When Is a Joint Injection the Best Choice?

Living with joint pain can be a daily struggle, whether you’re one of the 58.8 million Americans with arthritis or you have some other joint condition. And it’s particularly frustrating when joint pain treatments don’t provide the lasting relief you need.

While there are a variety of joint pain treatment options available, not every method works for everyone. Okezie N. Okezie, MD, FAAPMR and our team at ISPM specialize in personalized pain management and we’re here to help you find relief from your joint pain. 

Joint injections have gained popularity as an effective pain relief method for managing arthritis and joint pain — and they could be a good choice for you. Here’s what you need to know about how they work and when to consider trying joint injections for yourself.

How joint injections work

Joint injections deliver powerful, pain-relieving medication directly into your painful joint to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and improve mobility. The most common type of joint injection contains a corticosteroid, which helps fight inflammation.

Other types of joint injections are hyaluronic acid injections to lubricate and cushion the joint, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, which use your own blood components to stimulate healing in your joint.

The benefits of joint injections

If you’re dealing with joint pain, Dr. Okezie might recommend joint injections because of the benefits they offer.

Targeted relief

Oral pain medication must travel through your digestive system before it takes effect. By bypassing your digestive system, joint injections start working faster. With joint injections, Dr. Okezie delivers precise, targeted pain relief. The medication reaches your joint faster, providing faster and more effective pain relief compared to other medications.

Reduced inflammation

Inflammation is a major contributing factor to joint pain. Because corticosteroid injections have potent anti-inflammatory properties, they can dramatically reduce swelling and inflammation in your joint and provide significant pain relief.

Improved function and mobility

Joint injections reduce pain and inflammation, and they can dramatically improve joint function and mobility. Less pain and increased mobility makes it easier to perform daily activities, exercise, and even better engage in physical therapy to enhance your overall quality of life.

Are joint injections right for you?

Joint injections are a powerful option to relieve joint pain, but it’s important to get a professional opinion before trying them for yourself. Dr. Okezie and our team offer comprehensive joint pain assessments, and we might recommend joint injections if you have:

Inflammatory arthritis

Inflammatory types of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, cause symptoms like chronic pain, swelling, and stiffness. Corticosteroid injections can help reduce inflammation, providing relief and improving joint function.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative type of arthritis characterized by cartilage breakdown. Joint injections can effectively manage pain and improve joint mobility, allowing you to comfortably keep up with your daily activities.

Acute joint pain

Joint injections can be a valuable option if you’re experiencing acute joint pain due to injuries or sudden flare-ups. Whether it's a sports-related injury or a sudden exacerbation of arthritis symptoms, a joint injection can provide quick, targeted relief and expedite your recovery process.

While joint injections can be highly beneficial, it's essential to consider a few factors and discuss them with Dr. Okezie. Joint injections aren’t a permanent solution for joint pain, and the duration of pain relief varies from person to person. However, if you’re happy with the pain relief you achieve with joint injections, we can develop a treatment schedule to help manage your pain in the long term.

Joint injections can be an effective treatment option for joint pain, and it’s time to find out if they’re a good choice for you. Book a consultation with Dr. Okezie and our team in Humble or Baytown, Texas to get started.