Joint Injections

What are the different types of joint injections?

Islamorada Medical Center offers various joint aspiration and injections to ease pain, such as:

Joint aspiration

Joint aspiration allows your Islamorada Medical Center provider to drain excess fluid out of a joint that’s making it swell or hurt.

Hyaluronic joint injections

Hyaluronic acid is a lubricating substance your body produces naturally. Injecting the acid into a joint, otherwise known as viscosupplementation, eases chronic joint pain. 

Corticosteroid injections

Corticosteroids are strong anti-inflammatory medicines that calm the inflamed tissues associated with joint pain. These injections diminish pain caused by acute and overuse injuries.

Why might I need joint injections?

Conditions that might make you a candidate for joint injections at Islamorada Medical Center include:

• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Bursitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow)
• Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)

Sprains and strains, which are acute ligament and tendon injuries, may also warrant the need for joint injections.

Your Islamorada Medical Center provider uses conservative options initially, such as physical therapy, splints, braces, medications, and activity modification. If these methods don’t reduce pain and enhance healing, joint injections offer a safe, nonsurgical alternative.

Which joints might need injections?

Islamorada Medical Center offers injections for the following joints:

• Knees
• Shoulders
• Wrists
• Thumbs
• Ankles
• Elbows
• Hips
• Jaw

Your Islamorada Medical Center provider might also use injections for small joints in your feet or hands.

What should I expect during joint injections?

When you visit Islamorada Medical Center for joint injections, your specialist cleans the skin at the injection site. They then insert a needle into the affected joint. Next, your provider may remove any excess joint fluid before injecting hyaluronic acid or corticosteroids.

If a joint is difficult to inject accurately, your Islamorada Medical Center specialist may use ultrasound imaging or a special moving X-ray (fluoroscopy) for guidance. Any fluid your provider removes from a joint goes to the lab to determine if you have an infection.

Steroid injections are usually highly effective for reducing swelling and pain. There’s minimal risk involved with joint aspiration and injections.

To find out if you’re a candidate for joint injections, call Islamorada Medical Center or book an appointment online today.