If you suffer from joint pain and inflammation, you’ve likely tried numerous treatments to find relief. While there are many over-the-counter products that claim to reduce joint pain, few of them produce significant, long-lasting results. A possible alternative option to help relieve joint pain for a longer period of time is by getting joint injections. 

What Are Joint Injections?

Joint injections are injectable treatments that target joint pain directly at the source. There are two different types of joint injections. The most commonly used injections contain corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation. When injected into the affected joint, the corticosteroids subdue inflammation and diminish pain or discomfort in the area.

The second type of joint injection is used in regenerative medicine. These joint injections contain PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, in addition to stem cells. The stem cells and PRP are harvested from the patient’s own blood and then injected back into the joint to provide healing and regenerative properties.

Candidates for Joint Injections

The ideal candidate for joint injections is someone who struggles with chronic joint pain and inflammation. You may have joint pain from a sports injury, an underlying condition, or the aging process. Whatever the cause of your discomfort, joint injections could be an effective treatment for you. 

If you have tried other methods of relief for your joint inflammation, joint injections could be the next step. Many patients who seek this treatment have tried rest, oral anti-inflammatories, and physical therapy in the past. When these methods fail to work or stop working after a period of time, joint injections could be a viable treatment.

How Long Do Joint Injections Last?

Before seeking joint injections, patients should understand that many of these injections are not permanent. While joint injections can reduce pain and inflammation, they may not permanently resolve your symptoms. 

Joint injections with corticosteroids typically last around three to four months. To remain comfortable and free of symptoms, most patients have their joint injections administered four times per year.

Regenerative joint injections may produce longer-lasting results than steroid injections. When PRP and stem cells are injected into the joint, they can regenerate healthy tissue that’s free of damage and inflammation. This can alleviate joint pain and inflammation for much longer, or in some cases, permanently. 

If you have tried other methods of pain relief for your joint inflammation but haven’t experienced symptom relief, you should speak with a professional about joint injections. If you are a candidate for injection treatment, you may find long-lasting relief from joint pain and inflammation through PRP and stem cell therapy.

This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine for the joints, also known as stem cell therapy for joints! Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.