Injections for Joint Pain

The right choice of injection for your painful joint

TYPES OF INJECTION?

Steroids (corticosteroids e.g methylprednisolone)

These have a powerful anti-inflammatory action and can reduce the level of pain you are experiencing.

Injected into joints can give pain relief for osteoarthritic joints and can reduce the severe pain associated with gout.

Steroid injections have been used for decades and are known to cause shrinkage of inflamed tissue such as Morton’s neuroma and can also prove helpful in plantar fasciitis problems that have not responded to the more usual conservative treatment methods.

The effects of steroid injection can temporarily reduce the immune system, thin the normal natural fat pads that aid cushioning, increase the risk of rupture other soft tissue structures, increase blood sugar levels in diabetics and cause loss of skin pigmentation.

Hyaluronic acid (Ostenil).

Ostenil contains sodium hyalurinate (also known as hyaluronic acid or hyaluronan) a natural substance found between layers of tissues that require elimination of friction e.g joint cartilage and synovial fluid of joints.

It works by restoring the normal balance between the breakdown and production of sodium hyaluronate within joints. This is known as “visco supplementation” decreasing pain and stiffness which improves the symptoms of osteoarthritis. It works in joints by lubricating, transporting nutrients and filtrating out inflammatory molecules (reducing inflammation).

As Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by our bodies and Ostenil is free of animal proteins it is highly unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)- USE PAUSED FROM 12/6/23

Using a small amount (20ml) of your own blood a centrifuge can be used to separate your plasma from the red and white blood cells.

This plasma contains platelets which not only have the ability to cause blood clotting when you cut yourself but also contain growth factors (proteins) that play a key role in your bodies natural healing process and tissue regeneration.

Injected into osteoarthritic joints, it is thought it can delay the progress of the disease, improve joint rigidity, reduce inflammation, improve function and mobility (however, there is poor scientific evidence).

Injected into and around soft tissues PRP can reduce pain, reduce inflammation, minimise the effects / prevent relapse of injuries and speed up the return to normal activity.