Relief for Joint Pain

Find Expert Arthritis Injections Near You in New Jersey

Arthritis is a common condition that occurs when the cartilage between joints breaks down, leading to joint pain, swelling, and inflammation. However, treatment can help provide relief. At Kurdali Spine & Pain, we offer non-surgical treatments for neck, back, nerve, muscle, and joint pain at locations near you in New Jersey, including joint injections for arthritis. Learn more about this treatment option, how it works, and alternatives to arthritis injections.

Key Takeaways

Arthritis is a common joint condition that causes joint pain, inflammation, swelling, and stiffness.
Joint injections use corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid injected into the affected joint to provide pain relief.
Alternatives to arthritis injections include over-the-counter medications, physical therapy, and at-home care.
Kurdali Spine & Pain provides non-surgical treatment options for patients with arthritis pain in New Jersey.

What Are Arthritis Injections, and What Do They Treat?

Arthritis injections are shots that are administered into the joint affected by arthritis. Most often, the injections contain a mix of a corticosteroid like cortisone and a numbing agent. However, injections may also administer hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The goal of arthritis injections is to provide relief from symptoms like pain, inflammation, swelling, and stiffness. The pain relief typically lasts for several weeks to months.

Injections can be used in various arthritic joints, including:

Arthritis injections are typically combined with other treatments like physical therapy to provide the best results.

What Are the Injection Options?

There are a few main types of joint injections used for arthritis. The most common options include:

Steroid Injections

Steroid injections use corticosteroids, along with an anesthetic, to treat pain from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, and bursitis. The corticosteroid mimics the natural hormone cortisol to reduce swelling and inflammation, which helps provide pain relief by reducing the amount of friction the joints create. Steroid injections are given in a quick, in-office procedure while the patient is awake. They are most often used when other treatments, such as over-the-counter medications and physical therapy, haven’t worked.

The pain relief from steroid injections typically lasts for a few weeks to a few months. Although they provide effective pain relief, they are generally limited to three to four times per year to prevent cartilage damage and other side effects.

Viscosupplementation

Viscosupplementation involves injecting hyaluronic acid into the affected joint (typically the knee). Hyaluronic acid naturally occurs in the body, helping the joints absorb shock and acting like a lubricant. Viscosupplementation is used to treat osteoarthritis, which often causes patients to have less hyaluronic acid in their joints than they should. It helps relieve symptoms like pain, stiffness, and swelling by replacing the hyaluronic acid that is lacking.

Before giving the injection, a numbing medicine is typically injected into the space around your knee joint. Then, the hyaluronic acid injection is given. Viscosupplementation typically provides pain relief for six to 12 months, although it takes a few weeks to start feeling the effects.

What to Expect from Arthritis Injections

At Kurdali Spine & Pain, patients are seen by Dr. Basil Kurdali, a board-certified pain management specialist. He focuses on non-surgical ways to treat joint pain, including joint injections, which are often provided on a same-day basis. Here’s what you can expect:

Before the Procedure

When a patient presents with arthritis pain, Dr. Kurdali will begin by examining their joints and taking the patient’s medical history. He will assess the range of motion, dexterity, and any physical symptoms, such as swelling. Typically, he will recommend more conservative treatment methods, such as medications, physical therapy, or at-home care, before resorting to injections. If the patient’s pain is severe and has not been helped by conservative treatments, he may provide injections on the same day.

During the Procedure

When the patient comes for their joint injection, whether it’s on the same day as their initial appointment or a separate day, it will be completed in the office. The patient will lie down on an exam table, and the affected joint will be cleaned with an antiseptic. Dr. Kurdali will inject a local anesthetic like lidocaine into the joint area to numb it and reduce discomfort.

Once the area is numbed, Dr. Kurdali will inject the steroid or hyaluronic acid, depending on which type of injection is being used. The injection goes into the joint space. Dr. Kurdali may use imaging, such as ultrasound or X-ray, to ensure the needle is in the correct position. Once the injection is given, he will remove the needle and apply a bandage. The injection is quick, with the full appointment lasting around 20 to 40 minutes.

After the Procedure

Once the injection is administered, the patient can leave and go home. Generally, patients can drive and return to daily activities right after, or the next day. However, they will be given guidance in terms of rest and recovery, such as:

It’s important to follow these instructions to prevent any complications. If the patient notices any symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as redness or a fever, they should get medical attention promptly.

