If your chronic ankle joint pain makes your life difficult, it is time to improve your pain without using surgical methods. Ankle joint injections are the last resort that helps you relieve chronic joint pain and inflammation. These injections have a lower risk and can last at least several days to several months. Learn about ankle joint injections through FAQs in this article. Visit the best Pain Management Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org.

7 FAQs on Ankle joint injections

These FAQs on Ankle joint injections help you know what ankle joint injections you should consider and their pros and cons. It includes:

1. What are ankle joint injections and their types?

Ans. This type of injection is used to treat ankle pain and improve functionality by injecting medicine into the ankle and surrounding soft tissue. In most cases, the injection drug is a combination of corticosteroids and an anesthetic. The injection is given under sterile conditions by using a syringe and needle. These injections are prescribed when over-the-counter pain medicines (aspirin, ibuprofen, and similar medications) don’t work in relieving ankle pain, and the patient begins to experience mobility issues. These injections also help in diagnosing and treating chronic pain. The injection helps the pain specialist to understand whether you need a different treatment like a nerve block for long-term pain relief.

Many different types of ankle joint injections are used, the most common ones that are used to provide relief from ankle pain are:

• Injections of Steroids (corticosteroid injections): Steroid injections can be used to reduce inflammation and relieve swelling, stiffness, and pain. However, it offers temporary pain relief and doesn’t stop the progression of ankle osteoarthritis.
• Injections of hyaluronic acid (hyaluronate): This injection is used to lubricate the ankle joint. Hyaluronic acid works like synovial fluid that naturally lubricates the ankle joint. It plays a critical function in joint inflammation reduction.
• Injections of Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): This PRP is extracted from a patient’s blood and contains a higher concentration of platelets than regular blood. This treatment aims to repair injured tissue by utilizing the blood’s natural healing properties. Several studies reveal that PRP may help some people with ankle arthritis. However, as it is still a new treatment, it is not used in common practice.
• What conditions are treated with ankle joint injections?

Ans. Ankle joint injections can help you if you’re struggling with these conditions:

• Anterolateral impingement syndrome (ALIS): This condition is caused by a physical obstruction inside the ankle joint that impairs joint function.
• Bursitis: Ankle bursitis occurs due to inflammation of the lubricating fluid-filled sac between the bones.
• Gout: This type of arthritis commonly affects the big toe.
• Osteoarthritis: It is a very common joint condition that causes degradation of joint cartilage.
• Plantar fasciitis:  It happens due to inflammation of the fibrous tissue that supports the foot arch.
• Posterior Tibial tendonitis: A condition that affects the tendon of the foot that allows you to walk.
• Psoriatic Arthritis: This type of arthritis causes joint inflammation and stiffness.
• Reactive Arthritis: An infection that occurs in another part of the body, leading to referred pain and joint stiffness in the ankle joint, causes this type of arthritis.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: It is an autoimmune illness that makes the immune system harm the joints.
• Synovitis: It is inflammation of the joint lining.
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome: This condition occurs when the tibial nerve (which travels down the inside of the leg behind the medial malleolus) gets compressed.
• Tendinitis: This occurs due to inflammation of a tendon that connects a muscle to a bone.
• Turf toe: It occurs from a sprain of the big toe’s primary joint.
• How are the ankle joint injections given?

Ans. An ankle injection is a remarkably simple treatment that takes only a few minutes to complete. Your doctor first checks the injection site via X-ray to determine it, and then, they apply topical anesthetic on the ankle. The medication (generally cortisone and anesthetic) is delivered into the targeted region of the ankle via an injection needle. The corticosteroid lowers inflammation, while the anesthetic drug relieves pain.

While it is not painful, some people may feel discomfort due to the location of the injection, needle size, or gauge, which may lead to injection pain. Certain cortisone injections will cause pain when given to a small space.

• What is an intra-articular joint injection and why is it prescribed?

Ans. This injection is a medical procedure to inject either a steroid, local anesthetic, or a combination of both directly into the joint with the help of X-rays to guide them. This is different from an injection you get on other parts of your foot or ankle to help with tendon pain. These injections do not always need X-ray guidance so they can be performed by the radiology department.

These injections may be prescribed if all other non-operative treatments have failed to manage your symptoms or to help the doctor diagnose the source of pain.

• What are the benefits of intra-articular joint injections?

Ans. These intra-articular joint injections may help with:

• Lowering pain and inflammation
• Participation in physiotherapy
• Delaying the need for surgery
• Confirming a diagnosis

Keep in mind that if there are severe degenerative changes within the joint, this injection may offer limited benefit.

• When are intra-articular joint injections contraindicated?

Ans. In some cases, intra-articular joint injections are not advised, because they can harm the patient. It includes cases like current infection or fracture.

• When to seek medical attention after the injection?

Ans. You should seek medical attention after the injection if you experience any of the following:

• High fever.
• Swelling.
• Redness or drainage from the injection site.
• Severe pain.

Ankle joint injections are used to provide relief from chronic ankle joint pain when other non-surgical treatments fail to provide relief, delay the surgery, or help in diagnosis. These injections provide temporary relief from pain and inflammation. It has a minimal risk and can last for a few days or even months. It is a viable choice for people who don’t want surgery and can manage their pain without much discomfort.

Need help with ankle joint pain management, visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!! If your pain needs professional assistance, visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn today or call to get a consultation. The location at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212 is well-served by public transportation, including many bus routes, and the subway line. Visit our website at https://doralhw.org/department/pain-management/ or contact us on +1-347-384-5690 for additional details.