The human body has about 300 joints, from small joints in fingers and toes to large joints like shoulders and hips. Your joints allow you to move your body, but injury and degeneration can take that ability away.
In fact, about one in four American adults is living with joint pain. And nearly half of those people report that their lives are severely limited by their pain.
Joint pain often stems from sports injury or a degenerative condition like arthritis. It can last for years and worsen with time. Conservative treatment like pain medication and physical therapy is common, but unfortunately, joint pain doesn’t always resolve.
When conservative care isn’t enough to relieve your joint pain, surgery isn’t your only option. Here at New York Spine and Sports Surgery, Aron Rovner, MD, offers intra-articular joint injections and a range of other nonsurgical treatments to help you start feeling better.
Intra-articular injections get their name because they deliver medication directly into the joint that’s causing you pain. Unlike traditional oral pain medication, these injections treat pain at the source — and they can be an effective solution for chronic joint pain.
During an intra-articular injection, Dr. Rovner inserts a small needle into your painful joint. The needle may contain a corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid, a local anesthetic, or a combination of medications.
Corticosteroid medication decreases inflammation in your joint. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occuring substance that lubricates your joints, but it often disappears in damaged joints. Injecting hyaluronic acid back into the joint can reduce pain and improve range of motion. Local anesthetics can temporarily reduce pain.
Dr. Rovner takes a conservative approach to treating joint pain. He typically begins by recommending treatments like oral medication, physical therapy, and activity modification. If your pain continues, intra-articular joint injections might be right for you.
These joint injections can relieve pain and restricted mobility in your:
Injections are a popular treatment for severe arthritis, back pain, and sports-related conditions like bursitis and tendonitis. If you’re ready to find out whether intra-articular injections can deliver the pain relief you need, schedule a consultation with us at New York Spine and Sports Surgery.
Intra-articular injections are minimally invasive, and Dr. Rover performs the procedure in our New York Spine and Sports Surgery offices. If you choose joint injections to relieve your pain, here’s what you can expect with treatment.
Our team gently cleans your skin and prepares your joint for injection. You may sit or lie down on an exam table, depending on your treatment area.
Using advanced imaging technology for precise placement, Dr. Rovner carefully guides the needle into your joint. He injects the medication and removes the needle.
You may experience mild discomfort at the injection site, but side effects are generally short lived. We may recommend applying ice to the area and resting your joint for a day or two.
The results of local anesthetic injections may begin developing quickly, while steroid and hyaluronic acid injections may take a few days. Once you feel the effects of treatment, you can expect your results to last up to several months.
It’s time to find a solution for your joint pain. Book a consultation with Dr. Rovner to find out if intra-articular joint injections are an option for you. Contact us online or call the office nearest you today.
