Who Is the Ideal Candidate for Orthopedic Injections?
Orthopedic injections are becoming increasingly popular among patients because of their added benefits and comfort. If you’re looking for a non-surgical treatment for pain relief that also enhances and speeds up your recovery process, these might be for you.
At Ashford Orthopedic Specialists, we offer the best orthopedic injections for managing and healing joint issues. However, we must first understand what exactly they are and whether or not you are a good candidate for this alternative.
Understanding Orthopedic Injections
Orthopedic injections is a broad term that encompasses different types of solutions that can be injected in key problems areas of the body and mostly treat swelling, inflammation, and its associated pain.
Some of the most common are:
- Corticosteroids: generally used to reduce inflammation and pain in joints like the knee, shoulder, hip, elbow, and ankle.
- Hyaluronic acid: the solution acts as a lubricant and shock absorber in the joint, allowing it to improve mobility.
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or regenerative: by injecting a concentration of your own platelets, these seek to promote tissue healing and reduce inflammation.
- Epidural: usually prescribed for patients suffering from sciatica, spinal stenosis, and similar conditions, these deliver corticosteroids to the spinal nerves and relieve pain.
- Trigger point: By injecting pain-relieving substances into trigger points (also known as muscle fibers), the tissue can relax and therefore relieve nerve pain and other types of ongoing orthopedic discomfort.
4 Profiles for Orthopedic Injections
After getting your diagnosis, your specialist will also assess your options, expectations, and lifestyle, in order for you to decide which alternative is better for your recovery. Orthopedic injections can be a great temporary solution for:
1. Patients with Chronic Joint Pain
If you have seen suffering from chronic joint pain due to conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative joint disease, or similar, your specialist might consider orthopedic injections for managing symptoms and improving long-term mobility.
2. Athletes or Active Individuals with Injuries
Physical activity can cause several orthopedic issues like tendonitis, bursitis, ligament sprains, and others. Depending on the severity of your sport injury, your specialist can recommend certain injections as a treatment itself or, more commonly, as a way to speed up your recovery and reduce downtime after another procedure.
3. Individuals with Inflammatory Conditions
Patients diagnosed with bursitis, certain types of arthritis, tendinitis, etc, usually experience persistent swelling around certain joints, which causes discomfort and movement difficulties. Corticosteroid injections apply medication directly to the affected area and seek to reduce the inflammatory response in it by mimicking the effects of hormones that are naturally produced in your adrenal glands.
After reducing said inflammation, pain is usually managed, too.
4. Patients Looking to Delay or Avoid Surgery
If your orthopedic condition has advanced and surgery might be needed, orthopedic injections can be part of a comprehensive plan to either delay it or avoid it. With the help of physical therapy, lifestyle improvements, and oral medications, they can reduce inflammation, slow disease progression, relieve pain, and more.
Who Might Not Be a Good Candidate?
While orthopedic injections like corticosteroids are usually one of the first options for managing joint pain, every case is different. You might not be an ideal candidate if you:
- Suffer from severe allergies
- Have a bleeding disorder
- Currently have an infection
- Have previously tried orthopedic injections without considerable results
- Are suffering from an injury or condition that could be better addressed with surgery or physical therapy
Orthopedic Injections in Georgia
If you have been experiencing chronic or acute pain in your joints, there is a wide variety of orthopedic injections that might help you reduce and manage your discomfort. The first step? Visit an orthopedic specialist to determine your eligibility.
Make sure to keep open communication with your specialist so they can trace your progress and identify when it’s time to incorporate additional treatments or explore more complex solutions.
At Ashford Orthopedic Specialists, we are committed to giving you comprehensive treatment that delivers positive results. We will make sure not only to address pain and heal your joints, but to focus on regaining your strength so you can regain mobility. Call any of our Georgia locations or use our online scheduling tool.
Welcome to Ashford Orthopedic Specialists, where we are devoted to keeping you strong, one step at a time.
