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What are knee, shoulder, and hip injections?
Joint pain is one of the most common complaints among adults. In fact, about 1 in 3 adults suffer from joint pain. This can be due to various reasons, such as age, injuries, or certain medical conditions. However, because of age, injuries, or certain medical conditions, the joints can become damaged, leading to joint pain, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and rotator cuff syndrome.
The pain can be excruciating, leading to mobility and functionality issues that eventually reduce patients’ quality of life. Some patients may require medical intervention to help alleviate the pain and symptoms, such as knee, shoulder, and hip injections. Knee, shoulder, and hip injections involve the administration of medication directly into the affected joint to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and improve mobility.
How do knee, shoulder, and hip injections work?
Knee, shoulder, and hip injections function by reducing inflammation and managing your pain to temporarily enable your joints to regain mobility without discomfort. Depending on your condition and diagnosis, you may receive one of the following injections:
- Knee/hip gel injection: knee gel injections are made of hyaluronic acid (HA), which mirrors the cushioning fluids between joints known as synovium. They are often recommended for patients with knee pain or mild to moderate arthritis.
- Ultrasound-guided injections: local anaesthetic and steroid injections are typically the first line of treatment. They help to reduce inflammation and pain directly inside the joints. Articular nerve (nerves supplying the joints) injections may enhance the extent of pain relief.
- Radiofrequency ablation/Pulsed Radiofrequency: using RF modality, heat applied to articular nerves may provide longer-lasting pain alleviation without needing more invasive procedures or surgery.
Benefits of knee, shoulder, and hip injections
- Reduced inflammation
- Quick and long-lasting pain relief
- Minimally invasive procedure
- Improved mobility and functionality
- Targeted treatment
- Minimal downtime
- Outpatient procedure
What conditions can knee, shoulder, and hip injections treat?
Knee, shoulder, and hip injections are commonly used to treat a variety of orthopaedic conditions, including:
- Osteoarthritis: osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time, leading to pain and stiffness in the joint.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation of the synovium (the lining of the joint). If left untreated, it can lead to pain, swelling, and joint deformity.
- Bursitis: bursitis is the Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion the joints. It can cause pain and swelling, particularly in the shoulder and hip joints.
Tendinitis: inflammation of the tendons such as Achilles tendinitis and patella tendinitis. Tendinitis can occur in the knee, shoulder, or hip joints, causing pain and limited range of motion.
How are knee, shoulder, and hip injections administered?
During a knee, shoulder, or hip injection, your pain specialist will ask you to lie on your back on a procedure or X-ray table. Before the procedure, the injection site is thoroughly cleaned with an antiseptic pad to prevent infection, and a local anaesthetic is injected to numb the area.
Once the area is numb, your specialist will use an ultrasound machine or X-ray device to guide the needle into the targeted area. A combination of anaesthetics and steroids is injected to help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. The needle is slowly removed, and the treatment area is cleaned with an antiseptic pad and covered with gauze.
What can I expect after the procedure?
You might experience slight swelling on the injection site, but it typically goes away after a few hours. Additionally, your specialist may recommend you observe the following knee, shoulder, and hip injections aftercare:
- Avoid doing any strenuous activities within the first few days post-procedure.
- Ice the injection site to help reduce swelling and alleviate the pain.
- Take your pain medication as prescribed.
Most importantly, you must attend all of your follow-up appointments so that your doctor knows how well you are healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The procedure is not painful, but you might feel some mild pressure when the needle is inserted. Local anaesthesia is typically administered to the injection site before the procedure to help reduce discomfort.
The frequency of joint pain injections depends on various factors, such as the severity of the condition, the medication used for the treatment, and the patient’s response to treatment. Some individuals may require only one injection for symptom relief, while individuals with moderate to severe conditions may require several injections to be administered spaced several weeks apart. Maintenance injections are also administered every few months to a year to prevent flare-ups.
One session usually takes between 20 to 30 minutes.
Yes, there are risks, such as bleeding, bruising, infection, nerve damage, and increased pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is best to contact your doctor immediately.
Total Pain Specialist