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Injections in various Joints and Bursa
Are you having pain from arthritis, bursitis, or inflammatory diseases? Consider speaking with the medical professionals at Expedient Medical today. We could create a treatment plan to help you have a better quality of life with these conditions. For example, a Bursa injection may be proper for you if your joint pain has not improved after making simple lifestyle changes, such as resting the joint, using compression bands, or taking anti-inflammatory medication.
What is bursa injection?
Bursa injection can help soothe joint pain caused by arthritis, bursitis, and other painful inflammatory diseases.
A bursa is a gel-filled sac that helps muscles and tendons glide over bones. You have bursae in your shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and other parts of your body.
When bursae get swollen, they can cause joint pain. But a steroid medication injected into your bursa can help reduce the inflammation and alleviate the pain.
How effective is bursa injection?
Some of our patients report pain relief within 30 minutes after the injection, but pain may return a few hours later as the anesthetic wears off. Longer-term relief usually begins in two to three days, once the steroid starts to reduce inflammation.
How long the pain stays away is different for each patient. For some, the relief is permanent. But if the pain returns, you can have another bursa injection in a few months, up to four a year.
What is a joint injection?
The most common joint injections both seek to alleviate pain and increase range of motion.
Steroid Injections: Steroid injections are used to treat inflammation, arthritis, and joint disease.
Hyaluronic acid (or "rooster comb") injections - Also referred to as viscosupplementation, hyaluronic acid injections are used to treat osteoarthritis (most commonly in the knee).
Steroid injections (or corticosteroid injections) - work to reduce swelling and inflammation in the joint. They are commonly used in the knee, hip, and shoulder to relieve pain and swelling and treat pain in other joints, including the elbow, wrist, and ankle.
There are benefits and drawbacks to steroid injections, including:
Fast Relief: Steroid injections typically offer relief within 24-48 hours of the injection.
Short-Term Relief: Pain relief from a steroid injection can last from 6-12 weeks.
Limitations on Repeat Use: Steroid injections are often most effective the first time, with subsequent injections losing efficacy. These injections also cannot be given too frequently without the risk of weakening the surrounding structures of the joint.
Set up an appointment to speak with Dr. Khawar at Expedient Medical to determine if steroid injections may be a good option for you.