Results and Timeline for Arthritis Injections

With arthritis injections, the patient often feels pain relief within minutes because of the anesthetic that it contains. However, this pain relief will wear off within a few hours. The true pain relief from the corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid typically takes three to seven days to take effect.

With corticosteroid injections, the pain relief lasts anywhere from six weeks to several months. For viscosupplementation, it is often between six and 12 months. However, the results vary from patient to patient and depend on factors like the joint affected, the patient’s overall health, and their daily activities. Joint injections may be repeated once the effects wear off. However, corticosteroid injections are typically limited to three to four times a year to prevent cartilage damage that may occur.

For most patients, joint injections are not the only treatment used. They are often combined with physical therapy (PT) to help the patient strengthen their muscles and improve their range of motion. Once the pain is better controlled with the injection, it’s easier for the patient to participate in PT and complete the required exercises. This combination of arthritis injections and PT helps to provide improved long-term outcomes compared to either option alone.

What Are the Risks and Side Effects of Arthritis Injections?

Arthritis injections provide effective pain relief for many patients, but there are some potential side effects that patients should be aware of. Common, localized side effects of arthritis injections can include:

These effects are typically mild and temporary. More serious side effects include infection, ongoing increased blood sugar, and cartilage damage from frequent, repeated injections of corticosteroids. To prevent potential cartilage damage, corticosteroid injections are limited to three or four times per year. Dr. Kurdali will discuss any side effects or reactions to be aware of before giving any injections.

Are There Alternatives to Arthritis Injections?

Joint injections are a commonly used treatment for arthritis, but they are not the only treatment. Some alternatives to joint injections include:

Physical therapy: Using targeted exercises, stretches, and manual therapy, physical therapy helps strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and provide pain relief. It may be used alone or in conjunction with joint injections.
Medications: Using over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, can be used to manage pain. Topical creams and gels may also be used for localized relief.
Lifestyle changes: Making lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, exercising regularly, wearing a brace, or quitting smoking, can help reduce stress on joints.
Additional therapies: Other remedies, such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, and specialized massage, may be used in combination with injections and other treatments to help provide pain relief.

At Kurdali Spine & Pain, we focus on non-surgical treatments for joint pain. We do everything we can to keep patients out of surgery. However, if pain hasn’t improved with non-invasive treatments, surgery may be necessary. Dr. Kurdali has a network of trusted specialists who can perform joint surgery if needed.

Why Choose Kurdali Spine & Pain?

Kurdali Spine & Pain was founded by Dr. Basil Kurdali, a board-certified pain management specialist. He graduated from Rutgers University and completed a fellowship in interventional pain management at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He earned the ‘Most Outstanding Fellow’ award, demonstrating his achievements. Dr. Kurdali is committed to treating patients with high-quality care.

At Kurdali Spine & Pain, the focus is on non-invasive, non-surgical treatments, as well as same-day diagnoses and care. The team works hard to provide same-day diagnoses and treatments whenever possible, helping patients to experience pain relief without waiting weeks or months. Dr. Kurdali can order imaging scans, prescribe medications, refer patients to physical therapy, or even give injections, many times on the same day as the initial appointment.

Get Arthritis Injections Near You in New Jersey

If you’re dealing with arthritis pain, treatment is available at Kurdali Spine & Pain. We provide non-surgical treatments for joint pain, including arthritis injections, at locations near you in New Jersey. We also offer telehealth services for added convenience. For more information on joint injections or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kurdali, contact us today.

Arthritis Joint Injections FAQ

Which joints can be treated with arthritis injections?

Arthritis injections can be used to treat arthritis in many major joints, including the knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, wrist, and elbow. They can also be used in smaller joints in the hands and feet, spine, and sacroiliac joints. The knee is the most common site for all types of injections.

How long does relief typically last after an arthritis injection?

It depends on the type of injection. For corticosteroid injections, the pain relief lasts anywhere from six weeks to several months, while hyaluronic acid injections offer pain relief anywhere from six to 12 months.

How often can joint injections be repeated?

Corticosteroid injections should only be given three to four times per year to prevent potential cartilage damage. Hyaluronic acid injections can be repeated without this risk, but they are generally given once or twice per year once the effects wear off.

Are arthritis injections suitable for all patients?

No. Although they are effective and suitable for many patients, not every patient is a candidate. Joint injections are typically not recommended for patients with active infections, severe joint destruction, bleeding disorders, or certain allergies.