What are joint injections?
Joint injections are a treatment option for painful, inflamed joints. During the minimally invasive procedure, your pain management expert injects a steroid and an anesthetic into the joint causing your pain.
The Pacific Sports and Spine team may recommend the minimally invasive treatment to alleviate pain or determine if your joint is the source of your discomfort.
Where are the types of joint injections?
The team at Pacific Sports and Spine performs many types of joint injections.
Sacroiliac joint injections
Your provider may recommend the sacroiliac joint injection to diagnose or treat sacroiliac joint pain. Sacroiliac joint pain may cause low back, groin, leg, or buttock pain.
Facet joint injections
Irritation and inflammation of the facet joints along your spine may be a source of back pain. A facet joint injection helps find and alleviate the cause of your back pain.
Hip joint injections
For hip pain from arthritis or hip damage, the team may perform a hip joint injection.
Knee steroid injection
The knee steroid injection alleviates knee pain from arthritis.
Pacific Sports and Spine may also offer joint injections to alleviate shoulder, elbow, or ankle pain.
What happens during joint injections?
Joint injections typically take less than an hour. During the procedure, your provider has you lie on an exam table. You may be given a local anesthetic at the site of your injection to minimize pain before the joint injection.
Using live X-ray guided imaging (fluoroscopy), your provider inserts a needle into the joint and injects a contrast agent to improve visibility. Then, they place the needle into the joint and inject the corticosteroid and anesthetic.
After the joint injection, the team has you stay at the office for a short time for monitoring and then send you home. Though you may be able to walk after your joint injection, the team may recommend you have someone drive you home.
How long does it take to feel pain relief from joint injections?
You should notice an improvement in your joint pain within 2-7 days after the injection. Pain relief may last several days or several months.
If the joint injection was a success, the team at Pacific Sports and Spine might repeat the procedure when your pain returns.
For a cutting-edge treatment of your joint pain, call Pacific Sports and Spine or book an appointment online today.
