Knee pain is a huge problem for many active people, rangeling from professional athletes to dog walkers. In many cases knee pain can be dealt with affectively via the means of good Conservative treatment, however, in certain cases clinicians may recommend injectables to relieve pain and manage inflammation. Therapeutic injection options include cortisone, hyaluronic acid, platelet rich plasma (PRP), prolotherapy, and stem cells. This article will mainly discuss the first 3 options.
Cortisone Injections for pain relief Tissue damage can ultimately lead to inflammation and pain which can be common with the knee. The knee can also suffer from swelling and stiffness.
Cortisone injections are often used to reduce inflammation and offer temporary relief from pain. Cortisone injections are most commonly used for: - Cartilage tears - Knee ligament injuries - Knee arthritis - Knee bursitis - IT band syndrome
Temporary pain relief may allow the individual to promote rehabilitation therapy interventions or promote mobility and strengthen the joint. Failure to do this would most likely allow symptoms to return within A relatively short space of time. However, whomever is considering having a Cortisone injection should acknowledge that experts raise concerns that cortisone may cause long term joint tissue damage, particularly if multiple injections are done at the same joint. Making cortisone a good temporary measure but a poor long term solution. Patients who get cortisone injections are advised to progress there rehabilitation slowly following a cortisone injection. Hyaluronic Acid Injections The objective of a hyaluronic acid injection is to lubricate our joints and our articuluar cartilage, and change the abnormal joint fluid environment of the knee joint, thereby decreasing knee pain and inflammation and improving knee function. These hyaluronic acid injections reduce the joint friction and inflammation associated with knee osteoarthritis. Hyaluronic acid injections work differently to cortisone injections and can be slower to take effec, however, the positive effects may last longer, with practically no side-effects.
Hyaluronic acid injections are often used early on and in mild to moderate arthritis. It is more than likely not going to be useful in severe arthritis.
Platelet Rich Plasma Injections (PRP Injections) Platelet rich plasma (PRP) Treatment is a form of Regenerative Medicine, similar to stem cells, whereby it takes advantage of the blood's natural healing mechanisms to speed up recovery and to repair damaged tissue. PRP is concentrated from a sample of the patient's own blood, and then use to perform a simple natural injection. PRP treatment again is commonly used in mild to moderate arthritis and degenerate conditions, and early on with cartilage or ligament damage. PRP Treatment is used to treat many knee conditions, including: - Cartilage tears - Knee ligament injuries - Knee osteoarthritis - Patellar tendonitis and other knee tendinopathies
Are knee injection is effective?
Simple answer to this question is yes. However, not everyone who receives an injection will experience improved symptoms. Success rates will vary depending on the type of injection and the condition being treated. Here at Dynamic Regenerative Medicine we offer 3 of the above Injections to our patients who require them. We have clinics in Harborne Birmingham, Henley in Arden Solihull and Barnt Green Bromsgrove.
Get in touch with us to find out more for schedule a free consultation.