At Allied Health and Chiropractic, LLC, we offer injections that can alleviate musculoskeletal symptoms or resolve them.
Depending on the severity of your joint pain or osteoarthritis, the appropriate series of injections can help get you moving again without surgery or joint replacement.
Corticosteroid injections
Use
This injection is the first line of defense against osteoarthritis symptoms and other joint pain in shoulders, knees and hips. Corticosteroids can offer relief for two to three months at a time. It reduces inflammatory cell activity in the joint.
Side effects
As with all injections, there’s a small chance of infection — about one in 1,000. See your doctor right away if you notice signs of infection, which include worsening pain, swelling, warmth and fever.
Cost
Most insurance covers the $100 cost of these injections. Your provider may require that you try at least one corticosteroid injection first to see whether it works. If not, you may move on to a different therapy.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Use
Hyaluronic acid (HA) injections often follow failed corticosteroid injections. But they are only approved for use in the knee.
In some instances, doctors consider an HA injection first if you don’t have obvious signs of inflammation. HA also is a better option if you have diabetes. Corticosteroids can raise blood sugar levels.
Also known as gel injections, HA injections are chemically similar to your natural joint fluid.
When you have osteoarthritis, joint fluid becomes watery. So, this injection works both as a lubricant and as a shock absorber. However, it doesn’t work well for bone-on-bone arthritis.
Some physicians also believe that HA helps reduce pain by coating nerve endings within the joint.
One injection offers symptom relief for four to five months, but pain and stiffness will return. Most insurance companies only approve one HA injection every six months. A corticosteroid injection can tide you over if needed.
Side effects
There’s a 1-in-100 chance of an inflammatory reaction. Again, see your doctor right away if you see signs of infection.
Manufacturers make HA injections from rooster combs. If you have an allergy to chicken products, let your doctor know you’ll need a synthetic HA injection.
Cost
HA injections cost more — about $300 to $750 per injection. But most insurance companies cover the cost.