Who Can Benefit From Knee Injections?

A knee injection is a procedure that includes injecting drugs directly into the knee joint to reduce inflammation and pain. The ends of the bones that comprise the body's joints are covered in hyaline cartilage, which allows the bones to slide smoothly against one another. It is the most common type of cartilage in the body and contains hyaluronic acid, which acts as a joint lubricant.

Knee injections are used by doctors to treat and diagnose pain caused by various knee joint disorders. Some of the more typical reasons are as follows:

• Pain Control

Corticosteroids, local anesthetics, or other pain-relieving drugs can be injected into the knee to relieve pain caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, and other disorders. The type of medication and frequency of injections are determined by the source of the pain.

• Diagnosis

A dye injection can help pinpoint the source of knee discomfort by displaying the affected area on an X-ray.

• Treatment 

Injections can administer therapeutic drugs directly to the knee joint, lubricating it or relieving discomfort caused by inflammation, as well as improving joint mobility.

While knee injections are useful for treating osteoarthritis, the method may also help those with rheumatoid or hip arthritis.

What is the Process of a Knee Injection?

To relieve pain, promote mobility, and allow for more exercise, a medication is injected directly into the knee joint. The treatment might range from a one-time injection to weekly injections for three to five weeks, depending on the drug in the injection. Pain alleviation normally takes 4 to 12 weeks. The impact, however, might endure for several months and be repeated.

What Kinds of Knee Injections Exist?

There are numerous injections available to alleviate arthritic knee pain. The following are some of the commonly used ones.

Cortisol Shots (Steroid Injections)

Injections of steroids into the knee joint can help reduce inflammation and have fewer negative effects than steroid pills. To alleviate discomfort, a numbing ingredient (lidocaine) is used with the steroid. Because of the numbing medication mixed with the steroid, relief is virtually immediate. Within a few hours, the corticosteroid begins to reduce inflammation. Pain alleviation can vary from patient to patient and can continue from several weeks to several months; however, some patients may not improve at all.

Steroid injections should be administered no more than every three months. More frequent steroid injections, on the other hand, can hasten cartilage degradation and perhaps aggravate osteoarthritis.

Injections of Hyaluronic Acid Gel (Viscosupplementation)

Hyaluronic acid, a highly sticky and slippery material produced naturally by the body, is found in the knee joint. Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan or hyaluronate, is found in many bodily components, including the eyes, skin, and joints.

Injections of hyaluronic acid gel (also known as viscosupplementation) replace the body's natural lubrication. The treatment comprises weekly injections into the knee over three to five weeks. Although some patients report some pain alleviation throughout the 3- to 5-week course of injections, the majority of patients experience the greatest pain relief 8 to 12 weeks after starting the injections. The duration of pain reduction varies; some individuals have experienced improvements lasting up to six months after the injections.

Hyaluronic injections are not a cure-all for arthritis, and they act more slowly than steroid injections. Viscosupplementation, on the other hand, has fewer negative effects than steroid injections and can be repeated every six months.

Injections of Platelet-Rich Plasma

Platelets are little blood cells that contain growth factors that help the body repair. Plasma is the blood's liquid component. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a platelet cell concentration extracted from the patient's blood. Some of the patient's blood is taken and processed in a centrifuge to separate the various blood components, which concentrates the platelets. Platelet-Rich plasma (PRP) is created during the procedure and is injected into the knee.

According to certain studies, PRP may help improve function and reduce discomfort in those with mild to moderate osteoarthritis. PRP appears to function best for people with mild osteoarthritis.

Who is a Knee Injection Candidate?

Knee injections can help persons with chronic pain from knee osteoarthritis, and they are most helpful for people with mild to severe arthritis. For obese patients with advanced osteoarthritis, the injections are less beneficial. The injections may also reduce the inflammation.