Knee Injections

Sometimes over-the-counter medicines aren’t enough to treat knee pain. If you’ve suffered from an injury that has caused osteoarthritis (OA) in your knees or chronic pain, reach out to Charlie Piermarini, PA-C, MSPAS, MS, MPH, and the team at Complete Injury and Wellness. Serving patients ages four years and older in Phoenix, Arizona, the experienced providers offer a variety of effective and painless knee injections. If you want to relieve knee pain and decrease inflammation, contact the team today to book an appointment over the phone or schedule online. 

What are the pros and cons of knee injections? 

OA of the knee is one of the top causes of disability in America today. Although knee injections don’t cure issues with your knees, they do help with your recovery.  

Pros 
Knee injections provide quick relief from pain or inflammation in your knees. This relief can last up to many months; some patients notice that the pain is gone entirely after an injection. It is a fast and often pain-free procedure. 

Cons
You may not experience pain relief after a knee injection, the pain may come back, or the injection may decrease in effectiveness over time. The severity of your OA determines how successful an injection can be. 

There is also a risk in using corticosteroid-based knee injections because corticosteroids can lead to cartilage breakdown or bone thinning when overused. 

What are the types of knee injections?

You should discuss your current state of health, daily activity requirements, and current pain level to understand which injection is best for you. 

Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Hyaluronic acid injections, also known as viscosupplementation, deliver a lubrication fluid to your knee joints. This lubrication helps your knees move more smoothly and decreases inflammation. Effects can last longer than other injection options, and you may experience relief for up to six months. 

Cortisone Injections 
Cortisone injections target inflammation, and subsequent pain, in your knees. This type of injection provides the fastest relief and lasts anywhere from three weeks to three months.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections 
During a platelet-rich plasma injection, your provider draws your blood, increases the concentration of your blood’s platelets — vital in repairing damaged tissue or tendons — and injects the PRP into your injury site. This speeds up the healing process. 

What does a knee injection procedure include? 

During a knee injection procedure, your provider conducts a medical exam to determine which knee injection best fits your needs. 

You sit on the exam table and your provider cleans your knee and inserts the chosen injection needle into the specific joint area. You may experience slight discomfort, but the procedure only lasts a few minutes. 

If you have fluid retention in your knee, your provider may first draw out fluid using a small syringe and needle, which helps relieve pressure on the joint to make the injection more successful. 

Reach out today to speak with a provider at Complete Injury & Wellness about knee injections that help with osteoarthritis and painful knee injuries. You can also book an appointment online with our convenient booking tool.