Joint Injections

About Joint Injections

When oral medications or physical therapy aren’t enough, joint injections may be your best nonsurgical option for relieving pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility caused by arthritis and other painful joint problems. The Los Angeles Orthopedic Surgery Specialists team is committed to offering long-term solutions for joint pain that may include injection-based therapy. Call one of their eight Los Angeles-area locations in East Los Angeles, Santa Fe Springs, Pico Rivera, Tarzana, Encino, Valencia, Montebello, or on Wilshire Boulevard today to schedule an evaluation. Or try their secure online service to request an appointment.

What are joint injections?

Joint injections can help relieve inflammation and pain within a joint. They’re typically recommended as part of a comprehensive strategy that includes physical therapy, joint-friendly exercise programs, bracing, and other conservative treatments.

While injection-based therapy isn’t a permanent fix for arthritis or other painful joint conditions, it can temporarily relieve your symptoms for several weeks to months, making it possible to delay surgeries such as joint replacement.

What kinds of joint injections are available?

Joint injections may include:

Corticosteroid injections

Corticosteroid injections reduce inflammation and decrease pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, osteoarthritis, and other painful joint conditions in the knees, ankles, shoulders, and small joints of the hands, feet, or spine (facet joints). Relief typically lasts 3-6 months.

Hyaluronic acid injections

The joint fluid that normally helps lubricate cartilage and acts as a shock absorber within a joint can become thin and watery as you age or because of changes related to arthritis. Hyaluronic acid (HA) mimics the consistency of natural joint fluid.

HA injections, approved for use in the knee, can relieve pain and inflammation for several months. You may require a series of injections for full benefits.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections

PRP injections are a newer therapy that uses cells from a sample of your blood, which is processed in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets. Growth factors contained in the platelets relieve inflammation, sometimes more effectively than steroids.

Stem cells taken from your blood may also be injected into a joint to promote new tissue growth and repair damaged joint surfaces.

What can I expect during and after a joint injection?

The team at Los Angeles Orthopedic Surgery Specialists performs joint injections in-office for your convenience, and they generally take just a few moments.

A topical numbing agent prevents discomfort during the injection, and your provider may also combine an anesthetic with the steroid to offer temporary pain relief.

Depending on the type of injection and materials administered, it may take several weeks before you experience the full benefits of joint injections.

Schedule your evaluation at Los Angeles Orthopedic Surgery Specialists today by calling the office or requesting an appointment using their online service.