Joint Injections for Pain Management
Joint Injection
Treatment Overview
Joint injections are a targeted pain management technique used to alleviate discomfort and inflammation in specific joints. By delivering medication directly into the affected joint, these injections aim to reduce pain, improve mobility and enhance overall joint function. Joint injections can be part of a broader pain management strategy, often combined with physical therapy and lifestyle modifications to achieve the best outcomes.
Joint Injection Types
Joint injections are versatile treatments that can address pain and inflammation in various areas of the body. They are effective for managing joint discomfort throughout the body, including the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles. Understanding the different types of joint injections available can help tailor treatment to the specific area and condition being addressed.
Bursa Injection
A bursa injection is a medical procedure in which a corticosteroid and sometimes a local anesthetic are injected directly into a bursa — a small fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between bones, tendons and muscles around a joint. The purpose of a bursa injection is to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain associated with conditions like bursitis, which is the inflammation of the bursa. This treatment can help improve mobility and reduce discomfort in affected areas like the shoulder, hip, knee or elbow.
Facet Joint Injection
Facet joint injections are a medical procedure used to relieve pain caused by the facet joints, which are small joints located between the vertebrae in the spine. During the procedure, a local anesthetic and corticosteroid combination is injected directly into or around the facet joint.
Facet joint injections serve two main purposes:
- Diagnostic: Helps determine if the facet joints are the source of back pain by temporarily alleviating symptoms.
- Therapeutic: Provides pain relief and reduces inflammation.
Hip Injection
Hip injections are a targeted treatment designed to alleviate pain and inflammation in the hip joint. By injecting a combination of corticosteroids and local anesthetics directly into or around the hip joint, this procedure helps reduce pain, swelling and stiffness.
Hip injections can effectively manage discomfort caused by conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, or injuries. This treatment not only provides relief but also improves joint function, allowing for greater mobility and a better quality of life.
Knee Injection
Because the knee joint supports our body weight through several types of movement, it’s prone to traumatic injury and overuse. Knee joint injections are a minimally invasive way to help reduce inflammation, ease knee pain and restore range of motion. The most common conditions that knee joint injections help treat are chronic arthritis and acute joint injury.
Knee injections can provide significant pain relief, enabling greater mobility and a more active, healthy lifestyle.
Sacroiliac Joint Injection
Sacroiliac joint (SI) injections are a medical procedure designed to relieve pain in the SI joints, which connect the lower spine to the pelvis. This treatment involves injecting a combination of a local anesthetic and an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid directly into or around the joint. The goal is to reduce inflammation and provide pain relief.
SI joint injections serve both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes: they help identify if the SI joint is the source of pain and offer relief that can last from a few weeks to several months. These injections are particularly effective for addressing lower back and buttock pain often caused by sacroiliac joint dysfunction, arthritis or injury.
Shoulder Joint Injection
A shoulder joint injection involves injecting a corticosteroid and a local anesthetic into the shoulder joint to reduce pain and inflammation. This procedure is often used to treat conditions like arthritis, rotator cuff injuries, bursitis or a frozen shoulder, with the aim of relieving pain and improving mobility.
Who Benefits from Joint Injections
Joint injections can be effective for managing a variety of pain conditions, including:
- Arthritis: Relief for pain and inflammation caused by osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Bursitis: Reduction of pain and swelling in the bursa, the small fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints.
- Inflammation: Targeted relief for conditions causing joint inflammation, such as gout or pseudogout.
- Injuries: Pain management for joint injuries, such as sprains or strains.
What to Expect
- Preparation: The procedure is carried out at our same-day surgery center, so no overnight stay is required. You’ll change into a robe, and you may receive local anesthesia to numb the area.
- Procedure: Your provider will use imaging techniques, such as ultrasound or X-ray, to guide a needle into the joint space. A local anesthetic and corticosteroid combination is then injected to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation.
- Recovery: After the procedure, you’ll be monitored briefly. Any mild soreness can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication, and you’ll be given instructions for post-procedure care to ensure a smooth recovery.
Insurance & Billing
Your eligibility for any procedure depends on the benefits outlined by your insurance provider, and our team at Nura will assist you with the authorization process.
Comprehensive Care
At Nura, we seamlessly integrate interventional procedures, physical therapy, psychological support and medications. Research shows that this comprehensive approach is the most effective way to manage chronic pain.
Find Pain Relief
Schedule an appointment with one of our pain specialists by filling out our appointment request form or giving us a call at 763-537-6000.
