The different types of Joint Injections in treating Joint Pain

Joint pain is often debilitating. It can reduce activity levels and can impact daily living, making even small chores seem impossible.

Causes of joint pain

• Joint pain is common among the elderly. It can occur due to musculoskeletal diseases like arthritis, which causes pain and inflammation. It can occur due to the regular wear and tear of joint cartilage.
• Sportspeople, especially those who play high impact sports, may have joint pain and inflammation due to the force and repetitive movements of their particular game.
• Joint pain can also occur due to underlying medical conditions or diseases.

In some cases, medication, rest, rehabilitation, and care should, over time, help in relieving joint pain. But, if the pain does not go away, your doctor will devise other types of treatments, which could include joint pain injections.

What are joint pain injections?

They are non-surgical treatments to reduce inflammation and pain in the joints. They are usually injected directly into the joint for pain relief.

Types of joint pain injections

Corticosteroid injections

This is usually used to ease and provide pain relief for osteoarthritis symptoms. It can be used on joint pain in shoulders, knees, and hips. It also helps in reducing the inflammation of joints.

Hyaluronic acid injections

The injection is made of a substance that is similar to the gel that makes up natural joint fluid. It is used for arthritis symptoms but usually used only in the knees.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections

The injection uses the patient’s blood and platelets. It is used to treat osteoarthritis joint pain and to reduce inflammation.

Placental tissue injections

It is made of naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agents in placental tissue. It helps decrease inflammation and promotes healing because it contains amniotic stem cells.

Depending on how severe your pain is, your doctor will decide on what kind of injection or combination of doses to use. It will also depend on your history and underlying medical conditions.

Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, who is the Chief Orthopedic Surgeon heads a skilled team of professionals at the Kauvery Institute of Orthopedics and Neurosciences, Chennai. The team diagnoses and treats patients suffering from joint pain apart from other orthopaedic and neurological illnesses.