Knee Injections In Philadelphia, PA
Anyone who has arthritis in the knees can attest to how the pain and stiffness of the condition can make it hard to get around and even just accomplish daily activities. If you live in Pennsylvania, there are several options you have to help alleviate the pain. One of the most popular options are knee injections Philadelphia, PA patients recommend. These injections can ease the symptoms of arthritis for up to several months.
In order to understand how knee injections can help, it is important to also understand the damage arthritis does to knee joints. There are many different types of conditions that all share similar symptoms, which include stiffness, swelling, and joint pain.
As a doctor who specializes in knee injections in Philadelphia, PA can explain, the most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is also referred to as degenerative joint disease. Cartilage is a protective tissue that surrounds the bones of the joints. When it wears away or breaks down, this leaves the bones rubbing against each other and this is what causes swelling, pain, and other symptoms the patient may be suffering.
It is the joints that bear the body’s weight, like the knees and hips, that are frequently affected by osteoarthritis. The symptoms can come and go over time, but unfortunately, they do tend to become worse as the patient grows older. In the beginning stages of osteoarthritis, pain can usually be managed with ibuprofen and other over-the-counter medications, however, as the cartilage deteriorates more and more, these medications usually stop working.
When patients reach a point that the medications are no longer working but damage to the knee has not reached the point for replacement surgery, they may be candidates for knee injections. There are two different types of injections that a doctor may recommend.
The first is corticosteroid injections. These injections can reduce the inflammation and pain that the patient is suffering. The medicine is injected directly into the knee and, if successful, the patient should feel relief from the stiffness, swelling, and pain they have been experiencing. There is no way to predict how long the cortisone shot will last. Some patients will have relief for several weeks, while other patients can have relief for several months.
The second option a doctor may recommend is hyaluronic acid injections. When a knee is healthy, it contains hyaluronic acid that helps cushion the knee joint and reduces friction. This fluid acts as a lubricant to help prevent the bones from grinding against each other. When a patient has osteoarthritis, they usually have a deficiency of hyaluronic acid. A knee doctor can inject the acid into the knee to help bring the levels up and reduce the swelling and pain. When this type of injection is successful, the patient can enjoy relief for several months.
To learn more about knee injections available in Philadelphia, PA, contact Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania today.