrication and relieve pain and stiffness. Hyaluronic acid injections can also reduce inflammation and preserve the tissues.
Each person responds differently to their treatment. However, after a series of hyaluronic injections, many experience symptom relief for several months.
Corticosteroids (steroids) like cortisone and prednisone are powerful anti-inflammatory medications. A steroid injection can reduce the pain caused by inflammation, whether you have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
We typically combine the steroid with a local anesthetic. The anesthetic provides rapid but short-term pain relief. Steroids take up to a week to reduce inflammation, but the results may last several weeks to months.
PRP and stem cell injections are regenerative medicine treatments. We may inject either one alone or combine them in one shot.
Platelets are cells in your blood. They naturally travel to injured tissues and release growth factors. Growth factors are proteins that communicate with the surrounding cells and activate healing.
PRP uses growth factors to reduce inflammation, support new cell growth, and enhance stem cell activity.
We create PRP in the office from a sample of your blood and inject it into the arthritic joint. The injected platelets then release growth factors that speed healing and ease pain.
Stem cells live throughout your body. They self-replicate to create a new stem cell. The new cell develops into different cells, depending on what’s needed to repair and replace damaged tissues.
Your body fat and bone marrow contain stem cells that regenerate musculoskeletal tissues like cartilage, ligaments, tendons, muscles, bones, and nerves. We can take a tissue sample and isolate the stem cells. Then, we draw the cells into a needle and inject them into the joint.
When considering your need for a joint injection, we evaluate issues like the extent of your pain, the success of other treatments, and the stage of arthritis.
There are some general criteria and limitations guiding treatment decisions. For example, steroid injections only help pain due to inflammation, and hyaluronic acid is only for osteoarthritis.
Though all three injections may improve your symptoms at any stage of arthritis, hyaluronic acid may produce the most relief in mild to moderate arthritis. If you have advanced arthritis, joint injections may help you delay needing joint replacement surgery.
We explain the variables affecting your arthritis treatment and offer our recommendations so you have the information you need to make the best decision.
You don’t need to wonder or worry about whether it’s time for a joint injection. You only need to schedule an appointment at Cascade Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center, P.C., so we can examine your joint and discuss treatment options.
You can send us an appointment request online or call the Hood River or The Dalles, Oregon office to schedule an arthritis consultation.
