Joint pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions as it affects millions of Americans per year. Joint injections are a common treatment modality to address joint pain, increase mobility, and improve overall quality of life. Joint injections are typically some combination of an anesthetic and a steroid that is injected directly into a joint. Although complications from this treatment modality are uncommon, there are some risks involved with joint injection procedures, including bleeding, infection, nerve damage and possible allergic reactions to the medication.
There are many types of injections that can be performed to treat joint pain, including sacroiliac joint injections, hip injections, knee injections, shoulder injections, ankle injections, elbow injections, and facet joint injections.
Sacroiliac Joint Injections
The sacroiliac joint is the point in the spine where the sacrum (tailbone) meets the iliac (hip) bone. When the sacroiliac joint is damaged, it can become very painful and radiate pain into the groin, abdomen, buttocks and leg. A sacroiliac joint injection can offer immediate pain relief through the administration of an anesthetic and long-term pain relief from the steroids, which reduce pain and inflammation.
During a sacroiliac injection, the physician will use imaging techniques, like x-ray or fluoroscopy, to guide a needle into the sacroiliac joint and administer a combination of anesthetic and corticosteroids. Following the injection, you will be monitored for 20-30 minutes and then discharged. It is possible that you will experience a slight increase in pain immediately following the injection, but this should abate over the next few days as the steroids take effect; if you do not experience pain relief within ten days of the injection, it is likely that it will not work for you.
Hip Joint Injections
The hip is a very common joint in which to experience joint pain, as it is used almost constantly. This heavy use over time can lead to arthritis, labral tears, and general wear-and-tear, causing pain in the joint itself as well as through the buttocks and legs. A hip joint injection can offer immediate pain relief through the administration of an anesthetic and long-term pain relief from the steroids, which reduce pain and inflammation in the joint.
During a hip joint injection, the physician will use imaging techniques, like x-ray or fluoroscopy, to guide a needle into the hip joint and administer a combination of anesthetic and corticosteroids. Following the injection, you will be monitored for 20-30 minutes and then be asked to move the hip to determine whether or not you can reproduce your pre-injection pain. Following this test, assuming all is well, you will be discharged home. It is possible that you will experience a slight increase in pain immediately following the injection, but this should abate over the next few days as the steroids take effect; if you do not experience pain relief within ten days of the injection, it is likely that it will not work for you.
Knee, Shoulder, Elbow and Ankle Injections
Any joint of the body can experience joint pain, as the movement we rely on these joints to perform can lead to arthritis, soft tissue injuries and wear-and-tear. Injections of the knee, shoulder, elbow and ankle joints can offer immediate pain relief through the administration of an anesthetic and long-term pain relief from the steroids, which reduce pain and inflammation in the joint.
These injections are very common treatments for joint pain in lieu of surgery, as they are minimally-invasive and do not require long-term recovery. During these injections, the physician will use imaging techniques, like x-ray or fluoroscopy, to guide a needle into the joint being treated and administer a combination of anesthetic and corticosteroids. Following the injection, you will be monitored for 20-30 minutes and then be asked to move the joint to determine whether or not you can reproduce your pre-injection pain. Following this test, assuming all is well, you will be discharged home. It is possible that you will experience a slight increase in pain immediately following the injection, but this should abate over the next few days as the steroids take effect; if you do not experience pain relief within ten days of the injection, it is likely that it will not work for you.
Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Facet Joint Injections
Facet joints are slide joints in your spine that allow the spine to move side to side; there are facet joints located in your cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (mid-back), and lumbar spine (low back). Wear and tear on these joints can lead to arthritis and pain, which can be radiated into the head, neck, arms, shoulder, chest, hip, buttocks and legs. A facet joint injection can offer immediate pain relief through the administration of an anesthetic and long-term pain relief from the steroids, which reduce pain and inflammation in the joint.
During a facet joint injection, the physician will use imaging techniques, like x-ray or fluoroscopy, to guide a needle into the facet joint and administer a combination of anesthetic and corticosteroids. Following the injection, you will be monitored for 20-30 minutes and then be asked to move your back to determine whether or not you can reproduce your pre-injection pain. Following this test, assuming all is well, you will be discharged home. It is possible that you will experience a slight increase in pain immediately following the injection, but this should abate over the next few days as the steroids take effect; if you do not experience pain relief within ten days of the injection, it is likely that it will not work for you.