Knee Pain Treatments

The knee joint is a crucial component for allowing us to enjoy a mobile life. In addition to being the biggest joint in the body, the knee is also constantly used – and overused. The fact that the knee helps us perform almost every task we perform on a daily basis means that it unfortunately has a great opportunity for wear and tear. The good news is that if pain is felt, knee joint injections are a minimally-invasive option for finding pain relief. If you are suffering from knee pain and would like to learn more about knee joint injections, the Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists in the Reno, Sparks and Carson City areas are here to help. 

What are Knee Joint Injections?

A knee joint injection is the injection of medication into the knee joint and/or surrounding areas with the goal to reduce pain and inflammation to the ligaments, tendons and cartilage that are believed to be causing pain.

The knee joint is a complicated combination of bones, muscles, cartilage, ligaments and nerves that provides both a strong and supportive structure, but one that is also susceptible to injury. The knee joint is used for moving the legs, supporting the body when standing or moving, as well as stabilizing the body and helping a person to keep their balance. 

There are four bones that make up the knee (femur, tibia, fibula and patella), and the quadricep and hamstring muscles support the front and back of the knee, respectively. 

The ligaments and cartilage that work to support the knee joint include: 

• ACL: reduces pressure from the femur on the tibia
• PCL: keeps the femur from sliding forward
• Medial and lateral collateral ligaments: support the knee joint
• Medial and lateral meniscus: provides cushion between the femur and the tibia
• Articular cartilage: helps to cushion the patella, or kneecap

Additionally, there are bursae, or fluid-filled sacs, that cushion the spaces between the bones of the joint that help to provide friction-less movement. 

Any damage to these structures of the knee, whether it be from a traumatic incident or a medical condition, can lead to a diminished quality of life because a person could experience pain on a daily basis for an extended period of time. A knee joint injection helps to provide pain and inflammation relief so that a person can more comfortably enjoy an active lifestyle as well as utilize additional treatment methods to ensure more long-term pain relief. 

What are the Different Types of Knee Joint Injections?

There are three main types of knee joint injections, and the one that is best for you is determined by the nature of your pain symptoms. These include: 

• Corticosteroid injections: help to reduce pain and inflammation that is a result of a traumatic injury or chronic disease/health condition
• Hyaluronic injections: help to lubricate the joint and control the pain associated with osteoarthritis
• Nerve blocks: most commonly the saphenous block, this is a great option for patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery and still have lingering pain

The best way to determine which knee joint injection is best for you is to partner with a trained management specialist who can accurately diagnose your specific cause of knee pain. 

What Conditions Do Knee Joint Injections Treat?

The two most common conditions that knee joint injections treat are arthritis and acute injury. Regardless the cause, the goal of the injections are the same: 

• Promote healing
• Treat inflammation
• Decrease pain by stopping pain sensations from being sent to the brain
• Lubricate the joint for improved movement
• Improve quality of life

Injections are a popular treatment tool as they help a person to both increase their mobility as well as more comfortably utilize additional treatments, such as physical therapy. 

Due to the fact that we use our knees on a daily basis and for a wide range of movements, arthritis is a very common reason why a person might experience knee pain because of the constand wear and tear on the joint itself. Osteoarthritis is the main form of arthritis that causes damage to the knee joint, as well as subsequent pain, resulting from inflammation and a breakdown of the cartilage in the knee. 

Knee injuries can also lead to pain. In addition to possibly fracturing the joint from a slip and fall event, there is also the possibility of twisting incorrectly during an exercise and damaging a tendon, which can lead to either acute or chronic tendonitis. 

What Does a Knee Joint Injection Procedure Involve?

Knee joint injection procedures are most often performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning that the patient is able to return home the same day. After sitting or lying in a comfortable position, the provider will clean the knee and use a local anesthetic to numb the area. If there is any fluid present in the joint, the provider will insert a needle and remove the fluid, which often immediately helps with pain relief as it reduces pressure within the joint. 

The provider will then insert a different needle and inject the medication, which helps with long-term pain relief, and a local anesthetic, which helps to provide immediate pain relief. If needed, X-ray guidance might be used to determine a specific location in the knee for the medication. 

From start to finish, the procedure takes less than an hour. Most patients are able to resume normal levels of activity within a day or two after the injection. Depending on the cause of the knee joint pain and the injection received, pain relief could be instant or might be gradual. 

What are the Benefits and Risks of Knee Joint Injections?

The main benefit of a knee joint injection is that it is a minimally-invasive treatment option for helping patients finally find pain relief when other conservative methods have failed. The recovery period is minimal and the majority of patients are able to enjoy an active lifestyle within days. 

Even though it is a generally safe procedure, there are some risks. The most common risks, while rare, include bleeding and infection at the injection site, or tissue/nerve damage. There are additional risks that are specific to each different type of injection medication, which is why it’s important to review all health and medical history details with your pain management specialist prior to receiving any injection. 

If you are ready to leave chronic knee pain behind you, we’d love to help! Please schedule an appointment with one of our Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists in the Reno, Sparks and Carson City areas so that we may answer all your questions and determine which knee joint injection could benefit you most.