Knee Injections for Joint Pain: Can They Work for You?
Knee pain is a common cause of disability and dysfunction among both men and women, and it’s more common among people who are overweight and those who are very physically active, as well as older men and women. Most knee pain is caused by wear and tear inside the knee joint that occurs when the joint’s slick cartilage covering begins to break down. Joint cartilage (or articular cartilage) is slick and rubbery, and it’s designed to help your joints move freely and without painful symptoms. But as that cartilage begins to wear down, the friction inside your joint increases, and before long, you can find yourself suffering from chronic pain and inflammation, both of which can take a toll on your quality of life and make it more difficult to stay active.
Ironically, since knee pain makes movement more painful, it can cut down on your ability to exercise, meaning you’re more likely to gain weight – which in turn increases the wear and tear inside the joint. It’s a never-ending cycle, and without prompt medical treatment, you can end up with serious, irreversible joint damage.
How Joint Injections Can Help
Joint injections help relieve joint pain by administering special formulations (depending on your medical history and your symptoms) to reduce friction, inflammation and irritation inside the joint so you can get back to the activities you enjoy. At Dr. Weight Loss of Atlanta, we offer several types of injections including:
- Hyaluronic acid-based solutions like SUPARTZ® and HYALGAN®: Hyaluronic acid is a lubricant that’s naturally found in joints, but over time, the amounts of hyaluronic acid tend to decrease. These injections supplement the natural fluids to prevent friction and inflammation.
- Naturopathic solutions that feature botanicals and biochemicals to help stimulate and support healing inside the joint
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell injections, both of which are derived from your own blood and reinjected into your knee to promote natural healing
- Lidocaine and other anesthetics to block pain signals
What to Expect
Joint injections are performed right in the office, and they take just a few minutes. First, your joint will be carefully evaluated to determine the best placement for the injection. Then the skin over the injections site is cleansed and the solution is injected into or around the joint for maximum effect. Each joint injection is carefully customized to suit the needs and symptoms of the individual patient, so you can feel confident in your treatment from start to finish.
Find out more about joint injections for knee pain.
Joint injections can provide significant relief for chronic and acute knee pain, helping you stay active and participate in fitness activities that can help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight at every age. To learn more about joint injections and to find out if they’re a good choice for your knee pain, call Dr. Weight Loss of Atlanta at 770-330-4214 and schedule a free consultation today.
