Major Joint Injections

Major Joint Injections in Valencia, CA and Lancaster, CA

Major joints such as the hips, knees and shoulders are highly susceptible to arthritic pain due to aging, repetitive use, or injury. They become inflamed, painful, and stiff as we age. When oral and topical medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAID’s) have not provided proper relief, major joints can be injected with corticosteroids to decrease inflammation, and therefore decrease pain, and allow for more flexibility of the joint.

Below you'll find valuable information on major joint injections. For more information please contact us in Valencia, CA (661) 705-5100 or Lancaster, CA (661) 726-5005.

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About Bursae

A bursa is a gel-filled, pillow-like sac that helps muscles and tendons glide over bones. Bursae can be found in various areas of the body as well as the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles. When a bursa gets swollen it too can cause pain.

Joints and bursae can be injected without the use of dye, X-ray or ultrasound guidance and are often performed in a medical office setting. Common major joint and bursae injections utilize a corticosteroid used alone or in combination with a local anesthetic (e.g. Lidocaine). The goal of a major joint or bursae injection is to provide pain relief by decreasing inflammation of the joint or bursae. Although it is not a cure for the pre-existing medical condition (e.g. arthritis, abnormal alignment, tendon/ligament/cartilage injury), it can decrease pain and improve function of the joint temporarily.

Some joint injections are best performed under mild sedation and/or with fluoroscopy (special type of X-ray). This injection is usually performed in an outpatient surgical setting. With this type of procedure, the doctor will inject contrast dye to confirm that the medicine goes into the joint, and then slowly release the medicine into the joint. Fluoroscopy is used in major hip joint injection as well as sacroiliac joint injection due to the location and depth of the joint. Fluoroscopy helps to properly target the needle prior to injection and helps avoid hitting a nerve or causing other soft tissue or vessel injury.