How Knee Injections May Help Your Knee Pain
Posted on: 8 May 2016
Knee pain is often difficult to manage. If you're in constant pain when you walk, you'll become more sedentary, and that can lead to other health complications. You may have difficulty working or engaging in day-to-day activities. Oral pain medications may not be much help. Knee replacement surgery is one option, but before you do that, your doctor may want to try knee injections. Here's how these injections may help your pain.
Corticosteroid Shots
One injection your doctor may try is a steroid shot into your knee joint. The steroid reduces inflammation, and this can result in less knee pain. Pain relief isn't instant. It may take a few days until you feel the results. If steroid shots work for you, you may get pain relief for a few weeks or even a few months. These shots are best for a temporary injury rather than a permanent condition such as arthritis. That's because the effect wears off eventually and too many injections may actually cause damage to the cartilage in your knee and make your pain worse.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Another option is to try hyaluronic acid injections. This substance is a lubricant rather than a pain reliever. The doctor injects it into your knee joint to fill the area with fluid that acts as cushioning for your bones. One of the reasons for knee pain is when the cartilage wears away and bone rubs against bone as you walk. The hyaluronic acid acts as padding around the bones that keeps them from rubbing together. It also acts as a shock absorber so you have less pain when walking.
You may need to have multiple injections of hyaluronic acid over a period of weeks in order to get results that make your pain more bearable. When your pain returns, you can undergo another series of injections to restore the level of fluid in your knee. You take these injections in your doctor's office and resume your normal activities right away.
Not everyone is a good candidate for knee injections. It depends on the nature of the problem and the extent of damage to your knee. The first step is to discuss the treatment with your doctor to see if you're a good match for the procedure. If knee injections work for you, you may be able to postpone or avoid knee surgery. The shots may also help reduce your need for pain medications that might lead to addiction or other medical problems. Contact a company like Pottstown Surgical Associates for more information.
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