Servicing the Valley, Office in Gilbert
Request an Appointment
Joint Injections
Joint Injections
Joint pain can significantly impact a person’s daily life, especially when it becomes chronic or severe. Inflammation can affect any joint, but it’s most common in the lower back (lumbar spine), knees, hips, and shoulders. One of the common ways to manage joint pain is through injections that combine a local anesthetic and a steroid medication, offering temporary relief.
Causes of Joint Pain
- Joint pain can arise from:
- Normal wear and tear of cartilage
- Injuries
- Medical conditions like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
- Post-surgery complications
- Structural abnormalities
Sometimes, pain in a joint can spread to nearby areas. For example, lower back pain may radiate down the legs.
Joint injections are used for two main reasons:
- Diagnosis – to help identify which joint is the source of pain.
- Treatment – to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
The anesthetic works to numb the joint, while the steroid decreases swelling and discomfort.
Joints That Can Be Treated with Injections
Almost any joint can be treated with injections, including:
- Facet joints: Small joints along the spine (cervical, thoracic, lumbar regions).
- Sacroiliac joints: Located where the spine meets the hips. Pain may radiate to the lower back, thighs, buttocks, or groin.
- Coccyx (tailbone): Made of small bones that can become inflamed.
- Hip joint: Pain might be felt in the groin, outer hip, buttocks, or thigh.
- Shoulder joint: Conditions like bursitis, tendinitis, arthritis, rotator cuff tears, or frozen shoulder can cause pain.
- Knee joint: Common causes include arthritis, gout, injuries, or damage under the kneecap.
- Other joints: Elbows, hands, ankles, and feet may also require injections.
How the Procedure Works
The injection process is usually quick—about 20 minutes—and done on an outpatient basis. Imaging studies help guide the needle precisely using fluoroscopy (a real-time X-ray). The patient remains awake during the procedure.
Here’s how it typically goes:
- The skin is numbed with a local anesthetic.
- A needle is inserted into the joint using fluoroscopic guidance.
- Medication is injected directly into the joint.
- In some cases, fluid may be removed first to ease pressure or make room for medication.
- Multiple injections may be needed if more than one joint is involved, such as with facet joints in the spine.
Frequency of Treatment
Relief from an injection may be felt within 1–2 days and last for several months. If pain returns within a few weeks, repeat injections may be needed. Factors that influence how often injections are given include:
- The joint treated
- Medication used
- Duration and effectiveness of pain relief
Typically, injections are limited to four times per year, either spaced quarterly or given as a series over weeks or months.
Possible Side Effects
Side effects are usually minor and temporary. They vary depending on the joint treated and may include:
- Numbness lasting a few hours
- Temporary soreness before inflammation subsides
- Infection risk
- Bruising at the injection site
- Elevated blood sugar (especially for those with diabetes)
- Mild side effects from steroids like weight gain or water retention
- These effects usually subside within a few days to a week.
Conditions That May Benefit from Injections
Hip arthritis
Knee arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Millions of people find relief from joint pain through these injections. If you’re experiencing joint discomfort, talk to your doctor about whether this treatment is right for you.
Pain Clinic Locations
Gilbert Office
1466 West Elliot Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85233
Phone: 480-496-2699
Fax: 877-422-3184
Tempe Office
(Procedure Location)
2000 E Southern Ave
Suite 106/108
Tempe, AZ 85282
Casa Grande Office
(Satellite Office)
1637 E Monument Plaza Circle
Suite 1
Casa Grande, AZ 85122