Has your knee pain started interfering with your daily life activities, and treatments like medications and physical therapy don’t work? If yes, then you should consider knee joint injections. These injections contain drugs and other substances that are injected directly into the knee joint to relieve pain and inflammation. Their effects last longer and have fewer side effects. However, it doesn’t work the same for everyone. So, you need to consult with your doctor to know which joint injection works for you. Learn how these knee joint injections work and what types of knee joint injections are available. Visit the best Pain Management Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org.
How do knee joint injections work?
Knee joint injections contain an anti-inflammatory drug that produces either short-term or long-term effects on the nerve of the knee to lower inflammation and pain. Depending on the type of medicine injected, it can also stop the production of inflammatory substances or disrupt the pain signals to nerves that cause discomfort and inflammation. So, before considering knee joint injections, make sure you talk about the benefits and risks of this treatment to manage your knee joint pain.
Type of knee joint injections
Your doctor will prescribe the type of knee joint injection based on your severity of pain, underlying cause, and general health. Here are some of the common types of knee joint injections that are used to treat knee pain:
- Cortisone shot:
Cortisone or corticosteroid injections are used to treat arthritis-related knee pain. These shots are effective in quickly reducing inflammation and pain directly in the joint and stay effective for some weeks or months. However, it doesn’t work the same for everyone. A person who doesn’t get any pain relief after one or two injections has a lower chance of improving with additional injections. It can take up to a week to start working. While it is effective, you cannot get more than 3 to 4 per year because receiving them too often can damage the knee joint.
- Knee gel injections:
Gel injections contain hyaluronic acid, which is a thick substance that works as a shock absorber and lubricates the joint. This is a good option for people with osteoarthritis who have less natural synovial fluid than they need. It decreases pain and improves knee function. This injection procedure is called Visco supplementation. It works well for most knee pain, especially if you have mild to moderate arthritis. Its effects last for 6 to 12 months. Doctors usually give one to five shots, each about a week apart. This procedure is repeated every 6 months or so, depending on how long the effect lasts. However, it does not work for everyone. It is a good option if you tried other treatments like medication, exercise, or steroid injections and they don’t work and you’re not a viable candidate for a knee replacement.
- Prolotherapy injections:
These injections use a sugar water solution to provide joint, ligament, and tendon pain relief. This solution acts as an irritant that stimulates the body’s natural healing process to repair the damaged joint. This treatment also promotes cartilage growth over time, but it is not clear how it happens. It is a good option to lower pain from osteoarthritis along with tendon and ligament injuries like ankle sprains. This is an alternative treatment and is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is generally given once per month for 3 to 4 months. Studies reveal that it reduces pain and improves function in people with osteoarthritis, but it is not sure how long its effects will last.
- Orthobiologics:
These injections are known as regenerative medicine, which is a new form of injectable made from blood or tissue. It is not yet proven that this therapy truly restores missing tissue, and such products are not approved by the FDA to treat arthritis or other joint conditions. In some studies, it has shown good potential in promoting healing. This injection targets arthritic joints and chronic tendon problems anywhere in the body, including the ankles, hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, and wrists. But still, more research is needed to understand its effectiveness.
- PRP injections and cell therapy:
These injections are created from the patient’s blood. Doctors take the blood sample and process it in a machine to create a high concentration of blood cells called platelets, which are known to stimulate healing and tissue regeneration. Experts are studying how to make the most effective platelet mixtures. It can be used to relieve mild to moderate osteoarthritis knee symptoms. It is also used to treat injuries to soft tissues like tendons and ligaments. It can provide long-lasting or, in many cases, permanent pain relief. Some people can benefit from a series of injections. Its effects can take several weeks to produce noticeable changes. While research is still ongoing, PRP offers a minimally invasive option for faster recovery and reduces the need for more aggressive interventions.
Some newer injectables called cell therapies use cells or tissues from your body, like bone marrow or fat tissue, to reduce chronic inflammation and promote healing responses in tissue over time. These injectables are still in research but show good potential for treating knee joint pain.
What happens during the procedure?
This procedure is performed in the doctor’s office or clinic while you’re awake. During the procedure:
- The doctor prepares the injection, which usually contains a numbing agent along with the drug.
- The doctor cleans the skin where the injection would be inserted and applies a spray/solution to numb the area.
- The doctor inserts the needle directly into the knee joint with the help of ultrasound or X-rays to guide the needle to the precise location.
- Sometimes, the doctor may perform a procedure called knee-joint aspiration before the injection. This aspiration removes excess joint fluid from the knee, which helps relieve pressure. The fluid can be tested to determine the cause of pain.
- Once the needle is positioned in the right spot, the doctor injects the medicine. Generally, the injection is administered into a joint capsule, which is a space between bones inside the knee. Some treatments are injected into the tissues surrounding the knee.
- The doctor removes the needle and puts a bandage, and after some time, you can go home.
Pain may decrease immediately after the shot because of the numbing medicine during the procedure. However, after the numbing medicine effect wears off, your pain may return. It can take a week or more before you start to notice pain relief from the injection. Immediately after a knee injection, you may experience swelling or irritation at the injection site, which is normal. You can use ice therapy or over-the-counter pain relievers if needed. Avoid too much physical activity in the first 48 hours (about 2 days) after treatment.
Knee joint injections can be a good option for you if other non-surgical treatments have failed to improve your pain and inflammation. Its effects can last longer and have lower side effects. However, it is not a cure. It just improves your pain and knee functionality. For better results, you may need surgery, but not everyone is eligible for it. So, ask your doctor about the pros and cons of knee joint injections and choose the right knee joint injection for optimal results.
If you need help with knee pain, 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. Our 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 +1-718-367-2555 for additional details.
