Orthopaedic Injections - An Instant Relief for Joint Pain

Say the word, ‘arthritis’ and many a person will shudder at the thought of the pain associated with the disease. Simply put, arthritis – in its several forms – attacks the human musculoskeletal system, leading to the inflammation of one or more joints in the body. The more advanced this disease gets, the more difficult it becomes for an individual to remain physically active. The severity of such joint pains also gives rise to certain other conditions, such as obesity and heart disease.

While medication, physiotherapy, application of hot and cold packs, and adequate amounts of rest do their bit to alleviate the discomforts associated with joint pain, they may not be able to give instant relief to the patient. This is where orthopaedic injections come in. Although many are averse to the injections because of the transitory pain they cause, ‘joint injections’provide immediate respite to localized inflammations. They are also known to help improve mobility.

Corticosteroid doses are very powerful in reducing the inflammation of a joint. They can be procured in stronger or weaker formulations - depending on the severity of the joint pain - and are used to treat a host of common forms of joint pain, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, frozen shoulder, trigger fingers, and gout. Sometimes, a single corticosteroid injection can do away with joint pain for good. Other times, the effect of the treatment can last for only a few months. However, this varies from individual to individual.

Hyaluronic acid injections are a lesser known type of orthopaedic injections. These shots essentially provide the synovial fluid in the joint with the viscosity and the lubrication it needs for shock absorption. Also known as ‘viscosupplementation’, these injections are generally administered to those whose joint pains cause great impediments to them leading a normal life, or to those who have not found relief in other forms of medication or treatment.

It’s true that no one welcomes the idea of enduring a jab of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid in an area that is already ridden with pain…such as the hip or the knee. Yet, if one can rise up to the fleeting sting the injection produces, one will realize that such jabs can be a very effective remedy for joint pain.