Hip and knee pain can be a burden on simple daily activities like walking. Joint pain can limit an individual’s lifestyle and cause secondary problems as the body tries to compensate for the pain and decreased range of motion.
When hip or knee pain has not responded to more conservative treatment such as physical therapy, ice therapy, or anti-inflammatory medication, injections can be an effective treatment option. Injections help to diagnose hip pain as well as reduce pain and inflammation. Using injections to manage pain can also help prolong the need for surgery.
Hip Injections:
Intraarticular Hip Injections: These injections use Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids (cortisone) helps reduce inflammation and pain in the hip joint. Dr. Ehmke typically does these injections at a surgery center under light sedation and uses a needle that has a fiber optic camera inside, which allows him to inspect the inside of the hip and inject the medicine directly into the joint where it will be most effective.
Trochanteric Bursa: Indicated for the treatment of hip bursitis.
Knee Injections:
Intraarticular Knee Injections: These injections use hyaluronic acid or Corticosteroids. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the joints that provides lubrication and acts as a shock absorber. It can help reduce pain and improve range of motion where arthritis is present. Corticosteroids (cortisone) helps reduce inflammation in the knee joint.
Viscosupplementation: Also known as “gel shots” replenish the diminished synovial fluid in the knee joint helping to restore movement and reduce pain.
Stem Cell Therapy: Stem cell therapy may be used for various conditions, including hip and knee pain. Stem cells are a form of regenerative medicine that utilizes the body’s powerful natural healing mechanisms. Stem cell injections can be used for many applications and when injected into a joint can give pain relief that potentially lasts much longer then traditional cortisone injections.
When hip or knee pain has not responded to more conservative treatments, injections can be an effective treatment option for hip or knee pain. The patient’s individual condition will help determine which injection would be most beneficial for the relief of pain.
If you are experiencing joint pain in the hip or knee that is affecting your everyday activities, make an appointment with Dr. Ehmke today to find out if an injection can help you find relief and get back to the life you love.
Dr. Andrew Ehmke
Dr. Andrew Ehmke is a board-certified and fellowship-trained joint replacement surgeon specializing in robotic-assisted and minimally invasive hip and knee replacement in Chicagoland.
