For treatment of acute injuries and chronic pain, injection therapy is often recommended to decrease pain and improve function. Trigger point injection therapy means that superficial muscle tissue is injected for pain relief. Other structures that may be injected include joints (knee and shoulder being most common) and bursae (the fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints), or tendons.
Joint, bursae, and tendon injections not only offer significant pain relief for patients suffering from such conditions as osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, frozen shoulder, plantar fasciitis, or gout. It can also even help in diagnosis of pathologies, especially when performed under ultrasound guidance. This involves using an ultrasound machine to both examine painful areas during the injection procedure. Ultrasound is noninvasive, involves no radiation, and improves accuracy of the injection procedure, as the clinician can more accurately position the injection needle during the procedure. A steroid medication is used in these injections, plus a local anesthetic to reduce any procedure-related discomfort. Overall these procedures are quite safe and side effects are minimal, but may include local pain, mild bleeding, and swelling. Serious side effects such as infection are extremely rare when the procedure is performed properly.
Here at OSR we have added joint, bursae, and tendon injections to our list of offered procedures in the coming months. We are excited to bring these new treatments to our patients. Please talk to us in the medical department to see if you might be a candidate!
